“Life isn’t about finding yourself or finding anything. Life is about creating yourself. And creating things.”
― Bob Dylan
To all our highly valued clients and acquaintances:
Speaking of Dylan, have you ever felt like you were “A Complete Unknown”?
If you have not seen this movie already (released at Christmas) and if it is still in the theatres, I highly recommend it as an example of an audacious, bold, pioneering maverick who stood for a much better future. I watched it 4 times.
A COMPLETE UNKNOWN | Final Trailer | Searchlight Pictures (75 secs)
I hear numbers of people talking about new energies and that now is our time to make every effort to rise, like leavened bread. This is Our Time to Create.
It seems obvious that we are now dealing with beaucoup unknowns, at every level we can imagine, at a pace that most people would describe as dizzying.
How can we best Create our Power to Create in the relentless face of all this unknown? Doesn’t it feel a bit like the pandemic news from 5 years ago??
In the sense that there is unbelievable uncertainty. It makes me wonder:
- Do we realize we have unlimited levels of choice and the power to create?
- What are we willing to go for, even though we do not seem to have a map?
- Are we interested in living at our highest levels?? What might that look like?
- What are we committed to? What do we need? What must we think?? Do??
- Where do we stand? Where to start? What is missing, needed, and wanted?
- Do we focus on progress or perfection? What do you expect of ourselves??
- How great are we willing to have life be? How daring are we willing to be??
- Can we (will we?) build capacity to do the things we most hope to realize??
- Are we discovering where we are underdeveloped and what we must grow?
- Is it possible to thrive in the face of the unknown? Is it possible to manifest our dreams and aspirations into existence, with greater ease and velocity??
How is that for a dose of questions to consider?? Are they worth working on??
In the spirit of fresh innovation, new energy, and creative context, consider:
While I have enjoyed TGI Fridays, I have also often joked about these ideas:
- TGI Monday – Thank God, it’s Monday. (with a lot of Breakfast Specials)
- TGI Today – Thank God, it’s Today. (doing our best, one day at a time)
- TGI Now – Thank God, it’s Now. (being present to and in the present)
A colleague of mine recently renamed their Morning Team Meetings as:
Breakfast at Epiphanies (I love it), as well as a new job title for his Team Leaders – Chief Coherence Officers. What might you create to power you?
We are all part of the Forces of Creation. I will refer to my “Noah’s Ark” idea:
No matter how turbulent the storms are and how rapid the changes or how uncertain the future is, let us not be surprised by surprises. Let us go for buoyancy, no matter what. Inevitably, stuff happens. It is time for adaptability.
Creating can sometimes (oftentimes?) be messy, with lot of trial and error.
Our recommendation. Do not do life alone. Key bullet points to consider:
- Optimize your resources, reference groups and networks for support.
- High Trust Relationships are critical to growing Your Power to Create.
- Two heads are better than one. Get out of monologues and into dialogues.
- Consistently interact with at least one close person who is equally or more inspired, equally or more committed, and/or equally or more capable.
- Create strength in differences. Do you see it differently? Tell me more??
- Create Win-Win mindsets – not just my way or your way, but a better way.
- Create Give & Take (for Heaven’s Sake?) “Power Generator” Relationships.
- Optimize Power of Great Groups. Access Collective Wisdom/Masterminds
- See The Fifteen Top Take-Home Lessons of Great Groups from the best-selling book “Organizing Genius” by Warren Bennis and Patricia Biederman.
To Create our Power to Create, we may need to let go of past interpretations, previous perspectives, or outdated viewpoints. We can choose a blank slate.
- We can create “A Beginner’s Mind” – that is, a way of being open, curious, and eager to learn, as if you are seeing the world for the first time. It is a state of mind that can help you develop new skills and approaches.
- Blank canvas, fresh palette of colorful paints as we head into the unknown.
Want a 4-minute soundtrack (with 88 million views??) to support ‘Letting Go’?
QTIP (Quit Taking It Personally) whatever triggers, upsets, or drains you.
Triggers can erode our Personal Power to Create. Carry Q-tips as a reminder?
- Align ourselves with our True North Core Values and the best/highest universal principles as we understand them – get our actions and behaviors to match our values/goals as a fulfilling self-expression. Keep taking effective actions, have a tracking system to measure progress and accountability partners you communicate with and/or collaborate with.
There are world class courses (Coaching Gyms??) designed to help us identify and replace old patterns with new practices that leave us both dependable, and masterful in generating new possibilities in every aspect of our lives.
Out of curiosity, I Googled a question. Here’s what I got back. WDYT?
‘How do I effectively optimize my power to create in extremely chaotic circumstances and in rapidly changing dynamic environments?’
In extremely chaotic circumstances and rapidly changing dynamic environments, optimizing your power to create involves a few key strategies:
First, maintain a clear vision of what you want to achieve. This will serve as your anchor amidst the chaos.
Second, stay flexible and adaptable. Be willing to pivot and adjust your strategies as new information and situations arise.
Third, focus on what you can control. Invest your energy in actions that will move you toward your goals, rather than getting caught up in the uncontrollable aspects of the environment.
Fourth, build a strong support system. Surround yourself with people who can offer diverse perspectives and help you navigate through chaos.
Fifth, practice mindfulness and resilience. This will help you stay calm and composed, enabling you to think clearly and creatively even under pressure.
Lastly, prioritize and execute. Determine what actions will have the greatest impact and focus on those tasks, one at a time.
By applying these principles, you can harness your creativity and continue to produce effective results, even in the most turbulent of times.
Preview of coming attractions (I was on a call with these authors):
Disrupt Everything: Every Leader, Team Member, and Family Needs to Disrupt. Grow. Change. Triumph.: Patterson, James, Leddin PhD, Patrick:
A past reading recommendation and a re-recommendation:
When Life Hits Hard: How to Transcend Grief, Crisis, and Loss with Acceptance and Commitment Therapy Paperback – August 1, 2021
Shall we set up a brief call to discuss/create what’s most important for you?
Let me know what will serve you best. I prefer to hear more from you.
Don
