Day 23: Susan Clark

October 23, 2009 at 12:01 am, Category: Featured, Inspiration

“ … it requires both … that fire and call to action as well.  It’s a crossroads between that perspective and passion, kind of like an “ah-ha!” with wheels; it propels me forward.”

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Toni Reece: Thank you so much, Susan, for agreeing to be interviewed for this project; and before we go into the questions, can you please introduce yourself?

Susan Clark: Sure.  I’m Susan Clark, and I’m the founder of heartspark in Portland, Oregon, where we teach the art and science of thriving.

Toni: Oh, okay.  Well, let’s take that right into the very first question which is, when you think about who you work with and other relationships that you have, who do you inspire and how do you do that?

Susan: You know, even though I knew you were going to ask this question, it’s such a tricky question, even still, because to inspire is a pretty lofty description or concept.  So usually when I think about it, inspiration is something that just happens.  It’s an effect you have on someone, not something that’s done deliberately, so your question makes me think about it in a new way.  It’s not a word that I use lightly, but when I do take it forward, it’s truly in a way my job to inspire.  So since I’m in the business to help people thrive, I do need to be more deliberate about it, so I think that’s the beauty of the work that I do.  I live in this perpetual swirl of inspiration.  It goes both ways.  I do my best to inspire and, in return, my clients and friends inspire me all the time with the amazing things that they do or accomplish.  And so the who, I guess — to really answer the question — is anyone who’s willing to spend more than a few minutes with me.

I really do believe my purpose in life is to show people how to do what they first thought to be impossible; so that’s what I live for.  As for the how, I’d say getting people to verbalize their innermost wants and desires can be inspirational in and of itself.  So often we focus on what we don’t want but can’t always put into words what we do want.  And you can’t just say “Oh, it’s the opposite of that.”  So even when we dare to think about what we want, we almost immediately squelch it with all the reasons why it can’t or won’t happen; you know, we get practical and rational and logical.  So all I do is encourage people to give voice to those dreams and ideas, really let them out and play with them — even if it’s only in their imagination — to try it on for a while and then just see what happens.  Then suddenly it doesn’t seem so impossible — and that’s what I call inspiration.

Toni: So how would you … using the techniques that you use and what you do when you work with these people, what happens when you help them explore their potential?

Susan: Well, now that … actually I can answer this question; this one I know the answer to!

Toni: You did great with the first one!

Susan: Thank you.  These aren’t easy.  To really help them explore, I simply remind them how fabulous and uniquely talented they are.  At heartspark, we call it “discovering your success patterns,” but it’s really just helping them remember or recognize what they naturally do well and encouraging them to own it, much like what you’re doing to me right now; but I don’t ask people to announce it to the world, maybe one or two other people.

Just like for me, it’s very difficult to say I inspire people; we’ve really been socialized to hide our light under a bushel, so I encourage people to be boastful and give them permission to brag.  So once they start telling stories about how they’ve made a difference or contributed something to something going well — when they see that in the past and then start to recognize that same behavior in the present — that kind of gets into the mode of “Oh, maybe there is something to this here.”  And then when you can take that confidence and bring it into the future, the question is “What are you going to do next?”  That’s when the potential comes into play, I think.

Toni: So when you talk about how you inspire and also how you then help them during an inspiration process explore their potential and help them to remember their successes and to bring that light from under the bushel, you did mention the word “thrive”; how would you define that?

Susan: I define it as being comfortable in your own skin and being happy and content in your life.  So when people really identify what it is they want … well, I think probably the best example of that is early on — after we had been providing our workshops for a while — we went back and interviewed some people and asked them like a year or two later, “So did this stick?  What have you done differently?”  And these are people who made major differences in their lives; career changes or really significant accomplishments of publishing books or doing something, and to a person they said “I like myself better,” “It was in inner shift,” even though these were very successful, well-adjusted, happy people in the first place.  But I think it’s that confidence and seeing themselves through other people’s eyes versus all that, you know, seeing themselves from the inside out; looking from the outside in more, and realizing really what they have to offer and their ability to make things happen.  And that to me is a sense of thriving; when you’re comfortable with yourself and you really believe and have the confidence that you can do whatever it is you set your mind to.

Toni: Are there certain techniques that you use when you are working with someone and helping them thrive and understand where their gifts are and where their potential and possibilities are?  What tools do you reach for or do you use to do that?

Susan: It’s really as simple as asking questions and drawing it out of them — assuming that they already have the answers — and then it’s also the power of a small group of people.  So to have people reflect back what they see in them.  So it’s really not any magic word that I say or tools that I have, which is part of the reason why it’s kind of hard for me to wear that I inspire people, because I really see the power of the group and just saying “Well, this is what I see in you, so what about this,” and asking the question that helps them own it and notice it for themselves and be clearer on what they want.  Because we all really do know what’s best for us or what the next step should be; we just don’t always have the confidence to act on it.

Toni: When you are seeking inspiration, Susan, where do you go?  What do you need to be inspired?

