21-27 March 2016

Initiative – Characteristic / Virtue of the Week

Be the change you wish to see in the world.

Initiative – What does this card say to you today?

Is there something you’ve been yearning to do and you haven’t yet taken action? Is there something you have a solution for and are yet to implement it? Is there something that’s been on your mind lately that requires you taking some sort of action and something, or someone, is holding you back?

Taking initiative sometimes takes courage and confidence also, or maybe faith and hope that your ideas and goals will come to fruition and be a success. How will you feel if you don’t take action – what could be the consequences? What could be the outcome if you do take action?

There are many people who had, what may have seemed to others, to be crazy ideas yet because of them we the ability to sail on an ocean in a ship, to fly in the sky, to speak to each other from across the other side of the world, and even see each other while we do it, we can watch things happen live from most parts of the world – everything that has been created was created because of the idea that one person had, they thought their idea was possible and they took the initiative to make it happen.

Many people, who are now famous, were ridiculed or were told by others they would never make it in life – yet they did – some of the people are the Beatles, Walt Disney, Michael Jordan, Bill Gates, Marilyn Monroe, Sir Isaac Newton, JK Rowling & Lucille Ball. Listen to your own instinct and always continue to become the person you know you were meant to be.

How to practice Initiative:

For young adults & adults:

• Make a list of things you want to do, then plan how to do it.
• Ask for help if you need it – get a coach to guide you through and make you accountable if needed.
• Surround yourself with supportive people who believe in you & will help you get there.

For child care centres & schools:

• Paint, draw, play – with a goal in mind.
• Ask children what they would do if they thought they wouldn’t fail – share the answers with their parents.
• When children ask for something that they are capable of doing themselves, encourage initiative

For families:

• Be mindful of doing everything for your children – they learn initiative by learning how to do things for themselves
• Model the behaviour you want to see in your child – say aloud what you are doing and why you are doing it
• Find out what each other would like to achieve – encourage and support them in obtaining it

For businesses & organisations:

• Encourage creative thinking in how to achieve company goals
• Have a suggestion box – ask employees what they would like to change in the organisation
• Consider a life coach for your staff – happy employees are productive employees