The SHAPE of Things to Come

One step at a time.

While dealing with life’s challenges, our minds have a tendency to get caught up in time-travel.

What was (the past)?

What could be (the future)?

My High School Class Reunion was in early August. Our class has become more transparent with how life’s challenges are impacting them, and it was refreshing to see their authenticity shine through. We have evolved beyond where we were, and yet I can’t help but wonder ...

What if I/we had done things differently?

And then, my head clears … What shall I/we do next?

It’s not healthy to live in a state of regret or expectation:  That’s a trap.  There is no shame or blame when we accept that we’re all simply human.  So, how do we release ourselves from the ‘prisons of our past’ in order to live fully today? How do we engage with the SHAPE of things to come?

Engagement in the present is an intentional, daily task. We can be “on a roll” doing what we love, and then wake up one day and realize it has been months since we engaged with that part of our lives. 

For me, I love to travel, take pictures, and write (posts, blogs, poetry) and yet I haven’t written in months. Sure, I’ve traveled and taken pictures, but somehow those amazing instances are tucked away waiting for (waiting for what?) … TIME.

Yep, I did it again, allowed busyness to take over and remove one of my favorite forms of expression.  The key realization is that writing takes space to:

LISTEN

PROCESS

EXPRESS

A set of negative feelings cropped up: a bit of regret, allowing the “would have, should have, could have” statements to trounce through my head like a troll.

But I have learned quite a “bit”, over the decades too, and it didn’t take long to transform those icky feelings (modals of lost or past opportunities) into a more productive today. 

Why get lost in the past when we can be found in the present?

As I sat down to write this newsletter, I moved away from my initial concept (a more “business-focused” explanation of my SHAPE A4 Framework) and transitioned it into something more relatable and human. It can be utilized to move us through a challenge to the other side of:

Would have -> WILL

Could have -> CAN

Should have -> SHALL

Start with the A4 Mindset:

• AWARENESS:  Oh geez, am I really feeling what I’m feeling?

• ACKNOWLEDGEMENT:  Yes, you are. Let it be what it is, a reaction.

• ACCEPTANCE:  I am human. I can accept the ick and also let it go.

• ACTION:  I shall allow more space and grace to write again. I will start today.

This is an oversimplification of a powerful mindset shift that can be applied to the most complicated challenges, once you work through your inner saboteur landscape. And, if you’re lucky enough to be aware of what those challenges are, most still get stuck at the acceptance phase. It takes patience, practice, and grace to develop the tools … but it is worth it.

Going on with my example, once the mindset shift was put into motion, I utilized the other part of my framework to re-SHAPE my steps forward:  

• SIMPLIFY:  What are the raw components of what I want to deliver?

• HUMANIZE:  How does this impact my heart and those around me?

• AMPLIFY:  Dare to dream, share the message and listen for new inputs.

• PRIORITIZE:  Process, let go, and deal with the most important things first.

• ENERGIZE:  Put new plans into action and celebrate progress along the way.

A healthy framework works on all types of issues, from the smallest to the largest. Both personal and business. I have applied this framework to conference preparation, programs, partnerships, team engagement, turning dreams into reality, and working through other complex challenges. Anywhere I want to make an impact, this framework applies.  

• What dreams of yours need the space and grace to bring them to life? 

• What challenges are you experiencing where you feel stuck?

• Is your team on the precipice of change?

Listen within and see what bubbles up.  When you’re ready to ‘engage with change’, reach out.

Photos from June & July Events (2024): 

My Density Matters Boat Crawl (Lake Zurich, IL):  June 8th

Best of the BioMidwest (Chicago, IL): June 12th

ABCD 25th Anniversary Gala (Milwaukee, WI) June 15th

Chicago LinkedIn Alive Networking (Chicago, IL):  June 21st

TechChicago Day:  July 25th

Oncology Mindfulness (Online):  August 9th

August & September 2024: 

A New Era in Women’s Health:  August 20th

Wisconsin Breast Cancer Coalition 30th Anniversary:  August 23rd

Culture Walk Series – Team Impact:  September 4th

The Menopause Society 2024 Annual Meeting:  September 12th

In my last newsletter, Reflecting on Our Journey, I encouraged you to persevere and develop more focus in order to achieve your goals.  Next month I’ll dive into my Framework to keep you moving forward throughout the 2nd half of the year.

May you always “Know your value, Live your values”.

✨Susan