what is transformation?

we are asked over and over again what transformation is. we consider it impossible to describe (just as it is impossible to describe balance to someone who has not had that experience [in a way that helps the person get balance for themselves] or to describe the beauty of a flower or a view. often, one would fall silent and then point to the results.)

we can tell you what it we consider it not to be: it is not change; it is not a big change; it is not a radical change.

however, you can see the results of a transformational intervention e.g. love, fun & joy present between two people where previously they didn't get on (whether that be a work relationship or one at home.) or someone being fearless where previously they were crippled with anxiety and fear. or a busy high-performing individual expanding their results a thousandfold while actually doing less and having more free time.

so what is it? transformation is where nothing has changed and yet, everything is different. how to give you a sense of it? some analogies might help.

for the film-goers amongst you - it is like watching 'the sixth sense' second time around. you are watching exactly the same film - nothing has changed - but now you are not scared. the drama has reduced but now paradoxically you can appreciate (even more) the skill, beauty, subtlety, quality and richness of the film. it is like having new eyes. you see other things now that you didn't see first time around - because your fear has diminished.

ask yourself: if you did transformational coaching with us at mermoz and you had a life without fear - what would that allow for in your relationships, productivity, decisions, creativity, money?

we at mermoz work on the (hidden) contexts that give you how you are in life. we work on the (hidden) views that give you how you feel and act in different situations. we leave attitudes and behaviours alone. when you see the illusions that permeate your context for life and the valid, but flawed and insufficient nature of your interpretations, your behaviour, attitude and feelings automatically alter. something else becomes possible. in the following passage you can see what happens when illusions and conditioning run things:

the golden eagle extract from 'song of the bird' by anthony de mello. further details at demello.org

a man found an eagle's egg and placed it under a brooding hen. the eaglet hatched with the chickens and grew to be like them. he clucked and cackled; scratched the earth for worms; flapped his wings and managed to fly a few feet in the air.

years passed. one day, the eagle, now grown old, saw a magnificent bird above him in the sky. it glided in graceful majesty against the powerful wind, with scarcely a movement of its golden wings.

spellbound, the eagle asked, "who's that?"

"that's the king of the birds, the eagle," said his neighbour. "he belongs to the sky. we belong to earth - we're chickens."

so the eagle lived and died a chicken for that's what he thought he was.

imagine how this eagle might have lived when able to see the illusion and conditioning from the perspective we see. then ask yourself: if you had transformational coaching with us at mermoz and you lived life present to the capacity you ACTUALLY have versus what you, others, or your conditioning says you have - what would that allow for in your life? [ps - we're not suggesting that people around you are chickens ;-) - they're eagles too. it's an analogy after all.]