Living In The Possibility Instead Of The Probability
How much time do you give to just sitting back and reflecting on the ripple effect you are putting out into the world? Have you thought about how far-reaching and powerful it is or what behavior makes up the positive and negative quality of that ripple effect?
Hold that thought for a couple of minutes.
I want you to use your imagination and help me draw a mental picture in your mind that will set the stage for a concept we call Personal Leadership.
Here we go!
Imagine a world where…….
A much larger portion of the population lives without anxiety and fear in their daily lives.
A world where people were inspired to choose their careers more intentionally and in a purposeful way in order to use it as a tool for making an impact rather than just making a living or surviving. AKA - thriving vs surviving.
Where those holding powerful positions in government, business, sports, and religion were able to make decisions guided by a moral compass rather than money, ego, power, or personal agenda.
A world where fewer people had to live with that helpless feeling of being in a rut where they weren’t able to see a way out. Where they didn’t have that helpless feeling of not being in charge of their destiny or reaching their true potential. What if they could know that the power they were looking for was inside them?
Best of all imagine if you had more money in the bank, better health and vitality, more joy, energy, and were able to achieve your goals, milestones, or dreams much easier.
It seems idealistic, doesn't it? But that’s okay. Because the upside of being an idealist means that we are living in the possibility, if we lose sight of what is possible then we can easily slip into accepting what is probable.
Each one of these options puts out a very different ripple effect into the world and the universe.
Although this possibility would be totally awesome, the world isn’t always like that is it? Nonetheless, there is one common trait that would make it a reality, and that character trait is practicing personal leadership.
By practicing personal leadership it gives us the strength to live in what is possible. It is incredibly important to get a handle on this belief because we are responsible for the quality of that ripple effect we constantly create.
Leadership and the ability to create a meaningful ripple effect for good are not mutually exclusive. But when we witness the exact opposite in society daily it can confuse the definition of leadership, which is why we must distinguish that it all starts with how we take care of business in our own life.
Personal leadership is characterized by our capacity to trust ourselves and take responsibility. It involves presenting ourselves authentically in every facet of life, enhancing not only our well-being but also positively impacting the lives of those around us.
It requires a commitment to being extraordinary, going beyond the ordinary, and embracing the uncommon
Self leadership is the accountability to live our own life as we define it and to take care of business (TCB) in each area of life in order to elevate the quality of life, not only for ourselves but for those we touch.
What I am saying is that a positive change occurs with accountability and we enhance our lives in a way that impacts the world around us. It’s a very, very tall order and many people like to skip this level of accountability as they try to grow and change their personal situation in life.
Without a high level of personal accountability, we cannot transition to that next level, from our old self into the person that makes possibility a reality.
This philosophy for life isn’t for everybody. Because it does take getting uncomfortable, very uncomfortable at times, and we do live in a society where the main driver is to seek comfort and make the easy decisions.
But it does resonate with those who are willing to get uncomfortable in order to create impact and change for themselves and those around them. It is those who want that next level that are the individuals who become invigorated by getting uncomfortable and then it becomes a way of being. It is who they are.
Personal leadership starts with a commitment to health and wellness.
It is when we are grounded in our authentic self through emotional, mental, spiritual, and physical growth that we are in a position to be an impactful leader in our own lives and hopefully lives of others. Because that is when we live in what is possible rather than what is probable. Possibility is our power and it changes the quality of our ripple effect.
Theologian and activist Howard Thurman captures the essence of personal leadership perfectly.
When your eyes open in the morning and when your head hits the pillow at night, simply ask, “What kind of ripple effect did I put out into the universe today?”
