Resilience TIPS: New Personal Horizons
By Sandy Davis, a.k.a. "The Resilience Guy" “One does not discover new lands without consenting to lose sight of the shore for a very long time.” Andre Gide Seven Years Times Two For the past fourteen years, I have continually explored the waters of the Bay of Resilience. In metaphorical terms, I have sailed all along its multifaceted shores. I have spent time on most of the various islands in the bay. I have ventured into adjoining bays. And I have anchored safely in many snug little harbors. During those years, I have sailed in all conditions. I have been caught in wild storms. My boat has been knocked down and beaten up by raging seas. We have been becalmed. I have mistakenly run her up hard onto unseen ledges. We have had some blissful, easy times. And from time to time, I have gone ashore to re-supply. All the while, I have diligently taken time to plot my course and chart the territory. In literal terms, during those years of exploration I have codified a set of simple resilience practices, tested them rigorously, spoken about them, taught them, and written about them. I have also published three instructional manuals that teach you how you can systematically benefit from those daily practices. Along the way, I have continually adhered to my own personalized set of self-care activities. They have enabled me to reap great rewards, including keeping me alive on several occasions. I have practiced what I preach, and I will continue to do so. The way of resilience is now in my bones. For seven of the past 14 years, I have also published a monthly newsletter that has featured my original articles on how to develop your own vitality and “zillience.” Fourteen years is two full cycles of seven years. A single intentional seven-year cycle almost always produces meritorious discoveries, valuable points of closure, and exciting new beginnings. Two such cycles in a row do so even more powerfully. Recognizing that I have reached the end of a second consecutive seven-year cycle, I have decided to take a sabbatical—or maybe even a double sabbatical. Time to Change Course I have decided that the time has come for me to change course. Instead of continuing to cruise in the confines of the Bay of Resilience, I am going to head boldly out to sea. I am going to set forth on a journey to discover new lands. And with that in mind, I am going to consent to lose sight of the shore for what might be a long time. This means that for a while, at least, I am going to suspend publishing my newsletter, ResilenceTIPS, on a monthly basis. (I may revive it at some point as an “occasional” newsletter.) I am also going to suspend my monthly “Ask-the-Resilience-Guy” conference calls. For the time being, however, I plan to continue to send out the self-care Daily Evidence Logs each month. (If you are receiving them now, you will continue to receive them on or about the 25th of each month.) Each month, I will also post downloadable versions of the logs on my web site. Instead of just continuing what I have been doing for the past 14 years, I am going to stop, re-set, and start anew. To that end, I am going to create some new space in my life, and then see what fills it. What’s Next for Me Right now, I am stacking up some exciting new ideas and evaluating them. I am also starting to read about and research some unexplored areas of interest. As soon as I discover which worthwhile project (or two) calls to me in the most tantalizing and irresistible way, I will venture forth anew. I believe it was George Bernard Shaw who once said something to this effect: “If I speak about what I am going to do next, it alleviates me of the responsibility of actually doing it.” In line with this astute observation, I will say no more at this point as to what’s next for me. Suffice it to say that I am ready, willing, and excited to continue my personal explorations. It’s just that they may be discontinuous from the explorations that have brought me to where I am at the completion of these past two seven-year cycles. Hauling Out As I start a brand new seven-year cycle, I will begin by shaking myself up a bit. Such a shake-up is akin to finally hauling your vessel out of the water at the end of a season so that you can overhaul her from stem to stern. Once she is high and dry, you can replace worn gear, add new gear, give her a fresh coat of paint, and put her thoroughly “back to rights.” When this restorative work is completed, you can then re-launch her and venture forth into uncharted waters with both confidence and enthusiasm. Every now and then, all of us need to “haul out,” repair ourselves, re-stock, and then start anew. An intentional dose of discontinuity provides an opening change, as well as a great impetus. At some point in the future, I will look forward to sharing with you what I discover next. What’s Next for You? Because I have reached the end of two back-to-back seven-year cycles of growth and development, I have decided to pay attention to my own inner calling to adjust my course and head in some new directions. At this point, it feels right to come to a stop, to reflect on where I have been, and to take stock of what I want to create next. When that becomes clear, I’ll go for it once again, full speed ahead—as though my life depends on it. I invite you to think about your own life in terms of these seven-year cycles of growth and development. What is going on for you in your life right now? When did your last seven-year cycle of change and growth start? Two years ago? Six years ago? 15 years ago? 25 years ago? In other words, when is your next endpoint of a seven-year cycle likely to be at hand? When might you feel compelled to make some adjustments in your own course? A while ago? Right now? Sometime soon? Call to Action When the inner call to change your own course becomes loud and clear, dare to take action and adjust where you’re headed. Have the audacity to make changes in what you are doing, or how you are doing it, or both. Take the time you need to re-awaken yourself and enliven your spirit. Challenge yourself in new ways to live your life to the fullest and to make the biggest contributions possible. Don’t delay. Don’t defer. When you recognize that your time has come to change course, take action and boldly set forth anew. Because there is no safe place to hide indefinitely, dare to let your own life journey continue to challenge you to your very core. Let the unpredictability of your journey inspire you to keep on growing, learning, and contributing. Surprise yourself as you discover how creative, generative, and generous you can actually become. Lastly, may all of our respective, unique life journeys remain interconnected in the elusive yet mystical ways that unite us as we all travel together towards the same destination: a long life well lived. Until we meet again, bon voyage! Relevant Quotations “Don’t wait for a crisis to discover what is important in your life.” – Anonymous “A ship in a harbor is safe, but that is not what ships are built for." – William Shedd, Nineteenth-Century Theologian (1820-1894) "The person who gets the farthest is generally the one who is willing to do and dare. The sure-thing boat never gets far from shore." – Dale Carnegie, American Writer and Lecturer (1888-1955) "Conditions are never just right. People who delay action until all factors are favorable do nothing." – William Feather, Author (1888-1981) "Don't be afraid to take a big step when one is indicated. You can't cross a chasm in two small steps." – David Lloyd George, British Politician and Statesman (1863-1945) “Unless you change your direction, you’re likely to end up where you are headed.” – Chinese Proverb “Twenty years from now you’ll be more disappointed by the things that you didn’t do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.” – Mark Twain, American Author and Humorist (1835-1910) "Only put off until tomorrow what you are willing to die having left undone." – Pablo Picasso, Artist (1881-1973) For More Information If you would like to know more about how you can challenge yourself to be your best, most vibrant self and consistently steer your own best course, check out the instructional manuals available at: http://www.resilienceworks.com/instructional_manuals. They offer you concise information and precise instructions on how to methodically increase your own vitality and resilience—even when your life journey takes you through inevitable rough seas and uncharted waters.
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Copyright © 2011 Alexander M. (Sandy) Davis. To find out more about Sandy Davis and the resilience-related guides and services he offers, visit www.ResilienceWorks.com. To subscribe to his free occasional e-newsletter, send an e-mail to Subscribe@ResilienceWorks.com.