I have been going through a strategic process or journey (conscious and unconscious) these past few months. I expect it to continue during my summer “break” throughout my work with youth and community engagement. During this time and on LinkedIn I have been sharing posts such as:
- Finding Your Fit (and its contained links)
- Who are Your Friends?
- The Practice of Leadership
… among others. This is all to say that the strategic exploration has been both purposeful and accidental. It is not unlike traveling a river and finding multiple excursions along the way.
What I am realizing is that there is a reset underway. It is not a wholesale reset of life, as there is much in my life I want and intend to keep. It is more of a sharpening of the blades, to cut away the needless distractions and focus my energies and talents in ways that better fit what LP Jacks terms as the Master in the Art of Living.
- “A master in the art of living draws no sharp distinction between his work and his play; his labor and his leisure; his mind and his body; his education and his recreation. He hardly knows which is which. He simply pursues his vision of excellence through whatever he is doing, and leaves others to determine whether he is working or playing. To himself, he always appears to be doing both.”
For me, that is returning to the process that started this all in Aim High… and then 5 Questions of Clarity. For me, what is ever more clear this day (amidst one of the busiest weeks of the year and the news of the passing of someone who meant something more to me) is:
SPIRIT/VISION: I fiercely walk with Honor and Love.
MISSION: I endlessly champion character and unity.
ACTIONS: I do so through studying, practicing, playing, working, leading, following, teaching, speaking, coaching, dialoguing, facilitating, training, writing, singing, dancing, cartooning, and creating on same. I do so through prayer, play and profession. I do so through my own full on road to health; mind, body, spirit, and soul.
SUCCESS: I define my success by effort, not outcome.
HAPPINESS: I enjoy the ride by making aligned choices that I go Hell Yeah on.
Even as I write this, I know this. Amidst all of the ducks in life, I know this is my path to lead, for me. Every cell in my body feels this. It does not matter if its articulation to the world varies. I know this is me; and that my actions will speak the rest. My deeds, not words will be my adorning.
Yes, there is a reset underway. But, like any great reset… it is about getting back to something, and doing away with the dross and distraction that might have accumulated.
By the way, I should note that unity is not uniformity nor is it everyone sitting around and singing kumbaya. It is finding your best place and letting others find theirs. In so doing, we all work together, whether we actually work together. Finding your place builds unity in diversity. That is the kind of unity that is organic, dynamic and serves us all. That is the kind of unity I champion. Live and let live. Learn and let learn. Lead and let lead. You get it. 🙂
What is your reset? Answer those 5 questions. Make it real.
Peace, passion and prosperity.
Barry Lewis Green, aka The Unity Guy™
Barry is ultimately a vocalist, strength coach and educator. His work is about exploring, identifying, practicing and mastering our strengths and building upon them through practical and powerful unity and resourcefulness. That is why Barry is The Unity Guy™. EPIC Engage™ is an extension of The Unity Guy™. The Epic work is all about building strong, united and inspired cultures lead by character… at school, work, business and community; where everyone matters and contributes everyday.
PS
Check out these past posts on:
- Who are Your Friends?
- Ferretting Out Focus
- 11 Perspectives on Possibility and More
- The True Practice of Character
- The Book of Happiness
- The Character of Leadership
PPS
- Our work is all about character. We work hard and joyfully to help build character driven, united and resourceful organizations and communities around the globe. As part of that work, we offer you …
- our buffet of FREE services and resources here.