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What’s bigger than a BHAG and small enough to hide in your pocket? It’s those hidden dreams for what your organization can become and what you can do in the world. Not just your “stretch goals” or even your BHAG (Big Hairy Audacious Goal). You’ve pushed yourself to write those down and used them to help your team achieve more. That’s fabulous. And, I’m betting there’s more. Your bold and beautiful aspirations.
What we imagine in the secret part of our hearts, what really makes us want to go to work in the morning, what lights us up and brings tears to our eyes – that’s what I’m talking about here. Too often we don’t feel entitled to have these big dreams or we fear speaking them lest others think we’re outrageous. But here’s what I think – these big dreams save us from our too small selves.
I’m noticing this right now, because I’ve recently reconnected with the feeling I get when I’m really in touch with what I care most about. More on that in a later post. Right now, let’s get back to your big dreams.
David Whyte says:
What you can plan is too small for you to live.
What you can live wholeheartedly will make plans enough for the vitality hidden in your sleep.
Our bold and beautiful aspirations are what we can “live wholeheartedly.” And they take us into the unknown. They ask us to step forward towards what we love, without having it all planned out, without knowing exactly how it will unfold.
This then is an invitation. Open to what might be. Invite in the mystery. Beckon the impossible.
How do you open to that? Here are some ideas.
- Read poetry, especially out loud. Try David Whyte or Mary Oliver if you don’t have your own favorites.
- Practice present moment awareness. A good place to start is Mandy Blake’s free “Stress to Serenity”
- ·The creative arts (visual, theatre, etc.), either watching or participating.
- Contemplative practices such as meditation or yoga. My favorite is Restorative Yoga at Yoga Yoga here in Austin.
- Journaling or “morning pages.”
- The inquiry that happens in coaching. Reach out to me for a discovery session if you are curious about what might be possible.
I’d love to hear about your bold and beautiful aspirations. You can drop me a note or Tweet me!