Are You Clever or Wise?

Choose to be wise to succeed

Change can be tricky. As I work on change, I remember a phrase I have learned from Rumi, the famous Sufi mystic.

“Yesterday I was clever, so I wanted to change the world. Today, I am wise, so I am changing myself.” — Rumi

Lesson to Learn

We live in a fast-changing world.

We can easily get discouraged when the situation we know needs to change is not changing. What can we do about it?

We can demonstrate the change in our own lives.

When we learn to operate in new ways, it changes much more than us.

As a leader, I see the power of showing others how powerful change is — making small changes in my life is wise. It changes me — and the world around me.

Answer for Me

I used to resist change, even when I knew I needed it most. It was easier to find someone else or something else to blame. Blame does not help the situation and tends to discourage me and others.

Instead, I now try to find even one small step forward — and then I celebrate that progress.

My favorite phrase at work and home is “we will figure it out.” I have seen remarkable outcomes come into existence by committing to starting a change effort. I involve others in my change efforts from the beginning — even if it is just me changing at first. It’s always wise to enlist others. They guide you, help you, and even change themselves in the process.

This process has transformed my health, relationships, job, parish, and the world around me. I no longer feel weak and unable to make a difference. I am immediately powerful enough to find a way forward.

Being wise is my goal. I accomplish this by learning through incremental and significant change in myself.

Action

Do you wish to be wise or clever?

Change the world starting today. Use wisdom to propel change forward.

Start small — it helps you perfect your approach.

An exercise program can start with one rep of one exercise. A new work effort can begin with a simple plan executed by you and another person. Starting will give the change effort momentum.

The same is true of most change efforts. Stick to the changes you commit to for as long as they make sense. My daily gratitude habit has been going strong for 2,071 consecutive days. Over five years ago, I started it, measure it each day, and have seen it change how I approach my day. It’s wise to be grateful.

Don’t wait for the change you want to see in the world; become the change.

Daily Habits

What change do you want to see in the world or yourself?

What is stopping you from starting today?

What small action can you take today?

Building powerful habits that change you start small and build upon themselves.

Keep track of your progress. Measuring it means you believe it is essential. If we want to change the world around us, we must first begin with ourselves.

It is the most immediate and powerful way to care for those we live and work with each day.

Do you want more insights?

To learn more about leadership, visit me at www.macny.org.

To get a copy of my book Present-Future Leader, click here.