What I look for reveals my world view. When I change my world view, I see differently, thus find differently. Indeed, I’m finding what I look for!
This blog post contains my personal LinkedIn posts for October 31 through November 5, 2022.
Be Intentional About Relationships
Why? Because they don’t happen accidentally.
Be intentional by being present.
Be aware of what’s happening in the lives of those around you.
Relationships are risky. But, when risks are balanced with deliberate thought and appropriate foresight, those risks open doors for us in life. Without risks, we live in fear of failure or rejection. proverbsforprofessionals.net
Today’s Observation: Stop what you’re doing. Pause. Interact. Ask questions. Listen.
The Precept: Ruth 2.13 is a meeting between two people who later became husband and wife. She mentions his friendliness in speaking to her heart.
The Question: What practices help you to be present with others, especially family members?
Finding What I Look For
What I look for reveals my world view.
When I change my world view, I see differently, thus find differently.
The mental models I use (e.g., simplest is best, sow/reap, glass half full) impact that world view.
Failure ISN’T final when we persist in finding another way forward. Failure IS final when we stop trying and stop believing. proverbsforprofessionals.net
Today’s Observation: Using various mental models to see a problem lets me look at it in different ways.
The Precept: In Proverbs 4.7 we’re encouraged to pursue understanding, hence sense-making.
A Question: Instead of staying stuck, how do you look at a problem in a new/different way?
The 7 Dwarfs of Failure
We can fail in any number of ways. The related LinkedIn article discusses seven.
Based on those seven movie characters, here are seven ways to fail. We can be:
1). Dopey – Clueless, naïve, and childlike.
2). Bashful – Afraid to step out of your comfort zone.
3). Sleepy – Disengaged and unmotivated.
4). Grumpy – Perpetually negative; overbearing.
5). Sneezy – Neglectful of our health; no self-care.
6). Happy – Perpetually and unrealistically positive.
7). Doc – Overly analytical; detached; bossy.
Now, here’s the bad news. We can have more than one of these problematic life outlooks at the same time!
Today’s Question: How have you overcome these seven predictors of poor performance?
There can be no sowing of seeds of personal growth until we open our hand to release those seeds into the soil of our character. proverbsforprofessionals.net
Someday My Prince Will Come
Remember that song from Snow White?
Well, here’s the deal. If you live in the woods with seven weird guys, your prince isn’t coming!
Seriously, believing in “some day” is the exact opposite of living a proactive life.
To be deeply fulfilled in our life we must be intentional, hence proactive, about our approach to life. proverbsforprofessionals.net
Today’s Observation: Waiting for life to happen is an ineffective way to grow. Take the risks. Move out of where you are; move toward where you want to be.
The Precept: Proverbs 13.12 contrasts waiting and accomplishing. Heart-sickness and life itself. In short, desire accomplished is life-giving.
A Question: “Someday” works in fairy tales. How do you avoid this simple-minded approach to your own professional development?
Introvert Tip: What I Envision
Like others, introverts can have a vision for life.
We pursue in life what we first visualize.
We envision the dream before it becomes reality.
Between vision and accomplishment is the pursuit.
A Question: How do you avoid introversion being an excuse for pursuing your vision?
My impact is an outcome of knowing my authentic self, then pursuing the unique value that authentic self brings to others. The pursuit of unique value implies I have a clear vision for what my unique value really is. proverbsforprofessionals.net
Grumpy Hummingbird
I noticed a hummingbird sitting on our front porch where the bird feeder was supposed to be.
I’d forgotten to put out the feeder that morning.
We bring-in the feeder at night because a raccoon pulled it down trying to get to the sugar water.
An Observation: Like a grumpy bird, we sometimes struggle to respond appropriately to life events. A hint: our pouting doesn’t move us forward!
The photo is of a hummingbird on a better day!
And a Question: How do you avoid the “I’m waiting for life to happen” trap?
