“We can’t trust ourselves to be perfect; we can’t trust ourselves to be the best at anything; we can’t trust ourselves to succeed; we can’t trust ourselves to never cause harm or hurt. What we can trust is our disciplined effort to get to know ourselves. We can learn to know our triggers, our habitual reactions, our strengths and weaknesses. All of this is possible – and essential – if we are to lead sanely in the midst of the falling-apart craziness.”
– Margaret Wheatley, “Who Do We Choose to Be“
From my lower self I ask: What’s wrong with them? When are they going to figure it out? When are they finally going to change?
From my higher self I ask: What’s going on with me? What is it about me that is leading me to respond this way? What shift can I make within to see, understand, comprehend, react to or confront this situation more effectively?
I commit to giving grace and forgiveness to the inevitability of my lower self.
I commit to giving fuel, encouragement and disciplined effort to sustain my higher self.
Always aim higher.
DAVID BERRY is the author of “A More Daring Life: Finding Voice at the Crossroads of Change” and the founder of RULE13 Learning. He speaks and writes about the complexity of leading in a changing world.