Susan: Well, my personal definition of the word, even, is to be moved to act through enthusiasm or some kind of urging.  So for me to be inspired, I need to either see or hear a new perspective, a fresh perspective, and at the same time have it touch me on an emotional level.  So when I mentioned to you earlier … we talked about how impressed I was with you about doing this project, and I have other people that I know that are committing to doing something every day for a year.  As much as I admire that, I’m not likely to do that myself.  It’s got the new perspective in that, but not the emotional connection.  I can’t think of anything I’m passionate enough to do to commit to for 365 days, and it requires both, you know, that fire and call to action as well.  It’s a crossroads between that perspective and passion, kind of like an “ah-ha!” with wheels; it propels me forward.

Toni: So perspective and passion is what you’re looking for as far as your need for inspiration?

Susan: Yes.

Toni: And what was it that you said that was on wheels?

Susan: An “ah-ha!”

Toni: An “ah-ha!” on wheels; I like that.  Perspective and passion, an “ah-ha!” on wheels – fantastic!

Susan: Because it’s the action, I think, that differentiates inspiration from maybe something else.

Toni: When you’re exploring your own potential, where do you go?  What do you need to explore your potential?

Susan: I can tick off a list of things, like being quiet and centered, being around bright and enthusiastic people, having a wonderfully supportive and accepting husband, but that describes the environment that supports exploring my own potential and all that’s true.  But when I think about it, in reality I’m really all about potential, and I actually believed my parents when they told me I could do anything I set my mind to, and being blessed with parents that actually told me that.  So exploring it comes pretty naturally to me; so it’s almost like every book I read or conversation I have inspires a million new ideas in my head, things to explore, and I believe I can do it all.  Narrowing it down can be my challenge, so what I really need to explore my own potential, I think, is to celebrate the milestones, the progress I’ve made, rather than always focusing on what’s next, so that keeps me positive and enthusiastic, about growing.  So without it, it can turn into striving more than thriving, and I want to make sure I’m having fun along the way.

Toni: Are there certain resources and tools that you reach for, being in the inspiration business that you’re in and helping others?  What tools do you reach for when you’re working on yourself?

Susan: You know, I don’t have any set toolbox.  I’m very open to noticing fresh new ideas that come my way, and so whether it be a new book or this project or something like that, now I have this wonderful community and network of people who also are always thinking about their next big thing.  So I constantly sense these little bits of inspiration whether it’s a link to a website or hearing about some other project that someone’s working on; so I guess what I’m saying is, I’m really very conscious about staying in the flow of people doing amazing things, and so that by default then keeps me inspired.

Toni: So when you talk about what you need for inspiration and the potential that you’re exploring within yourself, is it just a natural instinct to you is what I heard.  And then under the inspiration of what you need and the perspective and the passion, how do you take that perspective and passion that you need to balance into someone else’s approach that you use to help them inspire, to be inspired, to help them to thrive?  So your perspective and passion, how does that correlate to helping someone else thrive?

Susan: I think what I do that might be a little bit different, because it’s also kind of my own way of doing it, is I suggest or at least have them ponder the possibility that life doesn’t have to be hard and work doesn’t have to be difficult.  So I come from kind of a different philosophy that it shouldn’t be painful; it shouldn’t be hard.  There’s no question I work hard at what I do, but the enjoyment factor is very high, and so I encourage people to expect that, that it really should; and inspiration is a good vehicle for that, is to continue to go where you are moved to go rather than trying to push a rock uphill.

Toni: And when I was listening to you talk about how you explore the potential in others and then how you also seek your own inspiration and explore your potential, what I heard was that you also are very comfortable with who you are.  You know what your potential is, and you’re looking at yourself very honestly.  And what I heard that you’re helping others do is that you almost become their mirror and that when you’re centered and you know that you’re thriving and what you need to do to seek inspiration, that mirror that you hold up to others — whether it’s by the telephone or in person — I would imagine is a very powerful mirror.

Susan: I really like the way you said that.  It’s absolutely true.  And what it made me think of is, and it’s only mirroring back the positive aspects, so that’s another piece.  I believe that when you focus on the things that you do well or the positive aspects of your personality and behavior, those expand and grow and so, in proportion, we all have our weaknesses and things we’re not so good at, but those shrink in proportion.  And so focusing on the good, the other things take care of themselves and that also is a difference.   So much of our work lives — performance appraisal, grades in school — everything is focused on the things that we’re doing wrong, and so I like to just reflect back and grow the things that you’re proud of and that you want to see more of.

Toni: And to remember.

Susan: Right.

Toni: I thank you so much, Susan, for the snapshot of information that you’ve provided during this interview.  And your approaches to inspiration and exploration as well as your own needs will be of great benefit to those who read and listen to this interview; and so I thank you so much for sharing this time with us and providing this information to others.  So thank you so very much!

Susan: Thank you for inviting me, and I truly do feel it’s an honor to be included.

Toni: Thank you, Susan, and I hope we speak soon.

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For more information about Susan Clark:  www.heartspark.com

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