The word disruptive does not easily gel with wisdom, but the more I read proverbs and the stories of men and women of influence the more I am convinced that it takes a special kind of human to do something in the world that has never been done before.
We cannot fit into our culture without thinking and somehow believe that we are making a difference. A woman of wisdom, is a leader, she is a thinker, she is an agent of change and she is not defined by what other people say about her. The whole chapter of chapter 31 from the book of proverbs talks about a woman who completely disregards cultural norms and plays by her own rules.
This winter I have been working slowly through Lisa Messenger’s Daring and Disruptive playbook (it’s more like a workbook, than a traditional book) that compliments her book Daring and Disruptive. The more I think about her precepts on life and leadership, the more I am becoming convinced that somehow whether it be life, leadership, disappointments, loss, change of season or age, that I have become more cautious in the way that I have reached out and innovated my days.
I have always been a disruptor.
Whether it was in school, my dance class, in mass, at university and also bible college. There is something within me that is not content with comfortable. There is a little clock that ticks inside of me asking that I try something new.
I think sometimes we believe keeping the peace and being nice or pleasing those closest to us, is the wisest path of least resistance.
I am realising that this may make for a safe life, but it is not a satisfying one. If you are always suppressing the voice that has been given uniquely for you, in some way and some how, that voice will erupt.
I am not talking about outright rebellion, but a spirit that asks questions of why we are doing, what we have always done and then getting disappointed with the results. A leader that starts something because they are deeply moved with compassion. A woman who see’s a need and rather than turning her head and saying someone else will get too it, they pitch in and do something about it.
She sings on the bus, when everyone is facing the front desperately trying not to make eye contact.
She says hello to the homeless person, for no other reason than to value you their humanity and existence.
She dances on the train whilst everyone delves deeply into their iPhones.
A woman who swims against the tide and current she is in, because she has the inner strength and tenacity to simply have a go.
Someone who writes down goals and actually ticks off the boxes on her vision board.
She is disruptive.
In a circle of women gossiping, she turns and walks away, knowing she has much better use of her time.
Proverbs 16:15 and 16 says this
Good-tempered leaders invigorate lives; they’re like spring rain and sunshine.
Get wisdom – it’s worth more than money; choose insight over income every time.
She invigorates.
She leads.
She refreshes.
She makes an impact.
She speaks out the crazy dreams and ideas, then actually does something with them.
She is remembered for her courage more than whether she was successful or not.
She actually has a go.
“Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn’t do than by the ones you did so. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.” Mark Twain
She dares greatly and disrupts the boring, plodding, bland, beige and antiquated.
She has a go.
Oh my desire is that I would bring change and innovation. That my life would be marked by courage and not fear. That I would stop worrying about what others say and step out, send that email, ring that publisher, write that speech and make a difference.
Thanks Lisa Messenger, for inspiring this heart and life this winter.
To read the next part of this series click here: She keeps things simple
