I was driving to a client training session one day when every single dashboard light I have ever seen began flashing. It started with the Blind Spot Collision Warning System. I knew something was wrong because the side mirrors were flashing sporadically on both sides of the car. Then the High Beam Alert warning came on. And then another foreboding flash, and another. Eventually, when the Tire Pressure Alert warning came up, I realized that ignoring all these alerts would not end well.
While the engine is the heart of a car, the software is the brain. The brain in my car was having a meltdown. What would happen if the car started braking or accelerating on its own? Or how soon would it be before the car simply turned off and started coasting down the highway without any power because the brain told the heart to shut down? The intricate software in our cars is designed not only for ease of driving but also for our safety and accident prevention.
Working to Preserve Vitality
Our own bodies are like that, too. When we don’t give enough, or when we give too much, our vitality dwindles. The heart is still working, but the brain has shut down. Our brain acts as a safety mechanism. It slows and shuts down when we no longer have vitality.
That’s why they call it, “taking your vitals.” That was a word that I hadn’t come across or read for a long time. It’s a beautiful word. Vitality comes from the Latin word vitalitas. “Vita”—meaning life itself. We associate vitality with energy, strength, liveliness, and dynamism. Dynamism is the quality of being industrious, energetic, and productive. People and organizations with vitality radiate a zest and love for life to those around them.
Vitality means Enduring
Vitality is also about enduring. It is about persistence to make it through whatever battles seem to come our way on any given day, week or month. Starting over takes inspiration and motivation along with hope and conviction. It takes an abundance of vitality to start over after a defeating season or taxing time in your life.
Who would be the primary person in your circle who models vitality—not just once in a while, but consistently? Stop and think about that for just a minute. Would you start with yourself? If not, why not? If you have another person in mind, how can you get close to them to build chemistry and feed off of their vitality?
In his book, Leading Without Power, Max DePree shares his insight into the qualities that give organizations vitality. What gives organizations the ability not only to persist, but also to endure? Vital organizations, like vital people, are full of anticipation for things to come. They are confident and achieve great things and recognize the truth. They are faithful, accountable and have fidelity to a mission. They are authentic. They take time for beauty, and to nourish each and every person. Vital organizations generate hope.
Vitality Exercise
If you are finding yourself thinking that your brain is close to shutting down, so your heart might not be long after that, try this simple exercise.
Here are several words that describe vitality. Choose seven.
Begin each day by contemplating how those seven words are being modeled in your life. You can also write a sentence with several of those words that can become a statement of purpose for you to build vitality at home, in your workplace, or within your community.
I developed this activity a few years ago when I read DePree’s book. These are the seven words that I chose: Listening, Respect, Vision, Chemistry, Unity, Truth, and Well-Being. I have this list laminated and propped up right next to my computer.
Each day as I begin my work, I can see those seven words. When one of them is scarce in my life, I know I have some work to do to prop it up. They remind me to choose vitality—this day—and each day that God allows me to live—vitalitas!
At PSG, we help individuals and teams find vitality in their everyday lives. We equip and guide leaders on their quest to align team talents to the work that needs to be done for consistent role satisfaction with less stress. For 34 years, we have been helping you master the art of working together.