Some time back when I was working on my personal vision and mission statement, I did an exercise that was meant to give me action words that could later be applied to my personal statements.
My vision and mission statements are featured on my blog. In case you missed them, they are:
VISION: Igniting the power and passion in others…
MISSION: I relate with, promote and speak community wherever I am…
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But today I just want to share about one part of the process that led to these statements.
In this exercise, I had to choose which element (Earth, Water, Air and Fire) I most related to.
I chose Fire.
The next step was to think about the characteristics of fire and write them out as if they described me.
Below is what I ended up with:
I, Diana, am Fire
Burning
Bright
Blazing
Renewing
Spreading
Consuming
Red
White
Blue
Powerful
Hungry
Warming
Wild
Catchy
Then I had to write down what fire does as if it was what I do.
I burn, warm, light, mesmerize, dance, crackle, hunger
I purify, save, destroy, comfort and excite.
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I, Diana, am Fire
Igniting the power
And passion in others
I give warmth
On cold, wintry nights,
And clear the way
For new beginnings.
It was truly a self-discovering journey for me and eventually led to the writing of my vision and mission statements.
Which of the four elements best describes you?
What are its characteristics?
Can you apply them to yourself?
Wow, Diana, this gives a lot of strong image, to read. I enjoyed it, the fire in it 🙂
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Thank you very much my dear! Glad you enjoyed it. 🙂
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Great question! I’ll have to think about this a while. (I’m still stuck on the one someone asked me long ago: “Wolf or Bear?”
Wolf. No, bear. No, wait, wolf. No, bear… definitely bear… I think….
(Can I be bubbly lava mud? Earth + water + air + fire?)
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(laughing) bubbly lava mud – love it! And I’m a wolf, that was also part of my exercise!!!
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I think the truth I’m resisting is that I want to be a wolf, but I know in my heart I’m really a bear.
I like to at least think I’m Winnie the Pooh Bear…
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what are the qualities of a bear that you are resisting?
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I think it’s more wanting to be a wolf than not wanting to be a bear. (Love of dogs drives this somewhat, I think.) I’m not really a pack animal, although there is plenty of alpha-wolf in me, and I see wolves as “sleek, sexy, graceful, fast and limber” which I’m certainly not. Big grumpy mangy bear… prone to hibernation… that’s more the real me (and that love of honey thing). 😀
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(smiling) Bears are smart, strong and unbeatable!
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Awww… gee, thanks!! 🙂
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I am a rock.
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(smiling)
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Interesting…sounds like a good journal exercise for me. You did an awesome job describing the passion in you.
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Thanks very much!
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I like that – it sounds right
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and you? Are you the air?
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you know, I have perfect clarity in viewing others, but it is very hard to understand myself.
Perhaps I am hot air ?
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I doubt that. 🙂
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cold air ?
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almost invisible…Present to help but far enough removed to respect someone’s privacy, subtle, gentle like a breeze and then other times enough to blow someone away or push through them and knock down obstacles….also it seems the one element that can affect all the others….
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beautiful words… there is a poem in that… never thought of air that way.
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(smiling) I don’t write poems. But perhaps I was thinking of characteristics that you and air share… 🙂
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to refuse praise is to seek praise twice, so I will say you are very very kind, and thank you.
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You’re very welcome!
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🙂
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I wonder what I am…………………
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If you allowed me to guess, I would say earth because of the way you knit your family together and nurture and provide for them. What do you think?
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You ARE fire. But you do not consume as fire often does. You spread. Your passion and your light for all of us to see more clearly. And to be warmed by your words. Thank you.
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thank you Renee! and what are you my dear?
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Oh dear I am like you. I am Fire. I draw people to me with my light and warmth. But I exhaust myself with the energy that it takes to keep that fire stoked.
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I would have said fire for you too but didn’t want to be assuming! 🙂
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Oh honey you know it. 🙂 Assume all you want. I think you know me well.
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Earth – natural. grounded, deep, rustic, messy
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love it and creating and growing!
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Good adds – I wasn’t thinking very deeply:)
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deeply or not, just added what I see in you so far. 🙂
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Cool post! I would have also guessed fire for you. I’m definetly water, in cooperation with nature (weather). I can be cool, breezy, refreshing, cold, warm, bring some soft silent waves, stronger waves or hit like a tsunami and go back to calming balance. ;P
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thanks for stopping by and answering the questions! I love the characteristics you picked!
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hmmm, I don’t know about this….I’m all those things I guess, depending on my mood and what day it is. But I love how you got there — to yours — will have to find this book you referred to in the comments!
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I think they all have similar qualities or powers like a tornado (air) quake (earth) forest fire and tsunami can destroy or a breeze, sand between your toes, a candle and bath can relax… etc…
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I love this thought process. My mind went immediately to air…..thinking of freedom, birds, release….very thought provoking…will have to think on it some more! Thanks, Ms. Fire! ♥
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You are very welcome Ms. Air! 🙂
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thanks for not inserting “hot” as an adjective! lol!
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haha never even dawned on me!
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🙂
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I would have to be earth… back to nature and all things related…
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earth the grower of things…. thanks, as always, for stopping by bulldog!
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What a fascinating exercise! I agree… you are fire. The one that immediately came to my mind is earth. I’m solid, constant, reliably there. Good for growing things.
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and every now and then you shake (quake) things up! right?
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Great post thanks for sharing. As you might guess, I relate mostly to water:- powerful, stormy, refreshing, unpredictable, cooling but able to get heated. 😉 Blessings to you!
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Yes I would have guessed water for you! Thanks for stopping by and sharing who you are. 🙂
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Oooh. Nice. Like Julie — I chose water — though I am a fire sign. Maybe, if I meditate into it I’ll discover I’ve spent my life trying to put out my own fire 🙂 — just kidding. Because, as I wrote that I realized, I chose water because I love its fluidness, it’s ability to encompass all things, but in my heart, I am fire.
cool! Thanks Diana.
Nice post!
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Thanks Louise, I can see how water fits you including it’s ability to carve out new paths. 🙂
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I tried not to think too much before choosing Water for me but I don’t know why. I loved this post, Fire!
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🙂 Thank you Water!
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I’m not sure if I’m earth, water or air. I’m so indecisive, changeable?
I guess I’m water..calm, soothing, repetitive but also wild, changeable, unpredictable.
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Yes all the elements seem to have two sides to them, yes?
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True…I will have to give it more thought, lovely idea to pursue, thank you.
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now that is something I should maybe do one day … not sure what i am though or how to pick
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This is the book that I used to build my mission statement http://www.lauriebethjones.com/store/FIND-YOUR-PATH-The-Path-book-and-Creating-Your-Mission-Statement.html and it had the four elements exercise at the very beginning.
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What a terrific exercise and you executed it very well. I guess I’d be Earth.
Have to think about how the elements suit me– dirt, grit, hot-centered, giving life, growth. Might do more with this. Thanks for the inspiration. L
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hot-centered…never heard that one before – I like it!
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Sounds good. I am water, calm, still, listening and sometimes running deep 🙂
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(smiling) sounds like you.
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