The Artful Learning Lab: Resilience and the Learner-Judger Path

The Centre for Creative Leadership (CCL) describes resiliency as “the ability to recover quickly from change, hardship or misfortune. It is associated with elasticity, buoyancy, and adaptation. Resilient people demonstrate flexibility, durability, an attitude of optimism, and openness to learning. A lack of resilience is signaled by burnout, fatigue, malaise, depression, defensiveness, and cynicism.”

It is my belief that in these times of global and economic uncertainty we need to find ways that will help us to stay grounded and open to possibilities, rather than succumb to fear and resistance, and the stuff that drains our physical and emotional energy. A practical tool that can help you is Marilee Adams' Choice Map.

Choice Map via Inquiry Institute

Marilee Adams provides a straightforward approach to examining our choices, that is, we can choose to be a learner or a judger. The high road of a learner takes us on the path of inquiry and curiosity, self-responsibility and staying in the moment. The alternative, the judger path, is a reactive, blaming, self-critical and downward spiral into the muck of the judger pit. Simple yes, and that is its' beauty. The challenge is in the execution.

Leader-ly Learning is a way of being, the kind of learning a leader needs to engage in as an ongoing process of the job that includes becoming an active participant by questioning assumptions, being curious, and learning about human behaviour. (Vaill, 1996).

Now whether you are a CEO of a Fortune 500 company or Chair of your book club, you will always have an opportunity to lead yourself. You will always have the right to choose where you allow your thoughts to wander and how you act in response to those thoughts. Remember, as the picture above illustrates, you can always switch lanes when you find yourself walking into the judger pit. It's all a matter of how you exercise your choices and how open you are to the learning you gain as a result.

Photograph via Pinterest

Thought Challenge: Over the course of the next week, spend some time tending to the learner and judger paths. What are the signs that you are moving into the judger pit? What are some strategies you can use to move yourself out of negative mindsets and into a learning mode? How will this enhance your ability to bounce back? What does it mean to you to be a leader-ly learner? What will be different about you as you master the art of curiosity thinking? 

The Artful Learning Lab: Mindful Goal-Tending

Image via kim holtermand

Why set goals?

Goals are more likely to help you succeed more quickly at reaching a desired outcome when you can clearly describe what you're aiming for and identify action steps that will steer you towards attaining your goals. 

Think of it as setting up milestones that will help you mark success along the path to reaching the desired vision you have created for yourself.

Image via Tumblr

Wondering how to get started? Chunk it!

Break your goals into bite-sized chunks. Imagine your goals are stepping-stones, flexible and dynamic to allow for the learning and growth acquired along the way. 

Think about your vision statement. What are the key themes that are expressed in your vision? 

Where do you feel a sense of urgency, excitement, or inspiration to get moving? Start there. Two to three goals is plenty to begin with.

Image via Pinterest

Be SMART!

Now, take those themes and write out a goal statement (I have created a worksheet you can download for free). Write your goal statements so that they are specific, measurable, achievable, realistic, and time-bound (aka SMART).

Image via Pinterest

Track it!

Use the worksheet I have provided or set up your own process to track and check in on how you are progressing towards your goals. 

Having a visual display not only helps you stay focused, it can also be greatly satisfying if like me you feel a sense of accomplishment at being able to check another task off your list. 

How about journaling, drawing, or taking photographs as a way to record your experiences? 

Don't forget to make adjustments because you'll be acquiring insights into what works, what can be improved upon, and what isn't necessary, etc.

Image via Pinterest

and the part about mindfulness...


As you tend to your goals, how will you stay true to your values and what filters do you have that will help you know when you might be out of sync?

I encourage you to tap into your wisdom, pay attention to what feels right for you. If you're doing something that doesn't fit any more or takes you away from where you want to be, pay attention.


This journey is all about the learning. So tap into your intuition, trust yourself, and don't forget to enjoy the ride!  
                                           

                                                                                        Image via weheartit

Thought Challenge:  What intentions have you set in regards to your vision? How is this helping you move towards your vision? In what ways are you using your values to guide your decision-making? How can goals make a difference in achieving your desired future? What is required of you in order to enjoy the journey on the way to reaching your destination?

The Artful Learning Lab: It begins with a dream

Thought Challenge: What is YOUR dream?

The Artful Learning Lab: Values

Now that you have had a chance to think about the values that are important to you, let's dig a little deeper.

Values are foundational to who we are as individuals, families, communities, organizations, and cultures.

Values help us to stay purposeful and focused, and are like anchors in a storm that support us in holding to our vision.

When I first began to examine my values a few years ago, this is what I identified with and found meaningful:

Creativity: Innovation, imagination, visualization
Empowerment: Holding a space for exploration and growth
Purpose and Connection: Focus, results, collaboration and community
Discovery and Curiosity: Lifelong learning and open dialogue
Spirituality: Soul work, a holistic view of human beings and the world in which we live
Mastery: Self-awareness, personal development and excellence

As you can see, values are subjective, tend to be highly personal and are very influential in how we interpret human behaviour and our surrounding environment.

By becoming clear about your values and underlying beliefs and assumptions, you will be freeing yourself up to create space to focus on a path that will support you to step into your greatest self.

Thought Challenge: Now go back to the values you identified earlier. How did they come to be a part of who you are? In what ways are your decisions and choices in life aligned to your values? What are you noticing from this examination? What needs clarifying? What remains true for you today and moving forward?

Photograph: The Art of Purposeful Living

My Learning

After a life changing event that occurred a year ago, I went deeper into coaching and my own spiritual development. Now I'm in the process of figuring out what it means to repurpose my life.  As I hone my values and beliefs, I am focusing on creating a seamless connection between my internal and external environment and the emergence of my most authentic self. 

I have made time to still my mind in meditation, quiet reflection and journaling. This has helped me to refine and simplify things down to what matters most right now. Here are the values, beliefs and guiding principles that are true for me today:

Flow: A state of consciousness that is completely engaging, playful, life-enhancing and synchronous

Creativity: Imagination and innovation

Love: Self-regard, heart-centred, compassionate and forgiving

Mastery: Self-awareness, transformational growth and lifelong learning

Freedom: Autonomy and independence

Thought Challenge: Over the next week, practice being a neutral observer. How do you respond to certain words, situations and behaviours? What pinches or triggers an emotional or physical reaction? Is it positive or negative? What are the values you can identify in these circumstances? What are you learning about yourself?

A New Beginning

I'll be honest. I haven't posted anything lately because I have been blocked by a limiting tendency towards perfectionism, coupled with a fear of failure and self-doubt. Now that the fears have been named, it's time to get on with allowing the imperfections to surface, to take a few risks and to stay open to the learning. 

Today, I present to you...

The Artful Learning Lab

Photograph: The Art of Purposeful Living

The Artful Learning Lab is where topics and tools will be introduced with a focus on self-development. My aim is to co-create a virtual learning community where you are encouraged to use the comments section after each posting to share your experiences, insights, and make contributions for collective learning.

Let's start by taking a moment to reflect on your values.

Thought challenge: What are your core values? How do you define your core values? How do your values support you in reaching your highest potential?  

Resources: 

Values List

Awakening Faith in an Alternative Future