Hi Friend,
What a heat wave of a week! We went from ice covered roads to high 70’s unlocking a spirit of Spring! I don’t really check the weather, so I’m always pleasantly surprised at what shows up.
We continue to hammer away at the new website which seems to be taking longer than expected… which is entirely expected.
This week I got to virtually keynote an association that was full of Land Grant University Deans. The irony is never lost on me that I may be the least educated person in the room, yet I’m the one doing the teaching. I also finally got to go see the movie Death on the Nile. I was joining my friend and his daughters. He had to bail, so just me the girls went.
With the beginning of March, I’ve identified my third word of the year. Lots of people pick a “word for the year“. I’m not wired to keep that thing going strong 12 months, so I opted for a word of the month.
January was Contentment.
February was #BestDaily.
March is Devoted.
So far they each have resonated profoundly with me throughout the month. They are not so much a target for me to pursue, as a guidepost I look for along the journey. They stay in view as part of my morning routine. I attached a few deep cut Scriptures to them that reinforce my beliefs around their value.
Guiding Principles Don’t Pull You
Guiding Principles Guide
I like vision. I like thinking about the future and imagining a destination. I’m old enough to know the journey is where it’s at, but that doesn’t prohibit my willingness to gaze out beyond tomorrow. The words aren’t goals, but hopefully something that’s nurtured in me from which my pursuits will emerge.
The arrival of March means we will close out the first quarter shortly. How are you doing on the goals you set in January? If you haven’t reviewed them lately, now is a good time to bust them out. Of course the question is not “What have you accomplished?” but more importantly…
Who Have You Become?
That’s one reason I’m consciously leaning into the Word-of-the-Month because they speak to attributes about who I want to be as a man.
You and I are changing every day. We may or may not be growing, but we are definitely NOT remaining the same. It happens gradually right before our own eyes. Most don’t even realize it. What if we understood that every single daysomething about us is altered? In a very literal way biologically, emotionally, mentally, spiritually and relationally we change.
EVERY.SINGLE.DAY.
With invisible incremental metamorphosis transpiring, the soil of our soul is ground zero for shaping the results!
Instigating Ideas…
1. Review your goals.
2. Articulate your guiding principles.
3. Describe who you are becoming.
4. What’s the condition of your soul?
When we’re younger we aspire towards producing fruit. As we gain years and wisdom we prioritize prepping the ground. Gardening has never really appealed to me. It’s such a tedious process that requires patience. However, I’ve always appreciated that words are seeds that take root and blossom. How they bloom is dependent upon the ground and care given.
What if we could design our daily evolution to naturally generate our desired aspirations?
Tilling the ground is the best work we can do to reach our lofty goals. It’s such a fascinating concept that we can only achieve our dreams, not by doing, but by becoming the kind of person who reaches those destinations.