5 Responses

When I hear a coach, specialist, guru, entrepreneur, leader or pastor I admire offer ways of evaluating beliefs, values, motivation, risk and the like - I tend to respond in one of the following ways and I assume you do as well:

1. That's What I'm Sayin': I fall in agreement as though they beautifully stated how I feel/think about the issue at hand and can now confidently move forward as one supported and sent. Besides, I was already thinking it.
2. I Didn't Need to Hear That: I find myself challenged beyond my comfort zone, understanding or even belief system and so delete, toss out, burn and if necessary defecate on the leaders disagreeable and most likely blasphemous article.
3. I'm All Set, Thanks: These are great thoughts on the topic, I might even recommend them to a friend or two, but I'm good to go. I'm patiently running my race, values in place, vision on hand and need no new encouragement, information or guidance. Thanks.
4. Where Am I: While I don't have a plan, goal, vision or set of values already guiding me on said topic, and while what the specialist is saying challenges me to nearly rethink my current status and trajectory I'll just wait this one out. One of these days I'll write my own article inspiring millions and millions of...what was I saying?
5. Now That's Good: This is a relatively new way of viewing the issue. I need to explore this a bit. I need to see what Scripture says on the issue and how it works into my context of life if at all. This is a timely personal challenge.

As I was listening to a recent TED Talk about changing leadership principles in our culture I took note of the changes of my own response as the speaker continued on. I went from incredulity (#2), as if her 25 years of experiential knowledge and worldwide investigation were worthless - only to find myself traveling onward to #4. Not landing there I continued tracking with her revelation a bit and so on to #3. Now realizing that we have some thoughts in common (she must be intelligent after all) I moved to #1 where I attempted (quite arrogantly I suppose) to land.

The talk ended. I was left with my thoughts on her thoughts. Now realizing that I really didn't have a coherent series of thoughts of my own on the topic leaving me to admit that this new teaching was actually refreshing and enlightening in my current situation, thus propelling me on #5.

While you may not traverse through each in one sitting you will most likely land on one of these general emoti-thoughts.

The Question I Asked Myself Was, am I landing on the one that appropriately challenges my current disposition OR am I simply responding robotically?