The Hats We Wear

There are hats for all seasons and for all occasions.  The hat that may be proper for one event or venue may not be considered so for another.  Each is made of different material, perhaps shaped differently or suited to a very specific purpose.  Such is the fabric of our lives.

As we journey through this life, we will figuratively wear many hats.  For me a few are Christian, husband, dad, writer, co-worker, employee, leader, supervisor, neighbor, friend, and so on.  The list of your hats/responsibilities tends to increase with age.  We start out with few responsibilities and relationships, but as we grow into adulthood we tend to become avid hat collectors.  This can be a good thing, or it can cut the other way when we are ill prepared.

My goal is for each of us to look at the roles and responsibilities (hats) in our lives and examine how best to wear them, or to prepare for others that may be to come.  This then becomes an exercise in self reflection and self awareness.  Neither of these are things that seem to come easy for the majority of us, but as we hone this skill we find great value.

5 Critical Questions for Self Reflection

What are the roles I currently play or expect to play in the future?

This is the most basic part of the assessment

Who depends upon me, and for what?

This question begins to determine the magnitude of each role

How am I succeeding in each role?

This gives us the opportunity to feel some positive mojo

How am I underperforming in each role?

This allows us to highlight areas that need a tune-up

What do I need to do to capitalize upon the things I am doing well,

while acquiring the knowledge or skills to improve those I am not?

This is where we put the assessment to work

I don't know where you will go from here, but do know that Solomon put this into perspective for us with some of his writings in Ecclesiastes:

To everything there is a season,

a time for every purpose under the heaven:

A time to be born,

and a time to die;

A time to plant,

and a time to Pluck what is planted;

A time to kill,

and a time to heal;

A time to break down,

and a time to build up;

A time to weep,

and a time to laugh;

A time to mourn,

and a time to dance;

A time to cast away stones,

and a time to gather stones,

A time to embrace,

and a time to refrain from embracing;

A time to gain,

and a time to lose;

A time to keep,

and a time to throw away;

A time to tear,

and a time to sew;

A time to keep silence,

and a time to speak;

A time to love,

and a time to hate;

A time of war,

and a time of peace.

Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 NKJV

Solomon, the ultimate man who "had it all", was a deeply troubled soul.  In the book of Ecclesiastes he takes a very hard look at his life which can serve as a model for us today.  Are we willing to take such a close look at our lives?  Will we acknowledge the errors in judgment that we have made?  I believe firmly that when we are willing to be as introspective as the great King, then we can gain great insight to guide our future.  This week I challenge you to take a look at the book of Ecclesiastes, and concurrently examine your own life framed by the five questions above.  If you will do these two things I believe it is a fast start for us to better wear our many hats, and to Make Today GREAT!