Dear One,
My sincere intention is to help you illuminate your path, alleviate challenges, and elevate from wherever you are.
Perhaps consider ‘Inclusivity.’
In a dizzyingly distressful decade, a realization dawned that my mind prohibited Inclusion of foreign seeming, albeit beneficial ideas.
As Jeffrey A. Krames in Lead with Humility notes, Inclusion’s value is that seeking multiple inputs in decisions reduces blind spots resulting in better overall thinking and plans.
To heal, change, and/or rise involves taking risks stepping outside, or looking beyond previously, smaller viewpoints.
This is a broader Inclusivity mindset encompassing myriad perspectives and opinions. Vs. perfectionistic, all or nothing, more rigid thought patterns.
In leaving less space for divergent options and modalities – both human and Divine, there’s a disservice to self and others when one closes off to unfamiliar, fresh concepts.
Sticking to ‘old ways’ via inside-the-box thinking works – yet only for so long or if seeking to stay in one place.
Choosing to look around and within utilizing a more Inclusive approach can shepherd in healing and/or living that honors mind/body/spirit connection – and diversify possibilities.
Softening and listening to, then choosing, what one formerly said ‘un-unh’ to may result in gradual, favorable change.
With leaning into flexibility and Inclusivity, viable other options are gathered. For results like healing, growing a business, and/or making new friends.
Cultivating a more Inclusivity mindset can be:
• More warmly receiving dialog – not dismissing, casting aside, or quickly disagreeing. At the dinner table, in prayer/meditation, or anywhere. With intentional silence to hear then mull areas for potential re-thinking. Instead of preemptively closing off to unusual bits or unknowns,
• Pausing to reflect and listen instead of reacting in anger. To even just attempt, at first, seeing things as another does,
• Welcoming varied experiences. Occasionally or rarely is better than never. Begin where you are and shift from there. Perhaps trying a new restaurant or reading an article on a fascinating, novel topic about which you are interested and unaware. Here’s one by Steve Spring whose tips helped bullets 2-4,
• Asking questions about assumptions, positions, beliefs, and opinions. To promote understanding and learning. It may be uncomfortable or not quite easy. Starting small can help,
• Tolerating disparate thoughts which, on the surface, seem contradictory. To allow for musing creatively and innovatively. In a meeting (personal or professional) where conflicting opinions/directions are arising? Giving space, respect, and a smidge of time may generate fruitful, team satisfying, outside-the-box, more efficient, or savvy outcome(s). That wouldn’t have happened by pressing forward via one person’s plan, and/or
• Leaning towards accepting that the more one discovers, the more one realizes there is to know and learn. For more humility and less pride. Responses to what life brings are, in turn, more unrestrictedly curious and objective. Well, more of the time.
In practicing and summoning Inclusivity in life and challenge, it’s possible to become increasingly amenable to multiple courses of action.
If/when falling back into prior habits of a somewhat unbending sort, you can get back on the Inclusivity mindset horse once you notice. Imperfection’s ok, friend. You’re human. Mistakes really are training – to improve.
Such Inclusivity allows for seeing some type of value, even if microscopic initially, in whatever comes – even in waaaay-hard-to-take experiences. To grow, to problem solve, to expand.
May pondering and giving Inclusivity a whirl be of aid to marv-y, gem you,
Judy
Original Email Date: August 27, 2021