For the Greater Good
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For the Greater Good
As we approach the end of the year and try to cram all those last-minute things in before our well-earned break, it is more important than ever to take stock of the year that was. Self-reflection, insight, and personal enquiry are the pillars on which great leadership stand.
To that end, now it is the perfect time to ponder: self, others, and context. To aid in this reflection see part 2 & 3 of this 3-part exercise below. It will only take 20mins, but the clarity and level of profound insight will pay you back immensely as you enter the holidays and New Year.
If you have not yet completed part 1 of this exercise, please do so here.
Take time to think about the key people you share your life with: friends, family (however you define it), work friends and colleagues, community you engage with (schools, gyms, restaurants, where you may donate your time).
Record your answers down in the Others circle of the worksheet.
Ask the following questions without any judgement or blame, with no stories attached: simply observe, look, think, feel; these are the sentient creatures you share your life with, pay attention.
Record your answers where the circles overlap in the worksheet.
In part 3 of this exercise we look at the broader context in which we have been operating in 2020.
This can mean many things to many people. This is an invitation to open your eyes and look around at your environment. Record your answers in the section around the two circles titled context.
Ask yourself, what is the mood, the ‘vibe’? This matters. You, your friends/family all live within an ecosystem. What is yours?
Go further still – let your mind wander, without judgement or blame or fear or anxiety, just curiosity. Watch our world as it goes through this immense challenge, all of us together, and yet apart in so many ways.
Ask yourself, who you want to be in this world and begin to shape this for yourself. Gather up the joyful best of yourself, be proud of who you are. Then be brave about the stuff you want to leave behind, the suitcase of clothing that no longer fits.
Craft a visible story for yourself.
Personal purpose, values and ambitions, linked to a broader ambition for yourself, your relationships and how and where you work, all within a world landscape in which our actions DO make a difference.
The worksheet mentioned throughout this article can be downloaded here.