“A person’s thoughts are like water in a deep well, but someone with insight can draw them out.”
Proverbs 20:5
In Episode #1 of the Called Up podcast which was just released yesterday (and I so hope you have had or will have a chance to listen!) I shared a bit of my own personal story and what has led up to launching the Called Up ministry and podcast.
In the episode, I shared about how a significant turning point occurred in my life when a Major in my unit at Ft. Bragg took the time to not only ask how I was doing, but then actually sought to draw out an honest answer. Sadly, a rare occurrence for most of us.
Maybe like me, when someone asks, “How you are doing?” without even giving any thought you respond with a common, socially acceptable answer along the lines of, “Good, Fine, Never better, or Living the dream.” But here is the thing, when asked that question, (and I get it, often people ask it more as a greeting than a deep question to which they are truly seeking an honest answer) most of us never actually stop and think about how we really are doing. If we did, we may just find that the answer we typically give is a straight out lie.
So, today I want to ask you, how are you doing? No, how are you doing, really?
Now, before you jump to respond, take a minute, take a breath, and give it some thought. Don’t answer how you think you should, but truly, how are you doing?
If we take this question a step further, we are likely to find that many of us are not even sure where to begin in answering. We don’t know what areas of our lives to even assess, and often if we know something is off, we are not even clear to the full extent as to why.
So with that, I would love to introduce you to a simple tool that can help you get at the heart of how you are truly doing and where you might need to make some changes and be more intentional. This is a tool I use in my leadership coaching and consulting work through GiANT Worldwide and I can tell you it has proven time and time again to be powerful and effective. On a recent coaching call, I pulled it out and my client laughingly groaned as she knew we would have to dive into some difficult realities as she honestly answered how she was truly doing.
So, here it is, the Peace Index.
So here is how the Peace Index works. Consider the three outer circles, or buckets if you will three key areas that greatly impact your level of peace, that get to the heart of how you are doing, really. So as I walk you through each circle, give yourself a score anywhere from 0% (no peace at all) to 100% (total peace) in each circle.
Purpose: Purpose refers to how fully you feel you are living out your purpose, however you would define that. For me, it means living out the purpose to which God is calling me, to living out the purpose for which He has created me. So you when you consider your purpose, how are you doing? How at peace are you? What percentage of peace would you rate purpose on a scale of 0 – 100?
People: People refers to the relationships in your life. How at peace are you with the relationships your life, both personally and professionally? Is there one relationship that is significantly impacting your peace? Or is it possible that a lack of, or shallowness in certain relationships is what stands out to you? When it comes to people, how are you doing? What percentage of peace would you rate people on a scale of 0 – 100?
Place: Place can refer to anything from the floor plan of your home, to your neighborhood, community, the city or state in which you live, etc. As you reflect on place, how are you doing? How at peace are you with the place in which you find yourself? What percentage of peace would you rate place on a scale of 0 – 100?
Now while these three areas cover a broad scope related to our peace and how we are really doing, I always encourage clients to identify if there is another area or bucket they they need to also consider that stands out to them as a significant part of their personal peace index. Meaning, maybe for you you need to add a bucket related to your health, fitness, finance, or faith – and no, you do not need to keep with any particular letter for your buckets! If there is another area you need to add in, what is it and what score do you give it?
When you look at the buckets you have assessed, what numbers did you come up with? What scored the highest? What scored the lowest? Take a minute and consider your results. What stands out to you? Where do you need to make intentional changes?
As a colleague of mine often says, “The question, ‘How are you doing?’ Can be powerful when the one asking truly wants to know the answer.”
So again, let me ask you, how you are doing, really? This is an important question and your answer matters. Because like me, you might just have a significant breakthrough in your life when you take the time to be honest with yourself and others about how you are doing, really.
If you want to talk further about your answer, I would love to connect!
For you,
Lynne
