At the end of last week, I gained momentum on several meaningful projects that further my mission to promote human flourishing. Over the weekend I was on fire generating fresh ideas and creating new assets. During this morning's reflection, I looked back at my calendar for clues about what might have activated this creative surge.
I noticed that I had met with several people who I consider mentors and advisors. Collectively, I like to think of these people as "The Elders." If you grew up in the 70's like I did, you may have seen the television show, "Shazam!" I loved that show. It was about a teenage boy who was chosen by The Elders, a group of immortals, to be a champion for good.
The teen could summon awesome forces by uttering the word, "Shazam!" When the Elders heard the teen's call, they would send powers to him through a lighting bolt, transforming him into the adult superhero Captain Marvel.
Last week I had conversations with three of my Elders. I'm quite certain that's what led to my striking boost in energy and productivity. When I talk with my Elders, I feel like I've been hit by a lightning bolt of creativity, confidence, and ambition. They see the world differently than I do. They challenge me. They add to my thinking. They inspire me. And they absolutely believe in me.
Whenever I feel stuck or have an idea that's bigger than I think I can handle, I send out my "Shazam!" call. I schedule time with a few key people to act as my Elders. After talking with two or three, I'm super-powered.
Here's an exercise for this week: form your own group of Elders. The teen in "Shazam!" had six Elders. This is a good number. List six people you can call when you feel stuck or when you have an idea that's so big that you don't know how to proceed. You don't need to call all six every time (in fact, I recommend you don't), but if you check in with two or three during these moments, you'll get a good dose of transformational power.
Choose people who you think will activate your super powers and help you transform into your most powerful self. This isn't always people who see the world as you do (in fact, diversity of thought is key) but they are people who believe in you. If you don't feel like you have people like that in your life right now, you can "Shazam!" by checking in with people you respect from history. What would Albert Einstein say about my idea? How would Harriet Tubman inspire me to take the next step?
"Shazam!" is a fantastic word to use anytime you feel stuck. In fact, why not shout it out right now and see what happens!
#WeLiveBigWednesdays
Looking for an extra dose of "Shazam!" power? Tune into my Live We Live Big Facebook Broadcast this Wednesday at 4pm Eastern. (Normally I live broadcast every Wednesday at 9am Eastern but this week we're changing it up due to a client commitment.)
Last week's post was by request from a viewer who said that she feels like the hardest part of living big is the negative feedback that's coming in now that she's putting herself out there. How do you keep your light burning brightly when it seems like everyone is casting shade? Check out last week's broadcast for some of my tips.
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