Happy New Year! As I woke up on January 1st I felt a surge of new hope and joy in my soul. ‘Something’ different has been preparing itself to act as an intercessory power in my own life, in those I serve, in those they serve, and so on! Later that same day I read a wonderful blog by Greg McKeown posted on the Harvard Business Review, http://blogs.hbr.org/cs/2012/08/the_disciplined_pursuit_of_less.html about the disciplined pursuit of less.
I’ve had multiple invitations to participate in joint ventures with others. In several cases, I decided to say no. Not because I didn’t think they were great opportunities, rather, I felt strangely aware that saying yes would diffuse the creative power of what I love to do and for those I serve. Greg McKeown calls this disciplined pursuit of less, the highest point of contribution (or our soul purpose in life).
In preparation for 2013, I worked through my own Wisdom’s Way to JOY-Full Living in 2013 guide book. As I focused on what I love most, what makes me feel most alive that I want to spend more time doing and offering in 2013, I found my own clear and heart-engaging focus – I found my highest point of contribution. And it’s all thoughtfully written in one workbook that I can keep in front of me.
Greg McKeown identifies four Predictable Phases:
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When we really have clarity of purpose, it leads to success.
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When we have success, it leads to more options and opportunities.
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When we have increased options and opportunities, it leads to diffused efforts.
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Diffused efforts undermine the very clarity that led to our success in the first place.
In other words, unless we are disciplined in the pursuit of less, Greg says, the highest point of contribution to the world, success is a catalyst for failure. So although I have found my clear focus for 2013 (and even beyond), I also am aware that I need to practise daily disciplines of wisely saying yes and no along the way. Recently I had a conversation with a colleague who suggested that I sign up for a group that seems to be doing work with similar themes to mine. I thought for a moment about all the projects I have deadlines for in the next month and in gentleness to myself, I said ‘no’. No matter how amazing this group may be, in the here and now, it will be a distraction. That’s the clarity of focus I need to offer my highest point of contribution. Perhaps in a couple months that may change and then I can happily say yes because at that moment, it continues to serve my soul purpose to help others make peace with themselves, with God/Spirit/Creator and all our relations.
When our lives align and focus on our soul purpose, then our focus actually becomes devotion to that Universal Presence and Power that creates and blesses all things. In devotion to The Great Love and Great Peace, I am blessed with peace with myself and with all my relations.
What is your focus for this year? Do you have a theme word that helps you concentrate your energy flow, your actions, and your creative power? What are the strategies and resources you need to experience what is most incredibly possible with your focus or theme word? Who believes in you so much that they will hold you accountable to this soul devotion and your highest point of contribution? I would be honoured to hear your stories.