I’ve joined Jeffrey Davis, 12 visionaries and a troop of creative business owners in Quest2015 – 12 Days with 12 Visionaries to Imagine Your Best 12 Months. I’m excited to see what I discover in the company of these visionaries, thought leaders, and fellow Questers.
Here’s our first prompt, from Jen Louden:
Grit without compassion is just grind. What would be most fun to create this year? How can self-compassionate grit support you in that creating?
In our achieve-at-all-costs-there’s-so-much-to-do-culture, these are considered accolades: She’s tough. Relentless. Hard working. Never takes vacation. Responds to emails 24-7.
I lived for decades with these beliefs etched in my bones, brain and heart.
My father’s death and a years-long recovery from serious back pain eventually led to a change in perspective that married self-compassion and grit. What happens in a mixed marriage like this? Creativity. Recovery of mojo. Inspiration. Happiness. Well-being. Change.
I’ve reduced but not yet eliminated grind. I’m working to notice when self-compassion is missing. It takes awareness to replace unreasonable internal pressure, self-blame, guilt and fear with self-care and self-compassion. When I can do this for myself I can share it with others. Heres to a life of grit+self compassion—minus grind!