Letting go so you can grow

I recently had a powerful conversation with a client, Roger, that sparked some deep insights I want to share with you. Roger, a highly intelligent and accomplished individual, began exploring new ways to invest his money, driven by a desire for wealth, yes, but also for something deeper. He wants to make an impact, to create a legacy he can be proud of, and to contribute to social equity, philanthropy, and the well-being of others, especially women and children.

But here’s where it gets interesting. As we dug deeper into what truly matters to him, it became clear that his desire for wealth and success wasn’t just about money. It was about creating safety and justice in the world. Yet, when I asked him to imagine a world where those things were already present, where women and children were safe and justice prevailed, something unexpected emerged.

In that space, what Roger really wanted wasn’t to fight for justice, it was to create a world of compassion.

Think about that for a moment. Compassion. It wasn’t a strategy or a goal to achieve more wealth or power. It was an experience he wanted to generate for himself and for others. And here’s the profound part: by focusing on compassion as his vision, Roger found a new way of being, one that doesn’t require constantly fighting against injustice, but rather living in a space where compassion is present in every interaction.

What’s Your Vision?

Roger’s breakthrough is a reminder that our vision for life, our legacy, is often more about the experience we want to leave behind than the goals we’re chasing. Goals are important, but they aren’t the vision. The vision is something deeper—it’s the experience you want to create, the space you want to inhabit and share with others.

For Roger, it wasn’t just about fixing the problems of the world; it was about shifting his own state of being from reaction to creation. He recognized that fighting for justice keeps injustice alive as a concept. But when he shifted his focus to creating compassion, suddenly, he was no longer driven by the need to fix or fight. He was given by the vision of compassion.

How Do You Stand in Your Vision?

This is the trick with vision, it’s not just a place you’re headed; it’s a place to stand. You stand in your vision, while also moving towards it. When you create compassion, for example, you take actions that are sourced by compassion. You bring it into your interactions, your decisions, your leadership.

But here’s where it gets challenging: The minute you step out of that vision, and into a place of judgment, righteousness, or anger, the compassion disappears. It’s not real like a physical object; it only exists when you actively create it. This is the muscle we all need to develop, to notice when we’ve left the space of our vision, and shift back into it.

Compassion as a Practice

Compassion isn’t just an idea, it’s a practice. It’s something you have to create and recreate in every moment. Roger realized that when he felt slighted or when people around him didn’t show compassion, he was withholding the very thing he wanted most. The key to staying in alignment with his vision was to recognize those moments and consciously choose to act from compassion, rather than react to others’ lack of it.

What’s Your Vision for Humanity?

Ask yourself: if you weren’t fighting for something, what would you be doing? What is the experience you want to leave as your legacy? For Roger, it was compassion. What is it for you? And how can you start living that vision now, in your daily interactions, in your work, and in your relationships?

It’s time to stop fighting and start creating. What’s the new game you want to play? Email me and let me know, I reply to every email.