Is it true that you are what you think? MOVEME is a process that encourages you to think about how you approach life, family, friends, and work. Most people walk through life never thinking deeply about why things are happening to them, accepting whatever life throws at them. Several core qualities separate those who value short-lived happiness from those who strive for long-term success. MOVEME stands for these six ideas: ¿ Motivation: to do things that take them out of their comfort zone to strive for excellence; ¿ Openness: a willingness to listen to new ideas that may be beneficial to their growth, personally and professionally. ¿ Vision: the ability to see beyond the surface of situations; to see beyond what is directly in front of them. ¿ Exposure: encourages you to think about the kinds of experiences you have been exposed to in your life, ¿ Mastery: dedication to excellence in everything that you do in life. ¿ Engagement: interaction with groups, organizations, and the community to get things accomplished. The workbook format of this book is essential to identify and dismantle the mindsets and attitudes that we harbor as result of learned and accepted behaviors. The questions posed are meant to encourage deep thinking and to develop ownership in this process of self-exploration.
MOVEME
Harnessing the Power of Your Thoughts for Personal & Professional GreatnessBy Marcal GrahamiUniverse, Inc.
Copyright © 2010 Marcal Graham, Ed.D.
All right reserved.ISBN: 978-1-4502-3512-9 Contents
Preface............................................................................................xiIntroduction The MOVEME Process...................................................................xxiiiChapter 1 Getting Started on Self-Reflection.......................................................1Chapter 2 The Building Blocks of the Leadership Pyramid............................................7Chapter 3 Time Spent on Reflection.................................................................21Chapter 4 Motivation: Be Intentional...............................................................25Chapter 5 The Power of Music, Visual Arts & Pictures: I Am What I Hear and See.....................31Chapter 6 Openness: Are You a Prisoner?............................................................35Chapter 7 Vision: Are You Able to See Around Adversity & Obstacles?................................39Chapter 8 Exposure: What Is Shaping Your Worldview?................................................43Chapter 9 Mastery: Growth and Evaluation...........................................................49Chapter 10 Engagement: Are You a Reflector or Deflector?...........................................53Chapter 11 The Cost of Positive Change and Success.................................................61Conclusion.........................................................................................67References.........................................................................................69
Chapter One
Getting Started on Self-Reflection
Do not go where the path may lead: Go instead where there is no path And leave a trail. -Ralph Waldo Emerson
If you do not spend time devoted to thinking about the choices and decisions you make, you are preventing personal, professional, and spiritual growth. Many people accept life at face value and believe or behave as if their thoughts do not contribute to their reality. It is easier for them to blame others for their reality.
This chapter examines the power of knowing as we journey down the path of life. We are all traveling in many directions as we attempt to find happiness, success, and personal and professional fulfillment. What is the best course of action? How do we get there? Can we follow someone else's blueprint for our own lives? Do we have the courage to find and develop our own pathway? These are just some of the questions that we must address if we are to have the kind of life that we need or desire.
It is easy to be a follower and to want to know what is around the corner-always. We are unable to predict the future, of course, but we must stay the course. There is no common or universal blueprint for our lives. It is our own responsibility to navigate life's ups and downs. The quote by Ralph Waldo Emerson above illustrates both the uncertainty and opportunity that we are presented with when we make decisions. In making our own decisions, we chart a course that prepares us for the future. These decisions may mean deviating from what family and friends think is the "right" path for our lives.
Assess Your State of Mind
Who determines the right path for you? __________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________
Are you afraid to create your own path? Why? __________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________
How many pathways have you created? __________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________
Have you experienced U-turns or obstacles? Explain. __________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________
Have you run out gas? Why? __________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________
Have you been disillusioned by the consequences of your decisions? How so? __________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________
These questions allow you to reflect on and analyze your actions and decisions. How often do you think about your choices? Sometimes it seems like the only ones reflecting on life, relationship, politics, and learning are late-night and popular comedians like David Letterman, Jay Leno, and Chris Rock. Unfortunately, we are not trying to create our own pathways to success, but we want everything figured out for us at the outset. Life would be simpler if our futures were predetermined from the outset. We would like to believe that our "cheese" will never be moved, as author Dr. Spencer Johnson, in the transformative and awe-inspiring book Who Moved My Cheese?, elaborates on how human beings negotiate, avoid, confront, and overcome their fear of change from a personal and professional standpoint.
The game of checkers and chess is based on critical-thinking skills. The game of checkers is based on being quick, forward-thinking, and developing strategies to outmaneuver your opponent in order to win a match. Comparatively speaking, the game of chess requires another level of intense analytical and strategic thinking and rewards players for being methodical and developing strategies to anticipate your opponents' moves well in advance. In retrospect, both board games have one thing in common; you must weigh all possible outcomes before you make a move. Many people move with little or no data, or even outdated data. What is your mental approach to achieving success? This is just one question to pose to yourself.
Assess Your State of Mind
Another way to analyze your life is viewing it as a race to be run. Are you a sprinter in your thoughts and aspirations, often only considering the immediate or short-term goals you need to achieve, or are you a long-distance runner who sees the big picture and trains for the long haul?
Are you a chess or checkers kind of person? Why do you see yourself as this type of player? __________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________
Do you see life more...