About 15 yrs. ago I enrolled and participated in a class to learn how to drive a motorcycle. One of the terms we learned was SIPDE. In driver safety, it meant, scan, identify, predict, decide, execute. That term has stayed with me all these years and can be applied to life.
We often SCAN what is going on outside of us. We IDENTIFY where or what needs our participation, where we can influence or how we could make an impact. We PREDICT what will happen if we take action or don't take action. We DECIDE what we can or will do about the situation. Then we EXECUTE the plan or logic that made sense at the time of what words to speak or action to take.
It is automatic and very easy to fall into the trap that everything outside of us requires our time, energy or attention. That's why it is crucial to consider that not everything is at it seems. Just when you think things are falling apart, they might be falling into place.
Taking on everything from the perspective that it is your responsibility to fix, manage, control or figure out will wear you out and exhaust your resources. That way of doing things is not sustainable. That is one reason life situations often seem out of balance, chaotic, defeated or confusing. It is an opportunity to wake up and get refocused. Don't assume that everything that is happening is a bad thing. It might be perfect timing for you to re-evaluate and get back on course with the intentions, goals and dreams you had prior to the interruptions and distractions of the external and internal noise calling for your attention.
So as the new year rolls around it might be a great time to dust off some old perspectives that everything outside of you that is happening in the lives of others is your problem.
How can you use the acronym SIPDE to:
SCAN - the situations and relationships that you have taken responsibility for and to what degree is that working or not working
IDENTIFY - what is truly important and meaningful to you and what shoulds, attachments, beliefs, fears and expectations would you have to let go of or surrender to be consistently and effectively moving in the direction of your desired outcomes
PREDICT - what is likely to happen if you do not make any changes and what would be possible if you were open and willing to make adjustments in alignment with what you say really matters
DECIDE - what new beliefs, interpretations, perspectives, actions, boundaries, standards, support structures, goals, training or conversations would be required to have a solid foundation of consistency and effectiveness
EXECUTE - a plan of action that will move you in the direction of your desired outcomes and results
While we can't control what others say or do, what we can control is how we respond, interpret and make decisions in the midst of it all.
The art of effectiveness, prosperity and satisfaction starts within.
