How do you respond to the following…
- A car crosses in front of you on the way to work, causing you to brake suddenly.
- You are asked to explain how a mistake occurred.
- Someone gets a job/promotion over you.
- A team member does something that you disagree with.
- You are feeling overwhelmed with the amount of work you have to do…
How do you respond?
At each of these intersections we have a choice. We can choose whether to respond from a space that is above the line, or from a less productive space; below the line. If we choose to respond from a space of blame, victim mentality, denial, fault-finding or ‘stuck-ness’, we are living below the line. In this space life is tough, a battle to be fought. We may feel powerless, wanting to either ‘fight’ or withdraw. We are in a closed or fixed mindset. This is also known as being at ‘effect’ where we let the external world determine how we view and live our lives. We are like a passenger in an out-of-control car.
The other more productive state is to choose to live ‘above the line’. This is a space where you take responsibility, see possibilities, take action, seek feedback and operate from an open-to-learning mindset. We are ‘at-cause’, creating opportunities, a way of being and a life of our own design. We are the driver of our own destiny.
Where in your life or within your teams are you choosing to operate below the line? How can you level-up your thinking both personally and collectively so you are responding from a space of abundance and open-mindedness? How can you support each other to be the best version of yourselves; to live above the line?
It is your choice. How will you action that choice?
