My family is in crisis. My son is struggling with mental health issues and my father is in extreme pain and I am caring for both. This morning I mulled over my situation, the 80/20 rule, vision and prayer came to mind. They apply to both my son and my father.
I announced to my father and care giver that I was going to write an article this morning for the Buzz Around and would they like to hear what I was going to write.
The 80/20 rule, is as follows: 20% of what you spend time and resources on, yields 80% of the results. It’s a business concept used to measure a company’s activities and focus to determine whether it is allocating resources (time, attention, $$, etc) strategically to be profitable and successful.
Companies with lots of problems, bring in a consultant who starts with vision and purpose. As the company shifts its focus, getting rid of activity and resources that aren’t in line with vision, problems disappear. The Company landscape has shifted.
Individuals can apply the 80/20 rule also known as the Pareto Principle to their situation – self, families and community. Crisis and problem focused situations lead to more problems. Using the 80/20 rule….. Problems focused 20+% yields 80% problems.
As I described the concept to my 95 year old Father suffering from extreme leg pain. We applied the rule to his life as an example. Our focus and efforts have been towards trying to resolve this problem. We will continue to seek medical attention and treat the problem but a focus on the WHY get better shifts the attention, goals and the mindset. I suggested two goals as examples and suggested that his goal today is to set goals for himself. His caregiver was delighted with the idea.
Many of you have experienced firsthand the challenges of mental health. Meltdown, hospitalization, treatment by focusing on solving and treating issues and release. Mental health issues consume 20+ % of focus and resources and yields 80% problems. Returning to “normal life” without vision and prayer, leaves people stuck in the mental health cycle. This is not to suggest that mental health services are not helpful but Why get better? What gives a life meaning?
Often crisis and turmoil is the dirt that gives our life purpose. For me it’s the juxtaposition of a son who struggles every day and the recognition of his incredible intelligence and gifts. Daily he struggles with his perceived limitations and dashed hopes rather than his vision and how he can use his capacity and resources to realize his vision. .
Mathew 6:26 ‘Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet God, feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?’
The writer urges us not to be concerned about every day rather focus on that which is much greater than our present circumstances. What is your calling? Dismiss the objections. Build and share your vision. I challenge you to daily:
1. Reignite your vision. It is not for you to judge your vision as good or bad or impossible just hold it in your mind.
2. Vision & Prayer. In prayer be thankful, imagine the vision, ask for help from a higher power and prepare for the vision to happen.
3. Share your vision with others and let them help you create it. Dismiss objections.
4. If your vision does not come to mind that’s OK, pray for a vision and talk to others about vision.
Have faith, It will come.
It is from this stinky muck that my family has struggled in for years which has nurtured the seeds of SocioSomatic Dynamics which I use in my holistic coaching business. My struggle to create an environment where my son will thrive is both painful and urgent. www.gleeworks.net
Photo by Liz Martin on Reshot
