The Seven Rs for purpose and growth that Community as a Safe Place to Land builds upon is more than just a clever and clichéd mnemonic. The more I have connected with audiences, event planners, friends, neighbors, and family, I have come to view these as core values—the seven areas that guide my life’s focus.
Starting as soon as practical, engage in The Seven-week Challenge for Purpose and Growth to help your community grow. I have provided a few questions. Change them, tweak them, add to them, and do whatever you need to make this challenge pertinent to your community and its members.
Week 1: RELATIONSHIPS. Which relationship(s) do you need to focus on this week? Which do you need to pay more attention to, strengthen, renew, establish, or minimize? How do you know? Who might be able to help you and your community members? What would you like to accomplish in this area by the end of this week? When will you start?
Week 2: RESOURCES. What assets do you and your community have to help members grow and live with purpose? What assets do you need? Who might be able to help you and your community members? Where do you need to look? How do you know? What would you like to accomplish in this area by the end of this week? When will you start?
Week 3: RELEVANCE. What can you and your neighbors/team members do this week to expose yourselves to experiences, people, and places that are relevant to growth for the members and the community? Who might be able to help you? How do you know? What would you like to accomplish in this area by the end of this week? When will you start?
Week 4: RAINBOWS. What steps will you take this week to move closer to your community dreams? Do you need clarity regarding community goals and direction? How do you know? Who might be able to help you and your neighbors/teammates? What is pulling you and the community toward its dreams? What might be blocking those aspirations? How does it make you feel? What would you like to accomplish in this area by the end of this week? When will you start?
Week 5: REFLECTION. When will you sit and be still so that you can de-clutter your thoughts about your journey? How can you create regular (even if short in duration) moments for you to breathe and disconnect from the world of distractions and noise? Who might be able to help you? How do you know? What would you like to accomplish in this area by the end of this week? When will you start? How can you expand this to the community at large?
Week 6: RESPONSIBILITY. What gentle act of integrity can you commit this week to demonstrate your care and concern for your community and its members? What gentle act of integrity can you commit this week to demonstrate your care and concern for yourself? How can you make or continue to make this a part of your daily work? Who might be able to help you? How do you know? What would you like to accomplish in this area by the end of this week? When will you start?
Week 7: RESILIENCE. What small step can you take this week to help yourself and community members adapt to, learn from, and grow due to adversity? What can you do this week to help strengthen yourself and/or your community for the future? Who might be able to help you? How do you know? What would you like to accomplish in this area by the end of this week? When will you start?
Let me know how you do!