Written by: David Kegley, Executive Contributor
Executive Contributors at Brainz Magazine are handpicked and invited to contribute because of their knowledge and valuable insight within their area of expertise.
The world is on the verge of pandemic recovery. It is remarkable, unique, and involves all of humanity in real-time. This recovery is occurring in a way that the world of former global pandemics never knew. Are you ready for this ride? Most of you would answer “Yes!”
However, it’s important to make this recovery the very best it can be. Unfortunately, we often rush to convince ourselves that we are back to normal or even transformed without recognizing that there may be a lot to be learned from this experience.
Draw a Line, That’s All it Takes to Start
Mapping is a fun and meaningful way to deepen your understanding of your experience. It is a simple way to sense where you were, where you are now and where you are headed. In a minute, I’ll ask you to draw a line on a piece of paper. Make it a wavy one, like a trail or a path leading toward a future destination. Use dots to show milestones along the way. Limit the dots to around twelve or less and make the dot of your present moment more near the middle than the end of your map. Label each dot.
Here’s an example, the dots might be labeled:
Total Beginner
Average Performer
Blew it
Conflicting Setbacks
Stone-Cold Analysis
Regrouped and Climbed the Ladder
Crushed It
Pandemic Doldrums
Analysis and Creative Change
Transformation
New Breakthroughs
A Future Dream
Challenge Yourself to Deepen Your Awareness
Before I go any further, let me tell you about a group of people I did this with. It was before the pandemic, so we were all together. I told them about the map and suggested the end could be labeled Transformation. We talked for a while, then I said, “Ok, let’s say those other dots are here, here, here, here, etc.” as I walked around the room, pointing to different dots on the floor. Then I let them know they could place themselves on the dot where they were, right now, in their life, and they could go and stand on the dot of their choosing. Most people went and stood at the final Transformation dot. It was a fun exercise, and I logged it as an interesting study of human behavior. Do you think people were entirely honest about their life journey when they went to the Transformation dot? I could be wrong, but I thought probably not.
What may have been part of the bias was that people wanted to show their peers that they were doing well. They had made it to the end of this map! But, I think, in addition to that, people want to believe they are doing well themselves—better than they are. So, my challenge to you is to be realistic with yourself, even challenge yourself. How are you doing? Where are you on your map? And if you have a place you label “Transformation,” and you are there, get specific about what that means. That specificity will reward you! Plus, you’ll see in my example (which you are free to either use or completely change to suit your own purposes) I’ve added more dots beyond Transformation.
Add to Your Experience with Creativity
Now here’s the juicy part! You can get as creative with your map as you want to. When I’ve done this with people who draw their maps rather than walk to dots on the floor, they’ve really cut loose. You can draw pictures, use colors, even make a collage, add photographs, go big! Or you can make it simple, draw one little line, put 10 dots, and write one-word labels. It’s up to you. This exercise is simple enough that you can do it in five minutes or five hours, take all the time you want. The bonus for getting really creative with it: you involve more parts of your brain and make it more memorable and interesting. Use color, draw, paint (stick figures are fine), and you activate another layer of brain activity. Add a photograph that connects directly to one of your own life events and lock down a memory. Talk through the map with a close friend, and your social brain (Limbic System) gets engaged.
I know a corporate bank that worked on its inception story, mission statement, and vision for the future and integrated the whole thing into a map. Then they hired a graphic artist to depict it beautifully. Now, every employee can point to the map, which hangs on many of their walls, and easily tell their story. I know a woman who artfully mapped out her entire life journey on several sheets of paper to share it with her grandchildren. She did it so that she could use it to tell her life story to them while she was still alive. And in this case, she could point to the map as a picture book and keep them engaged. I know a man who did something similar. He was a Navy Captain, and he included photographs of the Aircraft Carriers he served on as part of his map. Some people have embraced color and drawings and creativity to the nth degree. Others scratch a few lines, then turn to a list, and are completely satisfied that they have captured a past, present, and future awareness. Today we can use maps to chart a course into a post-pandemic future.
Make the Most of What Your Map Means
When you finish your map, step back, begin some reflection and do some writing. This greater awareness has some very important potentials. First, it can put you at ease. You are going places, and they are very meaningful. Second, this awareness positions you to mine these places on your map for their meaning and look to your future destinations so that you can mine them as well. Finally, you can also consider renaming those future destinations; that’s in your power to determine.
And finally, the human pain and suffering of these past months are true fodder for growth. So let’s make growth out of what we’ve suffered by our increased awareness and our thoughtful, intentional journey forward.
Want to work with David to chart a new course? You can reach him at: drkegley.com, Instagram, or LinkedIn.
David Kegley, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine
Dr. Kegley specializes in coaching well-educated, progressive leaders and executives who have been stopped in their tracks due to health setbacks. His doctorate is in theology and preaching. His first 25-year career was in the Presbyterian Church U.S.A., where he was a Pastor and Head of Staff. But, after getting nearly burned out, getting diagnosed with Prostate Cancer, and going through cancer treatment, he emerged as a credentialed coach. Now he Coaches in the areas where he experienced his own humility and growth: Health and Wellness, The Cancer Journey, Burnout Recovery, and Leadership and Executive.
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