Being Effective in our changing world - Part 1

This is a collection of ideas and information read or comtemplated that have changed my life, and continue to do so in a profound manner. I would like to share these ideas with you.

VISION:
This is the power of imagination. Albert Einstein said "Imagination is more important than knowledge". Perhaps the most important vision of all is to develop a sense of self, a sense of your own destiny, a sense of your unique mission and role in life, a sense of purpose and meaning. Vision is seeing the future state with one's mind. All things are created twice: First a mental creation; second, a physical creation. The vision creates the dynamics or the process of reinventing oneself or an organization reinventing itself. It represents desire, dreams, hopes, goals and plans.
When testing your own personal vision first ask yourself: Does the vision tap into my voice, my unique talent, my energy? Does it give me a sense of calling, a cause worth my commitment?
Aquiring such meaning requires profound personal reflection, asking deep questions and envisioning.
Vision does not only entail seeing a changed or different state of affair, but also seeing people through the lens of their potential and their best actions, rather than through the lense of their current behaviour or weaknessess. There is great power in viewing people separately from their behavior, for as we do, we affirm their fundamental, unconditional worth. When we perceive and acknowledge the potential of others, it is as if we hold up and mirror to them reflecting the best within them. When people behave far below their potential, our affirming attitude and words become "That's not like you"

DISCIPLINE

Discipline represents the second creation. It's the executing, the making it happen, the sacrifice entailed in doing whatever it takes to realise that vision. Discipline is willpower embodied. A swede Dag Hammarskjold once said
"When the morning freshness has been replaced by the weariness of midday, whe the leg muscles quiver under the strain, the climb seems endless, and suddenly, nothing will go as you wish - It is then that you must not hesitate"
Discipline brings freedom. Only the disciplined are trully free. The undisciplined are slaves to moods, appetites and passion.
Discipline also begets happiness. Show me happy people and I'll show you disciplined people. This is the ability to make promises and keep them. First to onself, and then, to others. For example, Can you play a piano? Not really, I have never disciplined myself to do it. I do not have the joy and happiness and freedom that comes with the mastery to playing the piano...
Discipline is a trait common to all successful people. A guy by the name of albert Gray spent a lifetime studying the demonimator of successful people and he came to this conclusion. The successful have formed the habit of doing things that failures don't like to do. It does not mean that the successful like doing them either, but their dislike is subordinated by the strength of their purpose.
Generally, people who spend their time making excuses are those who lack focus and discipine. Setbacks are inevitable, misery is a choice. There are always reasons, never an excuse.

PASSION

Passion comes from the heart and is manufest as optimism, excitment, emotional connection, determination. It fires unrelenting drive. Ethuthiasm is deeply rooted in the power of choice rather than circumstances. Ethusiasts believe that the best way to predict the future is to create it. You make yourself part of the solution, rather than part of the problem of feeling essentially hopeless and helpless.
Aristotle said "Where the talents and the needs of the world cross, therein lies your vocation"
We could say, therein lies your passion, your voice.
The key to creating passion in your life is to find your unique talents and your special role and purpose in the world. It is essential to know yourself before you decide what work you want to do. Once mission in life is usually detected more than invented.
Courage is the essence of passion. The great contributors in life are those who, though afraid of the knock at the door, still answer it.
There is a misconception that a person's skill is their talent. Skills, however are not talents. Talents, on the other hand require skills. People can have skills and knowledge in an area where their talents do not lie. However, you you hire people whose passion intersects with their jobs, they won't require any supervision. Their fire comes from within , not from without. Their motivation is internal, not external.

These are the three virtues that govern greatness. One more thing to mention.

We are have thoughts and thought patterns that govern our minds. Some are just ideas in flights, others are deep rooted within our thinking process. These thoughts govern our destiny. In my experience, this is the greatest battlefield of all times. You MUST gain control over the patterns that govern your mind: your worldview, your beliefs about what you deserve and about what is possible. This is the zone that changes everything.
Whatever weakens your reason, impairs the tenderness of your conscience, takes off your relish of spiritual things, whatever increases the authority of body over mind, that thing is sin to you, however innocent it may seem in itself.

Your comments and views and are highly appreciated.

Mwangi Njagi
Member - Aaron's Group