Mission Statement

I am living my vision

I had the fortunate opportunity a few weeks ago to present at a leadership conference. I was excited about the theme of the conference which focused on the potential everyone has to be a leader. The only thing all leaders have in common is that they have followers. Leadership is not something that is possessed or appointed, it is what naturally happens when what you do and who you are is in alignment and inspires others. Although I had planned something else to present, I found the discussion moving towards what unique strengths each person has and asking questions about how they could utilize those strengths in pursuing their passions and helping others to find and develop their own. I began facilitating the process of having each of them develop a mission statement.

One of the first affirmations I ever wrote was about the importance of envisioning my future. Knowing what I want for myself gives purpose and meaning to what I do each day. It is impossible for me to achieve growth and reach my full potential if I do not know what that looks like. It has taken time for me to articulate that vision but I am beginning to see it take shape. I am certain that it will go through multiple iterations as I continue to grow and change, but I would like to share with you what it is today. 

My mission is to make this world a better, safer, and more loving place.

I will accomplish this by walking my own path of growth 

with courage and conviction.

I will create safe places for myself and others to learn and practice 

vulnerability, authenticity, and exploration.

With patience and compassion I will meet others where they are 

and invite them to courageously discover their own path.

I believe in possibilities, hope, and that the only failure is in giving up.

I acknowledge with gratitude all who have helped me along this journey and continue to lead and inspire me to pursue my passions and purpose in life. I invite you to envision what your mission statement is and to share them here if you choose.

Envisioning a masterpiece

I have a clear vision of my future

If you visit frequently (thank you!) then you may have noticed my posts have been sparse this week.  I have had a few computer issues, but the reason has been more about getting caught up in the day to day crises of living.  I think everyone experiences things that can potentially derail them.  The question is whether I allow it to become a cycle of living one crisis to the next, or if it is just an inevitable, but temporary bump in the road that can teach me.  

While in New York a few years ago I spent the better part of a day at the Metropolitan Museum of Art.  The sheer volume of history and artwork within those walls is overwhelming.  I was particularly impressed by the sculptures.  How does someone take a massive piece of stone and carve it with such exquisite detail?  What is most incredible to me is the vision that is necessary to see with  complete clarity exactly what the artist wants to create, three dimensionally, and then to remove only what is in the way of that vision.  

I believe that if I want to remain on the path of reaching my full potential I can not approach it haphazardly or uncertain of what I am working towards.  I need to imagine exactly what I hope for.  Envisioning my best self and what it looks like to live an authentic and wholehearted life each day, gives me the proper perspective for dealing with whatever I may encounter. Creating that vision makes it possible to see beyond the crisis of the moment and place what is happening in the bigger picture.  A clear vision also allows me to see what is in the way of reaching my full potential, and what I need to work on in order to realize it.  Today, with a clear vision I can carefully chip away at what stands in the way of the masterpiece within. 

Keep your eye on the fencepost.

I am envisioning my future

When I was 16 I got a job moving sprinkler pipes to water a farmer's hay field. He taught me how to unhook, move, and then re-attach each section of pipe so that the field could get watered evenly each morning and evening. I was told that I should focus on a distant fence-post each time I put down a new piece of pipe. I thought I knew pretty much everything at that age and was quite certain I didn't need anyone to tell me how to put things together in a straight line. I ignored the instruction and just looked at each pipe I had previously hooked together and lined up the new one I had just moved over. When I finished I went to the top of the sprinkler line to turn the water on and saw that my sprinklers  zigged and zagged more like a slithering snake than anything that remotely resembled a straight line. 

I can't live in the future but I need to do more than look behind me or just a few steps ahead.  Unless I have a vision of where I am going I will never get there.  Having a clear idea of what I want keeps my path focused just like aiming at a fence post could have kept my sprinkler line straight. If I have no idea where I am going, any road will take me there.  Today I will create and refine the vision of my future.  

What do you envision for yourself?  Comments and feedback are always appreciated.