“The truth is in you. How much room do you give it?”

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“The truth is in you. How much room do you give it?”

—Laurent F. Carrel, Founding Partner of Carrel & Partner

Image from Unsplash by S&B Vonlanthen

Imagine you are about to embark on a hike along the Appalachian Trail, The Pacific Crest Trail, or Camino De Santiago De Compostela. You have trained for months, eaten all your veggies to lose those extra pounds, and freed up your calendar.

In the process of packing your gear with what you consider the essentials, you find that it feels like you’re wearing an elephant.

Where is your life over-packed and wearing you down? Where do you need to unclutter your head and heart and make more room for your truth?

EXERCISE:

What actions can and will you take today to live your truth even more fully?

“Faced with crisis, the man of character falls back on himself.”

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“Faced with crisis, the man of character falls back on himself.”

—Charles De Gaulle, 20th Century President of France

We need more Level 5 leaders today!

In his classic book, Good to Great, Jim Collins describes Level 5 leaders as more like Abraham Lincoln and Socrates than George Patton or Julius Caesar.

Level 5 Leaders have a mixture of humility and stoic resolve, doing what it takes to make organizations—and hopefully a nation—truly great again.

These special people demonstrate character by shouldering responsibility for difficulties and generously acknowledging and praising others for the efforts and progress that are realized.

EXERCISE:

Where are you seeing evidence of great character and resolve in the leaders in your personal and professional communities?

How and in what ways can you also fall back on yourself during these difficult times?

“When a man eats his words, that’s recycling.”

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“When a man eats his words, that’s recycling.”

—Frank A. Clark, 20th Century American lawyer and politician

Image from Unsplash by Artem Beliaikin

Here in Rochester Hills, Michigan, we are very proud of our recycling efforts. We were the first city in Michigan to pioneer a program where recycled waste was weighed during weekly curbside pickup — and each household was provided a tax credit for their efforts.

What recycling efforts do you participate in and see occurring in your part of the world?

These days, various forms of verbal and written pollution are damaging our environment with many hurtful and toxic effects on our local, national and global communities.

EXERCISE:

Where in your world would eating a larger portion of your own verbal missteps make the biggest difference?

Imagine the world that would result if all people took on this recycling effort!

“Democracy is based upon the conviction that there are extraordinary possibilities in ordinary people.”

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“Democracy is based upon the conviction that there are extraordinary possibilities in ordinary people.”

—Harry Emerson Fosdick, 20th Century American Pastor/Author

Image from Unsplash by Element5 Digital

I hope you voted early.

If you exercise this right in person today, please do so safely.

EXERCISE:

Consider having a few significant conversations today with friends and family about the extraordinary possibilities you envision and intend to be part of in the years ahead.

“Dialogue is balancing advocacy with inquiry.”

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“Dialogue is balancing advocacy with inquiry.”

—Author Unknown

Image from Unsplash by Priscilla Du Preez

 

In his book, Dialogue: The Art of Thinking Together, William Isaac describes this critical skill as the intention to reach new levels of mutual understanding.

Doing so, he indicates we can form a totally new basis from which to think and act.

He further states that this capacity for talking together constitutes the foundation for democracy.

EXERCISE:

Where are you observing and participating in true dialogue in your various communities?

How could a better balance between advocacy and inquiry improve communities throughout the world?

Friday Review: Fear

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FRIDAY REVIEW: FEAR

How often do you let fear stop you from achieving your goal? Here are a few fear-related posts you may have missed. Happy Halloween!

 

“Do one thing each day that scares you.”

 

 

 

 

“Become so wrapped up in something that you forget to be afraid.”

 

 

 

 

“If it scares you, it may be a good thing to try.”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

“All learning is state dependent.”

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“All learning is state dependent.”

—Jim Kwik, Author of Limitless

Image from Unsplash by Matthew T. Rader

Over the past months, many of us have become increasingly aware of our biases, whether conscious or unconscious. We have learned, through countless examples in our personal and professional worlds, which doors to open, and which to keep closed.

How often do you close the door on others, or worse yet, never open them to peek at what’s inside? To what degree do you live in a state of judgement and protection of the status quo?

What past lessons have been ingrained and habitualized?

EXERCISE:

Where would a state of greater openness, curiosity, and acceptance of other ways of thinking and acting create new learning and opportunities for a fuller and better life?

“A man’s greatest enemies are his own apathy and stubbornness.”

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“A man’s greatest enemies are his own apathy and stubbornness.”

—Frank Tyger, Late editorial cartoonist, columnist and humorist

To what degree are you concerned about outside forces influencing the upcoming U.S. elections?

With our intelligence community aware of these threats, much is being done to protect our democracy from these enemies.

What about the enemies far closer to home? And in the case of today’s quote, the enemies within? What impact are they having?

EXERCISE:

Where are the traits of apathy and stubbornness attacking and winning the war in your community and perhaps within yourself? What can and will you do to fight back?

“You carry the passport to your own happiness.”

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“You carry the passport to your own happiness.”

—Dianne von Furstengberg, Belgian Fashion Designer

Image from Unsplash by Nicole Geri

When was the last time you used your passport to travel to another country?

If you are like most people, your passport is collecting dust and your plans to break it out anytime soon are remote.

In early August, our children and our grandson converged on our home in Michigan for a “staycation,” following a series of COVID-19 tests to assure safety.

With a dose of creativity and lots of love, we all racked up lots of happiness miles!

EXERCISE:

In what ways can and will you use your internal passport to happiness wherever you find yourself?

How can taking a “There’s no Place like Home” approach to life bring you greater joy?