[Digital image]. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.movemequotes.com/always-find-a-reason-to-laugh 

As highlighted on my home page, ImagineCreateServe came to fruition during my “morning pages.” I used the quotations around “morning pages,” because for me, these should be called “daily pages.” I carry my notebook with me in my purse to write down thoughts as they come to me throughout the day. This is an exercise that energizes me. When my pen hits the page, it isn’t just a matter of engaging my left and right brain, it’s a moment where I feel at peace and am able to reflect intentionally. This particular “daily page” was a moment of clarity about what I needed to be doing for my Graduate Capstone project.

A metanoia is defined as a, “a fundamental change of thinking; a transformative change of heart.” The definition of a Capstone Project is generally broad and void of explicit instructions. At first this made me uncomfortable. How would I showcase my creativity? How would I tie this project into who I’m becoming as a leader? How would I showcase how this Master’s Degree has changed my life forever? Then, it dawned on me: my project would be random and disorderly, just like my daily pages. I realized I had to choose a domain that would best serve my creative spirit, and that’s when the metanoia occurred for me: I would showcase my work through creative writing and images that inspire my leadership philosophy. ImagineCreateServe would be a story, a narrative, and a collection of thoughts that were succinct in their own way. I would intricately weave my reflections and wisdom gained throughout Graduate school while highlighting my personal development over the course of the last two years. Furthermore, I would use ImagineCreateServe as a platform to showcase the leadership seminar I would create in response to my reflections. More details on the leadership seminar can be explicitly found on the proposal, project, and feedback tabs, while the journey of the seminar creation is weaved throughout ImagineCreateServe.

A metanoia can come about in a variety of ways.  Often it is through difficult times, when we are “in the mud” that these “fundamental changes in the way we think,” come about. One day during my “morning pages” (that actually took place first thing in the morning), I wrote, “I complain a lot.” For as grateful, present, and humble as I strive to be each day, sometimes I too get stuck in the mud. Then it dawned on me, I am way too hard on myself. I am a playful person. I am a joyful person. I need to remember to laugh more and not forget that side of my spirit. As a leader, this is a gift I can pass on to those I serve. In my opinion, laughter breeds innovation. Therefore, as a leader, I must maintain joy and laughter in my organizational life.  Organizations flourish we remember to laugh. As a leader I need to remember to use humor to create an organizational context for flourishing. I need to remember that moments of VUCA (volatility, uncertainty, complexity and ambiguity) are going to be the norm especially as I advance in my career. Welcoming uncertainty invites leaders to make the extraordinary out of the ordinary, something I can do when I can always find a reason to laugh. This choice is intentional and will allow me to be the empathetic and imaginative leader I strive to be. Moreover, laughter and joy continue to be positive reminders as I dive into the creation of ImagineCreateServe and the design and facilitation of my leadership seminar. This project is complex and ambiguous and yet it’s fun and dynamic. Today, I’m truly grateful to be at the beginning of this journey.

Food for Thought:

1. When have you experienced a metanoia? What was the context?
2. How can you leverage moments of VUCA to be a more creative leader to the communites you serve?