CHANGE IS EASIER... WHEN WE DON'T MISS OUR "BURNING BUSH" MOMENTS.

I wouldn’t mind a “burning bush” moment, but who am I? And who talks like that? I mean, besides Moses.

The other day, a Jedi friend (Vid) invited/dared a group of us to notice our way of paying attention — challenging us to really focus on the quality of our attention so that we don’t miss the reveal/the messages about our mission for next year, our calling for the next 10 years, or our purpose for the rest of our lives.

It is very easy to miss…we’re all so busy.?

He went on to explain how it was actually the quality of Moses’ attention that allowed him (Moses) to notice the uniqueness of the burning bush, which then caused him to take interest and dared him to draw near. With a little more care, curiosity and concern, he became “exquisitely present” and therefore ready to learn about the new master plan that was in store for him.

I wonder how many burning bushes I continuously walk right past when the quality of my attention is compromised or because I’m not really even looking for it. We certainly can’t find what we’re not looking for. If the quality of my attention is not deliberately, exquisitely, evermore present, I’m likely to just keep missing it. Am I missing it on purpose? Maybe I’m not really open to a new master plan after all. Maybe I’m unconsciously just fine settling for the old reliable “Plan A” (keeping the status quo in place), delivering my current level performance. Maybe my strategy is to change very little and just keep hoping for the best.?

Maybe I’m not ready for the Red Sea moments that follow the burning bush?moments.

“I sure hope this year is better than last year,”?a friend blurted out to me in passing.

“So what are you going to do differently this coming year to make sure that it is better?”?I responded to her question with a question, knowing all along that it was really directed inward, at myself. “Let’s get specific. Let’s build your plan.”?I think this kind of annual year-end recap/reflection and next year/next level planning exercise (see questions below) is the closest I’m going to get to a burning bush experience.?

I’m no Moses. For a clear, actionable plan to be revealed to me, I have to slow down, take my shoes off, pay attention and draw?near.

Only a very small percent of the population have clear goals/priorities let alone write them down. Yet when we do write them down, we are?exponentially more successful at achieving our next level goals/priorities. When we actually write down our priorities, values and guiding principles + setup mechanisms for feedback about how we're doing re: living up to those...we become exponentially more congruent and authentic.

Congruency is the most attractive quality in a leader (intrinsically and extrinsically). Congruency is way more attractive than your six-pack. Congruency is available/accessible to everyone and it is free. Everybody has abs too - we just can't see them perhaps; but the people following you had better be able to clearly see your leadership six-pack in congruency across all of the domains that matter to you (e.g., nutrition, sleep, health, relationships, spirituality, work).

This post is an invitation to myself and others to slow down, take interest and dare to draw near. Let’s spark our own pseudo-burning bush moment. Use this list of reflection-provoking, planning questions below (modified from last year). Use these or modify them yourself, make them your own, or use a different list of questions to capture your thinking for an increased likelihood of success (in all dimensions) in the coming year. Maybe even start thinking 10 years ahead - become a "decader". (As long as you plan to be around another decade or two or three...it would make sense to prioritize in decades, plan quarterly/annually and execute in weekly sprints.)

We don’t want to miss the burning bush moments. We want to draw near in order to be sent out more effectively — maybe even to become a burning bush ourselves next year.

Here's a powerful exercise - YEAR-END or ANYTIME exercise - to help us NOT miss it)

LAST YEAR/CURRENT LEVEL REFLECTION

POSITIVE:

? What did I love most about last year? When was I happiest?

? What am I most grateful for from last year?

? Which three moments were most meaningful?

AUTHENTIC/PURPOSEFUL:

? Where did I really use my strengths?

? How did I live out my values/purpose?

DISAPPOINTMENTS/LEARNINGS:

? What were my biggest disappointments??…frustrations??…failures?

? What were my biggest inconsistencies with my values/purpose/priorities?

? What still makes me feel angry??…sad??…anxious??…scared?

? What is the most honest thing I can say about my disappointments?

? What is the most compassionate thing I could say to myself about my disappointments? (reframing)

MOMENTUM

? What momentum did I start to build last year that I want to take forward?

NEXT YEAR/NEXT LEVEL PLANNING

? What do I love to do that I want to do more of in the coming year?

? What core values are most inspiring to me?

? What priorities do I want to focus on in the coming year?

? What would be most inspiring for me to accomplish in the coming year?

? What would be my heart’s desire or biggest dream?

LAST YEAR RELATION REFLECTION & FORWARD-LOOKING THOUGHTS

Things To Discuss/Be Curious About

Draft thoughts about this next year and set expectations for what's ahead, then share:

Spouse/Partner/Friend__?__ Age__?__

— What positive changes did you notice about him/her this past year?

— What milestones did he/she accomplish this past year?

— What experiences did he/she have this past year?

— What successes did he/she have this past year?

— What readjustments did he/she make this past year?

— What are you so proud of for him/her?

— What do you love about him/her?

— What challenges, rites of passage, new milestones and new experiences will he/she face in the coming year?

Child__?___ Age__?__

— What positive changes did you notice about him/her this past year?

— What milestones did he/she accomplish this past year?

— What experiences did he/she have this past year?

— What successes did he/she have this past year?

— What readjustments did he/she make this past year?

— What are you so proud of for him/her?

— What do you love about him/her?

— What challenges, rites of passage, new milestones and new experiences will he/she face in the coming year?