Sometimes it is fairly easy to start mapping out a plan for getting from point A to point B when it comes to achieving a goal.
But stretching into a big vision – one that we don’t know exactly how it’s going to come together – can call for a very different approach. I’m learning from experience that it’s best to not get particularly attached to planning how I think things should unfold.
In fact, it seems that the bigger the vision, the better it is to stay open to all kinds of possibilities when it comes to creativity, people, and resources that may show up to help guide us, especially when the original plan has us headed in the wrong direction.
My most recent lesson that underscores this is my brainchild – the start of a community that I named “Empower Youth.” My intention was certainly in alignment with my bigger vision. That is, my vision for growing a global community to support the Millennial generation (currently around 8 – 28 years old) in being catalysts and collaborators for personal and global transformation.
Recently a fabulous 22-year old joined my team as a volunteer, and it was humbling and funny for me to discover in a conversation with her, a gap in my understanding of the difference between “youth” and “young adults.” Here it is: I actually believed that youth encompassed people from the pre-teens to under-30 year olds.
I now know that many 14 and 15 year olds are beginning to refer to themselves as young adults, and for sure no one over 17 wants be be referred to as a youth. As a baby boomer that hasn’t raised any children, I plead my case for being clueless and see this as an opportunity to have a good laugh at myself!
Meanwhile, we’ve decided that Empower Youth doesn’t cover the entire age group that we want to serve, so we’re letting it go. Instead, we’ll be creating a format that will allow the identity to be chosen and shaped by youth and young adults (instead of me – a baby boomer that has plenty to learn).
And my lessons learned, while course correcting to stay on the path to a bigger vision:
- move into total collaboration with others that share my passion for empowering youth and young adults, and
- recognize that the highest and best good for realizing a big vision unfolds and finds traction by moving forward with collaboration, community and creativity!
Photo Credit: mhobl
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