The Breadcrumbs of Purpose
Barry Lewis Green
Forward together, stronger; 6 Strategies across 6 Temperaments for elevated conversations, capacities and Character Leadership. I teach, speak, coach, write, and create for noble, purposeful, united action. Aim High.
Sharpen the Blades is a new blog series about character in response to life and work. Each post is an exploration of an aspect of character and its impact on living and working more successfully, however we might define such. Sharpen the Blades is about preparing our character as strength; in the face of life and work. Period.
Today, we sharpen those blades on...
Practicing Purposefulness
Richard Bolles wrote of finding passion and purpose "in your members". He inferred that what we love to do is known to our body. Our bodies know when they are lost in the timelessness of an activity. They know when we are fully engaged. Indeed, there is a connection in what I call our team of four. With that in mind, finding passion and purpose can start with being honest about what you love, like and admire in your life. Let your body do some talking; and listen with Honesty.
Things I love, like and admire.
- SONG and DANCE
- SHINEDOWN
- WRITING
- BREEZE
- SUN
- OCEAN
- DRIVING
- BARREN and OPEN GROUND
- MOON STARS
- MARVEL
- LORD of the RINGS
- HARRY POTTER
- STAR WARS
- STAR TREK
- STARGATE
- SUPERNATURAL
- TEACHING
- COACHING
- FACILITATING
- SPEAKING
- CREATING
- STRATEGIZING
- REFLECTION
- GREAT CONVERSATION
- HOT CHOCOLATE
- CURRY
- CHRIS BALLARD
- CAESAR, Planet of the Apes
- IRON MAN
- JFK, RFK, MLK, MUHAMMAD ALI
- GRETA THUNBERG
There is and can be more. But, in these, I see common threads and themes... possibility, openness, creativity, freedom, the heroic and noble, optimism, the work, dedication, the delicious and pungent, devotion, ardor, zeal, commitment, learning, engaging, the romantic, inspiration, excellence, the craft, being "unconstrained as the wind", devotion and service... and more.
Things I don't.
- SMALL and TRIVIAL TALK
- CONTRIVED and FORMULAIC MUSIC
- CONSTRAINT
- READING NOVELS
- PREDICATABILITY
- CYNICISM
- TROLLS
There is and can be some more. But, in these, if I flip them, I see my loves of deep and meaningful and even fun conversation that can be joyful or even otherwise. I see that aforementioned love of freedom and the free spirit. I see optimism. I see true Justice.
I see love of immediacy and engagement, and character.
The breadcrumbs for passion and purpose rest in those things we love and don't. When we inventory the things we love, like and admire, we start to see those common threads and themes. When we inventory those things we do not, and flip them, we can confirm and add to that list. Together, they provide a fertile ground in which to find the work, play and life we truly seek. Together, we can find the seeds for getting more clear on our Ikigai.
Indeed, it has been the core source for getting me to my Summer 2019 Plan.
Sit with yourself. Admit what you love, like and admire. Admit what you don't. Inventory them all; those things that move your soul. See what bubbles up.
Peace, passion and prosperity...
Barry Lewis Green, aka The Unity Guy
broadCAST May 2019: Optimist Creed