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James McPartland

Your Best Operating Systems…

"Clear systems turn life’s chaos into clarity, connection, and fulfillment."— James McPartland

Access Point: Courageous Conversations | Blog post by James McPartland | Speaker, Author, Executive Coach

Last week, I promised to unpack many examples of life "systems" we operate in, which we intentionally designed to keep us returning to goal tracking. These systems allow us to create a framework in our world. They're different from habits in that one addresses our need for consistency individually and the other in the context of community.


So here are some common "systems" you might consider establishing in your life.


Learning System

We all need to have a system for how we educate ourselves. If there's something we want to learn from others, we’ll establish a system for it.


Your system might be that you commit to an online class, promise to read a chapter from your favorite author every night, or listen to a podcast regularly. These consistent actions in how you engage with your mentors create a solid foundation for your growth.


Relationships System

We might create an outreach or connection system. Whether we attend church on Sundays, schedule date nights, or keep a daily checklist of reach-outs. Imagine sending five texts to someone every day, it’s simple but impactful, and it will help you stay connected with those who matter.


Health System

For your health, you might set up a sleep system. Define your shutdown time, create a calming ritual before bed, and aim for a consistent bedtime with a clear goal for desired hours of rest. We've been hearing it more and more from the experts-- prioritizing quality sleep is essential for our well-being.


Sleep System

Are you starting each day with intention? Do you set clear goals and make small adjustments that lead to bigger changes? Whether it’s a morning routine that energizes you or a few moments of reflection, being purposeful sets a positive tone for the day.


I could go on and on with this list of systems that we need in our lives. There's health systems, systems for how we work, how we play, how we manage our time.


We create these systems consciously or unconsciously to help us run our lives.


I challenge you to intentionally build your systems with consistency and watch how they help you reach your aspirations. With each system clear and in place, you're guaranteed to find greater clarity, connection, and fulfillment on this bumpy, no-straight-lines road called life.


Next week we will have a final wrap-up of this No Straight Lines series. It's been quite a journey, but I'm looking forward to much more that lies ahead.


Mac 😎

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