MCB CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. --
Introduction
In the diamond trade, the quality of the cut, color, and clarity define the value of the diamond. In life there are also Three Cs: Clarity, Confidence and Congruence. In what follows, I will unpack what it means to live according to these Three Cs.
When I start a writing project, I think I know where I want to go. The end result is invariably different from where I thought I would end up. Many things change along the way. Many times, this is true in our lives. We think we know where we are going until (fill in the blank).
The three Cs can help us gain traction in our vocation and life objectives. We’ll consider them in order.
Clarity
Clarity is clearness as to perception or understanding and freedom from indistinctness or ambiguity.
When we don't know who we are in the inner parts, we are not free to fully live our best life and future. We won't live fully into our calling.
I've learned to evaluate three areas to assess my clarity toward the connection of I am and my chosen vocation:
1. Passion: Does my work life bring passion and energy to my life?
2. Energy: Are the effects of my work energizing to me and others?
3. Contribution: Is my life aligned to make my most significant contribution?
When we are working in our passions, our work energizes us, and we consistently believe we are making our most outstanding contribution.
When we have clarity in our inner being, we can move into the confident pursuit of God's best for us.
Confidence
Confidence is assurance and belief in yourself, your powers and abilities. A note of clarification is important here. Confidence is presumption and impudence.
Profound clarity alleviates confusion and breeds confidence. When we know who we are, we can step out in confidence. When we don’t have this sort of confidence, we are apt to say yes to the wrong things and no to the right things. When we say yes too often, we take energy away from opportunities to make our most valuable impact, lessening our potential legacy.
Congruence
Congruence is the quality or state of agreeing or corresponding. In geometry, congruence is the relationship between two figures when the angles and sides of two figures coincide and are mirror images. The same should be true in your life. You should seek congruence between who you are, why you were made and what you do.
When we have congruence between our internal wiring and our vocation, we can make our most significant contribution.
Closing
In his book Leading from the Inside Out, Sam Rima writes that a failure to take care of one's interior world inevitably leads to a disconnect between our inner and outer worlds. To lead consistently, we must seek a connection between these two worlds.
We must seek clarity in understanding the inner world that drives us. This clarity allows us to move confidently toward a deeper congruence at the crossroads of the inner world that drives us and the outer world of our vocation choices.
The Chaplain’s Corner covers everything faith related. Facts not attributed are purely the opinion of the writer.