Looking in the mirror and having it talk back to you is an unnerving experience:
“What have you got to say for yourself?”
“ Are you of any salvageable earthly account or not?”
“ And by whose measure or reckoning?”
[While there may be higher “Callings”, the very least we can do is become members in good standing of our own breed – homo sapiens … human beings … worthy “Earthlings”!]
What we DO – how we behave – reflects a great deal about who we are.
“People will never consistently do who they aren’t.”
Peter Thompson
PT takes up the challenge of explaining how and why stuff happens or doesn’t in a recent video posting [https://peterthomson.wistia.com/medias/ni65kf53eb ]. The two polarities of consideration are that stuff happens … or doesn’t … 1) because of the person presiding over circumstances, or 2) because of the circumstances themselves. Often, of course, it’s a combination.
But the main element we can control is US! We can’t always control circumstances … although we CAN to some degree in many cases – if we judiciously IMPOSE who we are and what we do upon the circumstances unfolding.
SOBERING NOTE
It’s entirely possible to make circumstances WORSE!
In his video, Peter references a series of business books by Chip and Dan Heath, including one, “Switch”, in which they make a cogent case for personal IDENTITY being the preeminent factor in durable CHANGE and masterful NAVIGATION … over, around and through circumstances.
While one can alter “behavioral doings” circumstantially with various rewards and penalties, it’s not until one’s IDENTITY takes the shape of mature, commanding “ownership” of one’s Destiny … and of related projects and processes … that good-to-great things begin consistently to happen.
So what comprises a “Good-To-Great Things Happening” IDENTITY? Here are a few things to consider:
- Creed, values, principles, morals, beliefs, integrity, purposefulness
- Skills, knowledge, mental and physical acumen, creativity
- Emotional and relational “groundings”
- Positive driving forces: Mission, Purpose, Passion, Goals
- Total Intentionality and CARING about things that matter
Building our IDENTITY is a lifelong pursuit. Those who have had the good fortune to experience scouting – either Boy Scouts or Girl Scouts or similar organizations – have had a great start.
Boy Scout Motto
On my honor, I will do my best
To do my duty to God and my country and to obey the Scout Law;
To help other people at all times;
To keep myself physically strong, mentally awake and morally straight.
Boy Scout Law: A Scout is:
Trustworthy,
Loyal,
Helpful,
Friendly,
Courteous,
Kind,
Obedient,
Cheerful,
Thrifty,
Brave,
Clean,
and Reverent.
Boy Scout Motto
Be Prepared!
Boy Scout Slogan
Do a Good Turn Daily!
I found it helpful to create a Personal Manifesto that reflects the IDENTITY to which I aspire. You may wish to do likewise for quick reference when things get tough. [I’ll be happy to share a copy of my own upon request.]
In any case, let’s continue building a “Good-to-Great-Things” IDENTITY for the duration. You’re gonna like the way you look in the mirror … I guarantee it! Quartermaster
