The Tribune

By MICHELLE MILLER

WHILE I caution you to look before you leap, you must leap. The art of leaping is the basic premise of life. We all must leap. In fact, it is impossible not to leap. However, common sense suggests that you at least look to ensure you know the direction in which you are leaping.

This is where the rubber meets the road, where many wires become crossed and confusion erupts. Some get so busy “looking” they don’t leap with any intention. While others are so busy “leaping” all over the place that they don’t achieve any specific outcome.

You must take the time to set your life agenda. Frankly, if you fail to create your own agenda, you become a pawn on someone else’s. Looking before leaping is about getting into the driver’s seat of your life. Have a clear and present life agenda that you are actively working towards.

Let me remind you that every train at this colossal train station of life drives you towards a specific outcome. If you do not know where you desire to go, you need not look or leap; what would be the point?

I want to nudge you to look deeper at the idea of “looking”.

Observe it as more than doing some random skip across the surface of life; beyond the habit of looking for what could be bought or consumed. Instead, see it is an intentional inner process of your own becoming.

When you set a specific agenda your life begins to demand that you look deeper at how you define yourself.

Do you know who you really are, what you bring to the table or why you are here? This deeper perspective is an essential step to living the life you love. You must be willing to get over the habit of playing it safe. Take the risk to be true self and bravely own your life.

In the movie “The Lion King”, Simba, who was the rightful king of Pride Land abandoned his role. He declined to take his rightful place. Instead of looking deeper within himself, Simba opted to live his life in “chill mode”. Until one day, his father Mufasa, came to him in a vision and reminded Simba to remember who he really was; that he was the true king.

In Mufasa’s words, “Look inside yourself Simba, you are more than what you have become. You are the one true king and you must take your rightful place.”

Those powerful words in the voice of his father were like a major earthquake in Simba’s mind. It reoriented him to look deeper at his sense of identity. He immediately recognised who he really was and the powerful role he was born to play. He was the true king of Pride Land. It was this deeper look that motivated Simba to take the leap towards his incredible destiny of power and purpose. This can also be true for you. Just like Simba, you too must recognise who you really are and take your life out of “chill mode”. You cannot take the leap of greatness if you are stuck in a

“Hakuna matata” state of mind

The key to leaping within any degree of success is to know what it is you are seeking to achieve. What is your intention or objective?

Do you have the skills, tools or capacity to navigate the gap between looking and leaping?

As always, every prize has a price. The price of leaping towards greatness is about your willingness to do the work and the work begins within. No work is done effectively without proper skills and tools.

Leader to leader, make today the day that you take a second, third, fourth and even fifth look at how you define yourself. Understand that you are born to be great. Find the courage to do the work. Get out of “chill mode” and take the leap towards your own power and purpose.

This, my friend is best path towards the ultimate prize of living the life that you love.

What do you think? Please send your comments to coaching242@yahoo.com or 429-6770.

• Michelle M Miller is a certified life coach and leadership expert. Visit www.michellemmiller.com or send snail mail to PO Box CB-13060