That BIG Decision

Decisiveness is a Virtue; a strength of Character. It is a "firmness of mind"; requiring Discernment and Courage. Some decisions can and must be made in an instant. Others require time. Both can require such Discernment and Courage... or what I refer to as Sagacity and Tenacity.

When we say that we find it difficult to decide, we have decided that that is true of us. We decide when we get up, eat, or not. Either way, it is a decision. Everything we do is born of decision, often quick and unconscious. And so the capacity to decide is inherent. But what of those bigger decisions? How can we get better at such?

ICCCAN Do It

Over the years, I have evolved and developed a model called ICCCAN. I offer it up for consideration. Indeed, I am using it now as I engage some bigger questions and decisions for my own "next chapter" if you will. As I discern and decide on running down the next dream... as I consider my own three "passionate pillars" of studentry around CHARACTER and PURPOSE and UNITY and how I live them... and as I consider my own personal noble road... I consider:

• ISSUE: What is the core problem for me, to be addressed at this point? As John Mellencamp sang and sings, I want and thirst for an ever increasing "real life". As I enter into 62, with no sense of what that means truly... I do understand that, statistically, my inventory of years ahead is lessened. That said, I seek no "pasture", but I seek the next part of the country I call my life, as yet not as explored as I desire. That territory, and its exploration, is born of the territory I have already explored and determined that I loved or otherwise. I know what I love already. I know the work and joy and play and Service I love, to date. But where from here? The Issue for me is "Where from here?"

• Consequences: So what if I ignore this question and simply carry on? What if I do not engage my spirit in getting more clear on the next "territory" to explore? My answers to that almost rhetorical question are personal but you can guess. It means what I call accepting the motions over the mission... not acceptable to my Soulfulness, to be honest. But it is useful "feeling" the answers to what if I did nothing about it. Ugh.
• Causes: What has brought me to this place? The short answer is 61 years of life experience. The longer answer is an inventory of all the work and play and Service that I have already engaged. The longer answer is in taking stock of what I have loved (and otherwise) and exploring why that is causing me to consider "next chapter". The longer answer is in realizing what I have experienced during Pandemic with the departure of Panda, and more. Am I bored? No. Am I inspired? Yes. Am I done with teaching? God, no. But it is worthy of my time to dive deeper into why this restless spirit now rises... and to "feel" those answers.
• Constraints: What constrains my decisions? Well, I always wanted to play Safety in the NFL. Always. Constraint! This notion is about framing up the parameters of any decision. One parameter for me is that the "next chapter" must draw somehow upon that which I know that I still love... teaching, educating, training, coaching, mentoring, speaking, facilitating, cartooning, singing, dancing, writing and more. I have no intent of letting go of the things I love. So, possibilities ahead must allow for such.

• Actions: Here, we consider our possible actions. Now, I am more of an "AND" person over "OR"... so I seek the synergy. That said, what are my options? Continue full time teaching and my work with Epic Engage. Look at reduced teaching hours and more EPIC. Exploring what a model would look like where Epic is the umbrella for all that I do. including teaching. A fourth option is to forge a long considered Institute. Here, I meditate on options, in the light of Issue, Consequences, Causes and Constraints. Here, I seek a Mindfulness of spirit.
• NOW: Once a decision seems clear, what is our first step? That is the NOW. That first step on the new journey that gets us started; what does that look like? What does that look like for me in terms of stepping into parts of my undiscovered territory? What is my first step that I believe in?

Beyond ICCCAN

Another fave "model" for me was offered up by Shoghi Effendi, on prayerful problem solving. Feel free to consider.

Either way, or another, Decisiveness requires a myriad of Virtues. Which ones do you manifest as personal strengths? Use them. Which ones are challenges to your increased capacity for decision making? Consider how you can practice them to bolster your capacity. For me, strengths of Love, Honor, Zeal, Idealism, Unity and more can serve to set fire to my capacity to decide. At other times, my struggles with Grace and Peacefulness can stand in the way of clarity. These I need further develop.

Recently, and in response to an exercise request, I worked on this sense of things for me. I made some decisions. And, I still am. Indeed, this afternoon and as part of that same "pace group" (if you will), I am continuing with decisions. Decisions are steps on a ladder towards somewhere. Taking each step is a decision. However we best make them... rationally, or intuitively, from conversation and consultation or other models ... or some wondrous hybrid/blend, they are necessary to move forward.

What big decisions do you need to make at this time? What areas of your life amongst the AL's as I call them (vocationAL, entrepreneuriAL, educationaAL, physicAL, financiAL, relationAL, emotionAL, spirituAL, mentAL, and more) require your Decisiveness? Acknowledging and accepting that you are at a crossroads is a first, cool decision. I got to go make some decisions, small and big. Whatever stage or age in life...

Go decisive...

Barry Lewis Green, The Unity Guy with Epic Engage.

Me?on LinkedIn

CHECK OUT

• Developing Leadership Character – Ivey Business Journal

• The Global Goals
• The Virtues Project

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