I work with corporate clients to flush out mission and vision statements for
their organizations. These statements often serve to harness and direct the
power and potential of a team towards their vision. This way they can clarify
their goals and obtain them in a unified and focused way. Powerful and effective mission statements must answer these three questions, “who are we,
why do we exist and what do we exist for?". If any member on a team does
not know the answer then they connect to the organization in a loose and
uncommitted way. "Buy in" from team members typically occur when
individuals grasp and agree with the core purpose and vision of an organization
in a way that causes them to tap into their essence and creativity and
contribute to the realization of the corporate vision.
I have used a similar strategy in couple counselling to harness the strength
of a couple and support them in their work to answer these questions, "who
are we, how did we come together and why are we together." This type of
work clarifies and strengthens the bond of their partnership allowing them to
celebrate their individuality as they evolve and give to their partnership their
best selves to see their common vision (hopes and dreams) comes to pass. The
Couple Statement becomes the frame within which the couple lives. Here they
are housed as a collaborative team to express and live out their lives in a
loving, meaningful and respectful way. The intent is not to make their
statement look good. It is how they live out their statement in a way that causes them to look good because, they are living their statement.
In my work with individuals experiencing various types of trauma as well as
mental and emotional anguish I often see how they are defined by their
circumstances. Some have been belittled their whole lives that they believe
that they are "not good enough", others have been ignored and shunned
and believe that they are "shameful and unlovable" and some have been
told that they are losers where they believe “that they are failures and will
never amount to anything". What we believe shapes our thinking and self
perception. What we believe has power over us to shape us into becoming what we
believe.
My clients often see themselves very differently from how I see them because
of this negative shaping. I see compassionate, courageous, empathetic, caring,
hard working and wonderful human beings who have survived hardship and
tragedies that would make grown men buckle under the emotional and mental
weight of their journeys. I have found that by supporting my clients to define
who they are by who they know they are at the core of themselves, allows for
them to triumph over what they have been told they are. After we have
confronted and peeled back the layers of distorted thinking and self perception
and the faulty mental wiring, my clients then start a wonderful constructive
process of defining themselves by what is true. We continue to work together
until they become what is true and the shift and transformation is the most
beautiful experience to watch.
Here is a personal statement used with permission. It has been an honour to
watch this individual become her true self.
“I
am courageous, bold, confident and capable of making wise decisions;
I
can trust myself; I deserve to be treated with dignity and respect”
Anonymous
You have power and potential within you but circumstances in life often
lead us to focus on our lack and our most negative qualities. I encourage you
to write a personal statement today - let it become the frame of your life and
then live to it in the most lavish way you can until you become the authentic
you :)
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