Mrs. Sweetie says I need “drive-bys” or “hit-and-runs.”
That means that I don’t like making decisions the first time I hear an idea.
It’s not that I’m incapable of making immediate decisions; I just don’t like it. I need time to process new information, to strategize, to envision, and—to be completely honest—to consider if I can improve on the idea that came from someone else.
Yeah, that’s a struggle.
It’s not that I don’t think anyone besides me has good ideas. That’s not the case at all! Some of the best things I have ever done originated with someone else’s idea.
It’s just that my mind immediately goes into overdrive.
Sometimes that seems like I’m being critical, but that’s not really what’s happening. Very—and I mean VERY—rarely am I imagining all the things that could go wrong with this idea.
Truly, I’m imagining all the possibilities.
That’s a good thing, right?
Unless it communicates to the other person that their idea is inferior and I don’t value their contribution.
And therein lies the downside of a “visionary” predisposition.
Not only does it cause unnecessary delays, it also risks hindering the growth of people.
And helping people grow into their fullest potential through discovering their own unique purpose and contribution to the world is a major component of MY unique purpose and contribution to the world.
I had an assignment a few years ago to compose my “tombstone tweet”—that is, a summary of how I want to be remembered in 140 characters or less.
Here’s the result: “He helped me discover a vision for the amazing life I could live and then he championed my vision.”
Do you see how my “overthinking” can work against this goal?
Look again: “He helped me discover a vision for the amazing life I could live and then he championed my vision.”
So, here’s the deal: I cannot change my predisposition to process information and envision the possibilities.
Nor do I desire that.
I can be sure that I am more focused on people than ideas.
I can immediately respond with something like, “That sounds like a great idea. How can I best assist you with it?”
Here’s why I wanted to write about this today: I want everyone to have a greater self-awareness of their strengths and how those strengths can help build stronger relationships and communities.
I also want us to see how we can hinder relationship and community-building if we are self-focused instead of self-aware.
The amazing life for which we are created is not nearly so much a destination as it is a way of traveling. And none of us travels well in isolation.
How are you traveling? What do you need to understand better about yourself? How can I assist you best?
I’d love to hear from you.
Be amazing today, my friend.
