Why Be Anxious? By Mark L. Vincent

There’s power in exchanging anxious for possibility!

It was tempting to be anxious when a recent winter morning brought glare ice and inability to travel and honor some face-to-face appointments.  Coming back inside after a fruitless attempt to leave our driveway, we learned that not only was our internet out but our phone package did not include the long-distance service promised.

We were given the gift of a reading day. We chose to see it that way. We embraced the possibility rather than chafing at the inconvenience.

The need for backup systems is getting ever more important in this data-intense era. Our simple set of circumstances blew through several modes of communication. Imagine this happening on the scale that affects an entire organization rather than just our household!  Happen it does. Happen it will. So…

…the ability to shift and pirouette without losing one’s balance saves many a day. Manufacturers do this when machines are down—cleaning work spaces, taking care of deferred maintenance, or updating inventory. Nonprofits and ministry organizations can update strategic plans, devote time to deep cleaning of facilities—everyone rolling up their sleeves and working together, or catch up on hand-written donor correspondence. We redeemed our day with some housecleaning, reading, sharing meals and starting this blog post.

Underneath it all is the ability to remain cheerful when these moments occur.

The day was not ruined. It just became a different day.

This calls to mind these words from a morning prayer found in the Book of Common Prayer:

“…You have brought us in safety to this new day. Preserve us with your mighty power, that we may not fall into sin, nor be overcome by adversity; and in all we do, direct us to the fulfilling of your purpose….”

A-men.

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Mark L. Vincent Ph.D, CCNL, EPC is the Founder of Design Group International, a Community of Practice devoted to Process Consulting, helping organizations and their leaders transform for a vibrant future.

www.Outcomesconference.org