Considering and articulating the organizing principles in the development of a plan and process to pursue health, wellbeing, and sustainable high performance is an essential element.
Dr. Darin Davidson partners with Learner+, a CME/CE reflective learning platform for healthcare providers. For the opportunity to reflect on this article and earn CME/CE credits, Launch here. Check out all past articles which are also eligible for reflections and CME/CE credits.
For downloadable, actionable strategies and tactics to leverage biology in the pursuit of health, wellbeing, and sustainable high performance, visit the resource store, Launch here. Chapters are arranged by topic so those of interest can be selected and each are also eligible for reflections and CME/CE credits through Learner+.
Throughout this article series, the specific skills, strategies, and tactics which are integrated in an overall plan to pursue health, wellbeing, and sustainable high performance have been discussed in detail. The implementation of this plan within an overall complementary health perspective has been described. In order to optimally pursue these objectives, it is important to consider, deliberate upon, and articulate the various underlying organizing principles.
The organizing principles which will be described throughout the remainder of this article provide an overall framework and structure. With this information in hand, more deliberate and intentional processes can be established to optimally position ourselves in the development of routines which can then lead to the enhanced ability to pursue our objectives across the domains of health, wellbeing, and sustainable high performance.
Across the remainder of this article, some of the important and more significant organizing principles will be described. It should be understood, however, that the specific details pertaining to each of these principles is individual specific. As such, the general nature of each principle will be discussed however, the specifics are left to each individual to consider and articulate for themselves.
It is also important to acknowledge that each of the organizing principles apply equally within the domains of health, wellbeing, and sustainable high performance. The specific details may vary across these domains and within the various objectives an individual may have. It is also conceivable that certain principles may be less important to specific individuals while others are more pertinent. This is not a reflection of a weakness of the underlying framework, but rather emphasizes the individual specific nature.
The first organizing principle for consideration is vision. Specifically what is considered within this principle is a detailed understanding of what it is we wish to become. It is important to emphasize that while this may include a specific outcome or end point, it is more important that the consideration of this principle reflect a deeper understanding of the specific characteristics and attributes that we wish to become, demonstrate, and embody. Such an acknowledgment is well aligned with the concepts of internal motivation and internal rewards discussed in past articles.
The next organizing principle for discussion is philosophy. What is intended through consideration of this element is an understanding of how we will become what we have identified within our vision. This relates to the process that is of importance to us, and the specific means through which we will embody our vision and bring it to life. This principle more strongly reflects the active function of becoming that which we identify as our vision.
It is important to also consider the organizing principle of purpose. This pertains to why it is important to us that we embody our philosophy and pursue our vision. Ideally, the specific characteristics considered within purpose is that it is larger than ourselves, it is significant in nature, and it is oriented towards the future. In essence, our purpose provides internal motivation to work towards our vision and embody our philosophy.
By understanding the combination of our vision, philosophy, and purpose we established for ourselves, a roadmap and guiding light with which we can follow our day-to-day efforts as we progress becomes available. An understanding of these principles is particularly important when things do not go our way or we face obstacles and challenges. This is inevitable within all pursuits regarding health, wellbeing, and sustainable high performance. By understanding the specific principles in detail, we are able to redirect our efforts as needed in order to pursue that which is of greatest importance to us.
The next organizing principle for description is that of the strategies we will employ. Strategies include both mind-based and body-based elements. Within the body-based strategies, this pertains to somatic practices as well as considerations impacting cellular and mitochondrial health. While there can be considerable overlap between strategies and the next principle to be discussed, tactics, the distinctive feature of strategies is that these activities pertain to specific routines that we establish and perform on a regular basis. This is done to provide repeated opportunities over time to develop the necessary skills to pursue our vision.
As alluded to previously, the next principle for consideration is tactics. These are specific skills which may be mind-based or body-based. In contrast to strategies which are developed in consideration of regular routines, our tactics are the specific utilization of our mind-based and body-based skills in specific situations and moments. The objective of utilizing tactics is to get back on track with respect to our philosophy and vision during situations, particularly in which things have not gone our way, we face obstacles or setbacks, or we are not embodying our philosophy in the manner with which we intend.
As can be hopefully understood from the above discussion, there can be considerable overlap between strategies and tactics. Both are necessary and neither are sufficient in and of themselves. They each serve specific functions which are distinct from one another. Strategies pertain to development of specific routines to develop skills that are needed in order to pursue our vision and philosophy. Tactics pertain to skills to manage our responses when we experience certain situations or scenarios. This is particularly important when we have shifted away from anchored and grounded states.
The next organizing principle for discussion is that of process. When we are considering our process, we are specifically considering the combination of strategies and tactics which we will utilize and embody in order to contribute towards reaching our vision. It should be understood that it is our process that we have the most significant control and influence over. We have limited ability to control and influence the outcome of any particular situation. We do, however, possess significant influence over our process. We may choose to adjust this over time in response to past experiences or maintain a consistent process over time. Whichever the case may be, what is most important is that our predominant emphasis and focus is placed upon our process over the outcome which we may be pursuing.
The final organizing principle for consideration within this article is that of culture. This has been described in a past article. Our culture is a description of the perspective and framework which we attempt to establish in order to support our ability to pursue our vision, philosophy, and purpose. In order for a culture to be robust, it should reflect consistent actions and processes over time which are supportive of our ability to pursue our vision and embody our philosophy. Often, this incorporates the development and cultivation of an atmosphere and supportive environment to grow and pursue the best version of ourselves. This is particularly important amongst teams and groups. In such situations, it is essential for optimal realization of our ability to pursue our vision and philosophy that the culture be shared amongst all members of the team or group. In essence, this provides a shared concept of how to show up and be present in the pursuit of the overall vision. When our culture is aligned with our vision and philosophy, it can be highly contributory. When it is discordant, however, it can detract from our ability to pursue our vision and embody our philosophy. In addition, when considering culture within teams and groups when the members are well aligned in the culture, it can be similarly highly contributory towards the overall vision and philosophy. In contrast, however, when the various members of the team or group are not well aligned in culture, it can detract from the overall mission.
While the description above of the organizing principles is important, what is particularly significant is taking the opportunity to consider each element and articulate each principle. It is important to clearly do so, thereby permitting the benefit of this understanding to become fully realized. It is also important to recognize that each of these principles are not static. Rather, they are dynamic and can change over time. As such, the function of considering each principle is important to revisit on a semi regular basis. Adaptations and adjustments are to be expected over time. Our past experiences can be utilized to strengthen and improve upon our understanding of the organizing principles and specific methods to bring each of these to life.
To learn more, including about biologically complementary coaching for healthcare professionals and others in high demand domains, please visit www.darindavidson.com.
Dr. Darin Davidson partners with Learner+, a CME/CE reflective learning platform for healthcare providers. For the opportunity to reflect on this article and earn CME/CE credits, Launch here. Check out all past articles which are also eligible for reflections and CME/CE credits.
For downloadable, actionable strategies and tactics to leverage biology in the pursuit of health, wellbeing, and sustainable high performance, visit the resource store, Launch here. Chapters are arranged by topic so those of interest can be selected and each are also eligible for reflections and CME/CE credits through Learner+.