04.05.2022

A Matter Of Purpose | Connection | People That Care

Hello there! Welcome to my weekly LEAPS. 

You’re receiving this email because you subscribed to my weekly Wednesday feature or our mailing list. Every Wednesday, I share 5 things using our LEAPS approach: 

Learn: something new or an idea
Energy: something that’s creating an energy and positive impact
Action: something to do
Processing: a question to consider
Shout out: something or someone that I want to celebrate or acknowledge

Have you taken the GLAS Understanding Assessment
and received your free report?

LEARN
Something Worth Sharing

A Matter of Purpose

Since writing my weekly LEAPS, I know that I’ve often spoken about purpose - possibly more than anything else. There’s good reason for bringing the subject up on a continual basis…it matters! Purpose isn’t what we do, it’s why - it’s the bigger picture, the intention that pulls us forwards. Think of it as an ultimate destination. Very often when talking about ‘purpose’, I find people telling me that they know their purpose, but it’s usually one of the following extrinsic things, linked to:

• Something that can be sold / bought
  e.g a business, possession, something materialistic

• Someone that could leave / die / divorce
  e.g child, friend, a partner or spouse, pet

• Something you do
  e.g career, hobby, activity, sport, retire

Our purpose only relates to the areas within the list above because of ‘why’ we do them. Let me give the example of my husband, Will, and I. Our respective purposes are ‘adventure’ and ‘inspire’. Our children will all leave home one day and so THEY aren’t our purpose, but how we parent is strongly influenced by our purpose of ‘adventure’ and ‘inspire’. Our middle son is out in Canada on an inspired adventure - but all three of our children have benefited in some way - along with each of them know their own unique purpose: ‘belong’, ‘warmth’ and ‘create’.

When we each know (and deliberately live) our purpose - and understand that of those around us, it allows greater progress, clarity and confidence. Decisions become easier, distractions reduce and the opportunity of finding fulfilment increases. Of course, this applies to business too - knowing the purpose (not a marketing ‘mission’ statement), means the chances of alignment are dramatically improved while allowing agility and flexibility of strategy. Just a few reasons why purpose matters!

ENERGY
Focusing on an emotion or positive energy; a stand-out word / s

Connection

We are just a short way off finishing our building project - and a new kitchen is in sight! Picking up from my ‘Learn’, we set a ‘purpose’ of CONNECTION for the project. We wanted to create a space for connection - with family and friends - as well as better connecting to our home.

The word CONNECT means "to join, bind, or fasten together" and originates from the Latin word: CONECTERE "join together". It is formed by COM "together" + NECTERE "to bind, tie". I’m hopeful that the chaos of the last few months will allow us to better ‘bind together’!

ACTION
Something small that you can do that might make a big difference

Own a Regret

Last week I featured the brilliant book by Daniel H Pink: The Power of Regret. I’ve continued to think about the value of admitting and owning regrets - not seeing regret as a negative. The action for this week is to own just one regret.

You can simply think of it - as I have done - or even write it down or share with someone else.

PROCESSING
A question to think about and consider (you can discuss this with someone or write your thoughts down)

“When - and how - are you judgemental?”

This is a tough one, no one likes to admit to being judgemental - however, my research indicates that everyone is. Our first thought is about the judgement of others, but what about self-judgement? The amount of self-judgement is often excessive and cruel. I’d love you to ponder upon this, and how differently you would ‘judge’ (or otherwise) a loved one compared to how you judge yourself.

To support this, I’ve gifted a downloadable poster at the end of this LEAPS - the Codes of Self-Kindness. You can also download the research free of charge via this link.

SHOUT OUT
Who / what I think deserves recognition, my gratitude or to be celebrated.

People That Care Enough

Back to the building project…we have been blessed with finding builders that ‘care’. It’s a seemingly simple thing to care about work and your clients, colleagues and contractors, but over the years I’ve encountered people that don’t care - about themselves, their work, their company, their friends, their growth and so on. I love spending time with people that care.

Sometimes, when we care too much, we can become burdened and stall - so I guess my shout out is to people that care in a balanced way that’s just enough to do their best and enjoy all that this can offer them. Do you care, and if so, is it just the right amount?

BONUS GIFT FOR YOU
This week’s little extra for you - from me

This week, I’d like to recommend a book from an author that I really enjoy - Matt Haig. Matt breaks his books down into short, easy to access and digestible sections. This book, Notes On A Nervous Planet, was released in 2018 and yet, is possibly even more applicable as it focuses on the fast pace and volume of “stuff” that comes our way on a continual basis. Matt shares many of his techniques for combatting or just dealing with complexities, overwhelm and anxiety.

I’ve also provided a link for a Codes of Self-Kindness poster which is built on GLAS research.

If you’d like to discuss having your ideas, business or culture captured visually - you can also let me know via email.

*** ORDER YOURS NOW ***

Order Your Deliberate Year Calendar & Logbook Set

LEAPS is a process used by our team and clients all the time - and even my own family on a daily basis. 

I’ll be sharing a set of LEAPS each week with you and encourage you to do your own version:

• L: what have you learned?

• E: what’s your energy / feeling word

• A: what’s one thing you need to do?

• P: what are you thinking / processing?

• S: who or what can you shout out?