What I learned in 2021 is simple! Who I am, as well as who I am becoming, is largely the product of one thing – who I choose to believe I am!
This blog entry contains my personal LinkedIn posts for the week of December 13 through December 17, 2021.
Live with purpose, on purpose!
Knowing my life purpose doesn’t mean I choose to live out that purpose!
Why so? Because I can become distracted. Or, I feel obligated to live the life purpose given me by someone else. Or, it’s “not the right time.”
Or…fill in the blank with your own experiences.
A purposeful life is rewarding only if I have the courage and expend the energy to pursue that purpose.
An abundant life discovers its divine purpose. More importantly, an abundant life makes progress toward accomplishing that life purpose! proverbsforprofessionals.net
Today’s Question: How do you position yourself so you are prepared to pursue your life purpose, on purpose?
Proverbs 22.18 says “within you.” For starters, I must change WHO I AM, that is, change from the inside-out.
I know what’s coming next!
Perhaps you have received a similar request for a LinkedIn connection. They are really impressed with your credentials. You know, they’re “shocked by your excellence!”
DM1: Hi, how are you doing?
DM2: Where do you live?
DM3: How old are you?
DM4: Are you married?
Regardless of how you answer the questions you know what’s coming next.
A request for your WhatsApp number to allow for “more personal conversations.” The bitcoin version skips DM3 and DM4 to go right into a sales pitch.
What’s the angle? Perhaps some form of a scam.
It’s apparent that the connection request wasn’t for networking or growing professionally.
Truly, when I know what’s coming next then it’s very likely your motives are inappropriate. Worse yet, the motives are certainly poorly disguised.
Sound character enhances interpersonal discernment, thus contributing to good judgment. proverbsforprofessionals.net
Today’s Question: What’s your primary motive for requesting network connections on LinkedIn or other social media sites?
Proverbs 28.5 teaches that bad character produces poor judgment. Conversely, discernment is a gift from God.
How do you listen?
I can listen with my ears, my head, or my heart.
With the ear could be in one ear and out the other.
With the head often means listening to respond, not to understand (Habit 5 from the 7 Habits).
Listening with the head is logical. Mental. Reflexive.
Listening with the heart requires empathy. That I see below the surface. That I recognize underlying emotions.
Listening with the ears is deadly – we miss critical warnings about changes around us.
Listening with the head may win arguments but doesn’t encourage diverse views that are enriching.
Leaders, and others, who listen with the heart are rewarded with deep discernment that enriches them and those around them.
Listening with the heart produces the discernment that drives wise behavior. proverbsforprofessionals.net
Today’s Insight: Don’t allow active listening to shut down open sharing and the breadth of opinions that are uncovered by listening with the heart.
In First Kings 3.9 Solomon prayed for the capacity to listen with his heart so he would be able to discern right from wrong as a leader. Conversely, leaders who lack discernment are a disaster!
Let it go!
We often hear “let go of things you don’t control.”
The advice matches a diagram of three concentric circles: things I control – the innermost circle, things I influence, and things I don’t control – the outermost circle.
Unfortunately, “let it go” may be dangerously naïve for a leader. Why so? Because even if out of my control, I must be aware of possible outcomes so I can create contingencies.
Similarly, “let it go” could be misinterpreted as doing nothing about inappropriate behavior.
Where does “let it go” work? I think in situations such as not allowing my self-worth to be determined by the opinions of others.
When I don’t understand God’s timing, I may respond in frustration and anger. But, at that point we are positioned to understand “My grace is sufficient.” proverbsforprofessionals.net
Today’s Question: How do you decide when to “let it go”?
In Exodus 5.22-23 we read a frustrated prayer. Why? Because the outcome was unexpected. Worse yet, it was uncontrollable! For a person of faith, the uncontrollable requires divine intervention.
One thing learned in 2021!
This year I’ve strongly reinforced one idea. Who I am, as well as who I am becoming, is largely the product of one thing:
Who I choose to believe I am!
As such, my mindset drives much of what I perceive.
In turn, my perceptions influence the tone of what I share.
Thus, the more I grasp an abundance mindset the higher the value and deeper the impact of what I give away.
Truly, mindset drives what I see, what I choose to believe, and who I am.
Mindset is an ancient precept. For example, in Proverbs 11.24 we read that scattering brings increase. We scatter, or give away, because of the increase we see in others, and receive back ourselves. proverbsforprofessionals.net
Other 2021 events for which I’m grateful:
1). A negative test result on a biopsy
2). Watching our grandchildren flourish
3). Relocating and downsizing, and
4). Repurposing at the end of a professional career.
Because of deliberate choices, our life story isn’t simply “where we came from and who we were.” Instead, it’s “how much, and in what ways, we are growing right now.” proverbsforprofessionals.net
Today’s Question: What have you learned this year as you turn the corner into 2022?