Today is day three of discussing Brandon Burchard’s Primary Aspiration Theory. The enclosed drawing is a triangle with the lines of Aliveness, Deeper Connection, Meaningful Pursuits and Growth in the middle. Each week I discussed one of the sides. Today, let’s discuss meaningful pursuits.
Humans are meaning makers. We interpret, understand, and make sense of the information, experiences, and the world around us. These become a series of beliefs. We see the world and make meaning of the data through the filter of our beliefs. Burchard argues that high performing leaders take that one step further. They take it from making meaning to making meaningful pursuits.
Burchard suggests that if the belief through which we filter is “how may I serve here?” it leads us not just to meaning making but to an action – to a meaningful pursuit. This is a powerful reinterpretation from having an opinion on what you see to a deliberate strategy on your purpose ( to serve) and how to address it (to act).
Burchard says ‘Clarity, without a meaningful pursuit, is philosophizing”. How often do we philosophize rather than act? If we reinterpret/ filter our actions through the lens of serving it opens up the possibility of greater control and greater success in our lives.
Yesterday, I had a conversation with someone going through an extremely difficult challenge. When I put it through the lens of “how could I serve?”, what I needed to do was listen deeply with support and no judgment. I needed to be fully present. That was the action. What I really, really wanted to do was make it better. And, I realized that I couldn’t do that.
I find it deeply satisfying and personally challenging to filter through the lens of serving. I offer you this same challenge.
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