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In their hearts humans plan their course, but the Lord establishes their steps.
~Proverbs 16:9
Have you noticed recurring themes in your life when it comes to the challenges you face?
Does it seem like every time you turn around, you have…
You could call these “boomerang challenges” because they continually come back into your life until you learn how to deal with them permanently. I view these challenges as tolerations, as you have made the choice to allow them to continue to come back into your life.
These tolerations can fundamentally test your patience, resolve, and character, and will certainly rob you of your energy, presence, focus, and peace if you don’t take care of them.
The good news is, you can take steps to ensure that your boomerang challenges bring you closer to Jesus and make you a more compassionate and resilient servant leader.
Step 1: Acknowledge the pattern.
What challenges do you find yourself coming up against again and again?
Document them, and then pick one core boomerang challenge that you want to prioritize and prevent from reoccurring.
You may be acutely aware of your core boomerang challenge. Or, you may have found ways to protect yourself from acknowledging it. You might need to ask your loved ones for support and insight. If so, ask the people closest to you to consider the following: Over the last 5 years, when you’ve talked about the challenges you’ve faced, in what way have you sounded like a broken record?
You’ll be surprised at how quickly they answer!
Open yourself up to this feedback, even if it makes you feel vulnerable. Be proud of your work in acknowledging this core boomerang challenge.
Step 2: Document the effect.
Once you’ve pinpointed your core boomerang challenge, write down all the ways you hold yourself back by not resolving this central issue once and for all.
Over the past five years, what has it cost you to ignore the symptoms that lead to the continual reprise of your core boomerang challenge? Where have you witnessed the effects…
Professionally?
Personally?
Spiritually?
How have your relationships suffered? Your performance? Your purpose?
Be candid. Be detailed. No one has to see this list but you. But you do need to see it—the compounded costs of allowing this issue to linger in your life, laid out before you, in your own handwriting.
To plot a new course, you’ve first got to convince yourself that your current trajectory won’t get you to where you want to go.
Step 3: Clarify your preferred future.
What would change for you as a servant leader if you resolved your boomerang challenge permanently?
What do you wish would change?
Give yourself permission to dream big. What does it look like to no longer be distracted by the stress and pressure your boomerang challenge presents in your life? Envision not being held back by that “one thing” that tugs on your conscience.
Write your preferred future down. Then, write down how you feel, now that you are free of “it.” How will you be liberated, specifically, and how will that freedom allow you to serve with more stamina, deeper commitment, and greater love?
Step 4: Pray for strength.
If boomerang challenges were easy to work through and release, no one would still have them. Yet, we all do. You’ll need God’s support to tackle this life-changing work. Ask Him for that help. Jesus wants to help you with this.
Step 5: Take action.
It’s time to get in shape, professionally, personally and spiritually.
You can do this. You can…
You know what you have to do and the steps to take. And if you don’t, get a coach to help you.
You’ve held yourself back for years. It’s now time to stop.
Are you in?
Step 6: Appreciate the difference.
It takes one small step in resolving your boomerang challenge to feel a significant difference in your life.
You will feel more in control of your life than you can imagine is possible. You will feel more confident, aware, and present. You’ll feel more comfortable in your own skin.
You’ll feel more energy and enthusiasm to serve others. This is the natural outcome of dissolving the barriers between the “you” of today and the transformed servant leader God created you to be.
Step 7: Give thanks.
As you work through these steps to unravel and discard your boomerang challenge, be thankful. Express your gratitude to your loved ones, who helped you zero in on the one thing holding you back. Give thanks to God, who is supporting you and guiding your steps toward a more powerful life of service.
Because I’ll be honest with you—
When you shed this boomerang challenge, you will discover another one. And another one. And another. That’s simply the nature of growth as a servant leader. It is a never-ending journey.
Therefore, celebrating every victory is all the more important.
Photo source: istock
 | Mark Deterding is the founder and principal of Triune Leadership Services, LLC. In 2011 he formed Triune Leadership Services to follow his passion of working with leaders to help them develop core servant leadership capabilities that allow them to lead at a higher level and enable them to achieve their God-given potential. He is married to his wife Kim, and they have two sons, two lovely daughter-in-laws, and three wonderful grandchildren. This article was first published on triuneleadershipservices.com. Used with permission. Learn More » |
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