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…
~
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.
~
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?
WordsFallFromMyEyes said:
Wow, Diana, this gives a lot of strong image, to read. I enjoyed it, the fire in it 🙂
LikeLike
dianasschwenk said:
Thank you very much my dear! Glad you enjoyed it. 🙂
LikeLike
Wyrd Smythe said:
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?)
LikeLike
dianasschwenk said:
(laughing) bubbly lava mud – love it! And I’m a wolf, that was also part of my exercise!!!
LikeLike
Wyrd Smythe said:
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…
LikeLike
dianasschwenk said:
what are the qualities of a bear that you are resisting?
LikeLike
Wyrd Smythe said:
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). 😀
LikeLike
dianasschwenk said:
(smiling) Bears are smart, strong and unbeatable!
LikeLike
Wyrd Smythe said:
Awww… gee, thanks!! 🙂
LikeLike
elizabeth2560 said:
I am a rock.
LikeLike
dianasschwenk said:
(smiling)
LikeLike
thoughtsfromanamericanwoman said:
Interesting…sounds like a good journal exercise for me. You did an awesome job describing the passion in you.
LikeLike
dianasschwenk said:
Thanks very much!
LikeLike
billgncs said:
I like that – it sounds right
LikeLike
dianasschwenk said:
and you? Are you the air?
LikeLike
billgncs said:
you know, I have perfect clarity in viewing others, but it is very hard to understand myself.
Perhaps I am hot air ?
LikeLike
dianasschwenk said:
I doubt that. 🙂
LikeLike
billgncs said:
cold air ?
LikeLike
dianasschwenk said:
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….
LikeLike
billgncs said:
beautiful words… there is a poem in that… never thought of air that way.
LikeLike
dianasschwenk said:
(smiling) I don’t write poems. But perhaps I was thinking of characteristics that you and air share… 🙂
LikeLike
billgncs said:
to refuse praise is to seek praise twice, so I will say you are very very kind, and thank you.
LikeLike
dianasschwenk said:
You’re very welcome!
LikeLike
billgncs said:
🙂
LikeLike
joannerambling said:
I wonder what I am…………………
LikeLike
dianasschwenk said:
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?
LikeLike
rheath40 said:
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.
LikeLike
dianasschwenk said:
thank you Renee! and what are you my dear?
LikeLike
rheath40 said:
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.
LikeLike
dianasschwenk said:
I would have said fire for you too but didn’t want to be assuming! 🙂
LikeLike
rheath40 said:
Oh honey you know it. 🙂 Assume all you want. I think you know me well.
LikeLike
artsifrtsy said:
Earth – natural. grounded, deep, rustic, messy
LikeLike
dianasschwenk said:
love it and creating and growing!
LikeLike
artsifrtsy said:
Good adds – I wasn’t thinking very deeply:)
LikeLike
dianasschwenk said:
deeply or not, just added what I see in you so far. 🙂
LikeLike
mindfuldiary said:
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
LikeLike
dianasschwenk said:
thanks for stopping by and answering the questions! I love the characteristics you picked!
LikeLike
Brigitte said:
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!
LikeLike
dianasschwenk said:
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…
LikeLike
stuffitellmysister said:
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! ♥
LikeLike
dianasschwenk said:
You are very welcome Ms. Air! 🙂
LikeLike
stuffitellmysister said:
thanks for not inserting “hot” as an adjective! lol!
LikeLike
dianasschwenk said:
haha never even dawned on me!
LikeLike
stuffitellmysister said:
🙂
LikeLike
bulldogsturf said:
I would have to be earth… back to nature and all things related…
LikeLike
dianasschwenk said:
earth the grower of things…. thanks, as always, for stopping by bulldog!
LikeLike
Jennifer S said:
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.
LikeLike
dianasschwenk said:
and every now and then you shake (quake) things up! right?
LikeLike
The Water Bearer said:
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!
LikeLike
dianasschwenk said:
Yes I would have guessed water for you! Thanks for stopping by and sharing who you are. 🙂
LikeLike
Louise G. said:
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!
LikeLike
dianasschwenk said:
Thanks Louise, I can see how water fits you including it’s ability to carve out new paths. 🙂
LikeLike
jmgoyder said:
I tried not to think too much before choosing Water for me but I don’t know why. I loved this post, Fire!
LikeLike
dianasschwenk said:
🙂 Thank you Water!
LikeLike
bodhisattvaintraining said:
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.
LikeLike
dianasschwenk said:
Yes all the elements seem to have two sides to them, yes?
LikeLike
bodhisattvaintraining said:
True…I will have to give it more thought, lovely idea to pursue, thank you.
LikeLike
jensine said:
now that is something I should maybe do one day … not sure what i am though or how to pick
LikeLike
dianasschwenk said:
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.
LikeLike
cyclingrandma said:
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
LikeLike
dianasschwenk said:
hot-centered…never heard that one before – I like it!
LikeLike
faydanamyjake said:
Sounds good. I am water, calm, still, listening and sometimes running deep 🙂
LikeLike
dianasschwenk said:
(smiling) sounds like you.
LikeLike