Don't Get Sucked in the Wrong Direction
How to align with your purpose this April by putting your "BE" before your "DO"
Hey there, Changemaker!
April is a sweet-spot right, smack in-between winter holidays and summer days. By now we’re sucked into the year—work is rollin’, kids are learning, and projects are projecting.
But a pause here, while still moving, is essential to ensure that where we are going and what we are doing is actually heading in the right direction.
Besides our normal “where everyday life and justice intersect” stuff, this edition of “The Table” is dedicated to helping you become a person that makes a difference not just in anyway—but in the way that is most authentically you.
What’s In This Edition:
Be Before Do
World Changers United: APRIL
When Your Dreams Change
Faith + Justice
Your “To Be List”
Spaces!
1. Be Before Do
One of our top ten values at Average Advocate is putting our Be before our Do. But what does this mean? Here you go, rapid-fire:
What we Do in life–the activities, roles, actions, next steps–we take on eventually add up to make us into a certain type of person. However, if we start with the end in mind—who we are designed to Be—we can be intentional about choosing what we Do, so we actually become who we are meant to Be.
Essentially, if we are driven by our identity/character vs. defining “who we are” by our current roles/actions, we will have more intentional, meaningful, and impactful lives.
Whew! Too much? Let’t put it into practice.
EXAMPLE TIME!
Let’s say you’ve noticed you love giving, especially to specific causes (this action is your Do). By some combination of nature, nurture, and supernatural calling—you are designed to be generous! This is your Be! (Part of it, at least!)
You can intentionally value this, even if you don’t have hundreds, let alone thousands, or millions of $$$ to give away. But you start making meaningful goals around giving, anyway:
You create a margin for giving (setting aside time and money).
You choose to give something away weekly, or even daily.
You slowly increase the percentage you give each year and live from a steady amount.
You say yes to those side jobs (that don't take away from your family) because you realize it gives you extra money the you can give back.
You learn how to invest well and regularly use the extra for donating.
You start funding start-up non-profits or work with a foundation to be more intentional about a particular mission/cause you care about.
Does everyone do these things to be greater givers? Nope, not at all! We might all embrace generosity to a degree, but unless you decide you want to Be generous, you probably won’t Do all these that eventually will define you as generous.
YOUR TURN:
My challenge for you this April is to begin taking a look at who you want to Be. Here’s some ideas on how:
SUPER-EASY: Start by naming three characteristics you love embodying
TAKE-FIVE: Write a list of five identity statements
IN-DEPTH: Grab a copy of my Life Mapping Workbook and complete the exercises that help you really know your Be > Do.
I have no doubt if you make Be > Do a guiding principle in your life, you’ll make a difference in a way that feels more authentic to you. This will bring you greater joy, is more sustainable as it will have focus, and can still creating positive change in the world! Win-wins all around!
Don’t let the tyranny of the urgent and the busyness of life determine what you Do. You won’t regret becoming aligning with who you’re designed to Be.
2. World Changers United: APRIL
Just like March, April has a significant number of impact-focused days and topics to rally around this month. I am convinced you already care about at least some of these!
I am all about not reinventing the wheel, overcoming hindrances, complications, and engaging in changemaking the easiest possible way from our real and busy lives. This is why I want to make sure you know what to connect with!
Can you start by telling us one way you will join others in making a difference with a little action?
LEARN HOW:
3. When Your Dreams Change
How many of you have stories of making a difference in a certain way that was suffocated by life? If so, you aren’t alone.
You know that whole mini teaching I just did for you on the coaching principle of Be > Do? Here’s a personal story about this that goes deeper into this theory to cover how old dreams can become bridges.
It involves an antique player piano and a dream that broke.
Check it out, here.
4. Faith + Justice
As I often mention, we all come to this Table at Average Advocate from different beliefs systems and worldviews. And yet, what we believe still drives how we make a difference.
Its why I have a column for the religion magazine, Patheos, for those who share my faith as a follower of Jesus called Flourishing Faith and Justice. Recently I’ve been doing deep-dives into social topics from a theological perspective. If you also share my worldview, you might want to check these out:
You don’t have to share my worldview to begin considering how your belief-system impacts how you engage in justice-work. What do you believe about these topics? Let me know in the comments or reply to this email!
5. Your “To Be List”
One of my fellow writers and coaches as a free resource you might be interested in, all about becoming who you’re meant to Be. You can create your “To Be List” in this Intention Reflection Guide with
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6. Spaces!
Just wanted to let you know that I have room for five more coaching-consulting clients right now. If you’re interested in growing in confidence, wholeness, and impact in your message, purpose, or practice of doing good better—I’m your woman!
Coaching-Consulting Info | Book Here
If your remotely curious, just talk with me! I do free-no-pressure discovery calls because they’re really the best way to connect before you consider anything else. It doesn’t have to be complicated and I don’t expect an outcome.
Schedule a conversation with me here.
“Elisa calls me out in such gracious ways” - client from last month
Wishing you the best as you pursue your Be over your Do,
-Elisa Johnston