#audaciouspurpose

Change - Audacious Purpose - Take Action Letter

August 2018

by Mia Y. Pollard

Depending on where you live in the world, the month of August signals preparing for change, the beginning of change or straight up change. Parents and students are getting ready for a new school year. College students are embarking on a new semester and renewed freedom away from home and curfews. They will return home with new ideas, new beliefs and new attitudes. Corporations are beginning their business forecasting for the coming year. Once their forecasting is completed, there will be new directions, new jobs and some people without jobs. If you’re like me you’ve accepted that your summer body is what it is and begin to implement some changes for your fall and winter body.

Heraclitus said, “Change is the only thing constant in life.”  We have an influence over the changes that occur in our lives. It begins with our thoughts (vision), continues with our planning (saying) and is executed in our action (doing.)

No change can occur without these three: See it! Say it! Do it!

Like the college student starting a new semester:

Be open to learning something new about yourself and the world.

Like a corporation’s forecasting session:

Assess what is working, what isn’t working, what can remain the same, what can be improved and create a plan to accordingly.

What do you want to change?

What are you willing to do to implement the change?

When do you want to begin?

How do you expect to feel once the change is complete?

Who can assist you in making the change?

Much of the awareness of racial injustices that we are experiencing are what I believe to be the catalyst for major change. People are awake to injustice and tired of the few loud cowards. People are united in wanting to see positive change. This has been an ongoing battle, but I believe the end is near. The struggle is often hardest when you are close to the end of the battle. Every evil heart will not change, but they will be exposed and love and unity will win.

Change is often met with resistance from people who

1. Don’t like what you’re doing

2. Don’t understand what you’re doing

3. Are insecure with what you’re doing

Or

4. Are just plain afraid of change.

Change anyway! It is inevitable. We are made to learn, grow and  evolve.

by Mia Y. Pollard

July is my birth month.  Usually, I have activities planned throughout the month celebrating me.  This year is a little different. I am celebrating me in a different way. There is no party or group get together planned. I will have my beach day and gather with family and friends. But, this year I am mostly focused on planning for my future. While I’m not reliant upon a date on a calendar to take stock of my life, the anniversary of my birth is a great reminder to be still, reflect, review, plan and execute.

When was the last time you did the same? Do you wait for New Year’s Eve? Your birthday? A life changing event? Do you review every 3-6 months?

How far back do you reflect?

How far into your future do you envision?

Do you take pen to paper or fingers to phone or use your PC? Do you do it all mentally? Do you not plan or reflect at all?

Part of my reflection and preparation require me to be still. I read the Bible, pray, meditate and praise, daily. However there is something to be said for taking the time to be more focused. There is a level of clarity that accompanies focused reflection. Deciding in advance to set time aside without distraction and interruption to plan and create can be challenging in our daily lives. But just as you can sit in a play or at the movies with you phone on silent, you owe it to yourself to spend some time immersed and communing with God, showing him that you are thankful for who you are, who surrounds you and what you are blessed with; inviting Him to guide you to your next steps.

I invite you to set some time aside during the long summer days and nights to praise and plan, then get to work.

As always, I am here to help you live your Audacious Purpose.