Knowing vs. DOING
My doctor and I had the talk again last week.
He was concerned about the continued rise in my cholesterol. He seemed to think I didn't know what to do about it.
He was pleased to discover that I knew exactly what to do.
He was less amused when I told him I wasn't doing it. 😂
The issue isn't knowing what to do. It's caring enough to actually do it.
Reminds me a lot of my classroom.
We're at the point in our season where we know what needs to happen next. The real question is whether it's important enough to us to actually do something about it.
Are we willing to work through the discomfort of moving from excellent to exceptional?
Are we willing to be patient with the process? Are we willing to examine every detail? Are we focused enough to insist on the highest levels of intentionality in every rep, every rehearsal, and every practice?
Are our relationships strong enough that others recognize our noble intentions when we challenge them to be all we can see in them? Are we confident enough in our process to trust it without becoming fixated on external validation?
As an educator, the most challenging part for me is wanting to answer these questions for my students.
The reality is that, while I know what I want their answers to be, I have to give them room to choose for themselves.
I can't choose for them. But I CAN:
Model what I expect by holding myself to the highest standards.
Coach them on the importance of acting on what we know.
Challenge them to be intentional in everything they do.
Insist on high expectations in our environment.
Love them enough to tell them when they're capable of more.
ENJOY the journey of watching them grow!
Knowing what to do is important. But knowing alone doesn't change anything.
The difference is what we choose to DO with what we know.
Have a great week!
Jeff
PS – For both of you who are concerned, don't worry. I promise I'll start focusing on my health tomorrow. 😜