We Lose Our Way, When We Lose Our Why

by Leigh Perry, Upsilon Lambda (University of Texas at San Antonio), Rituals, Traditions, and Jewelry Committee

I have been thinking a lot about ripples. Not the ripples in a pond, but the ripples caused by our interactions with others. What we think, say, and do impact ourselves and the others we come in contact with in person and digitally. We see it in those we live with, talk to, or see every day. It is also true of those individual one-time interactions at the grocery store, airport, or on social media. All of those ripples then extend on to the people with whom they have interactions. It’s a powerful choice with huge implications – whether our interactions provide a positive impact on others or just the opposite. We have the power to be intentional and SELECT how we interact. We can be “Debbie Downer,” that one bad apple that spoils the bunch, or we can intentionally choose to carry the spirit of our motto into the world about us.

In Simon Sinek’s book Start With Why, he identifies a compelling idea called the Golden Circle which “provides a framework upon which organizations can be built, movements can be led, and people can be inspired. And it all starts with WHY…‘Why’ is the very reason your organization exists.”

In Alpha Omicron Pi, we are fortunate because we KNOW our WHY. It is always before us in our motto. We are reminded daily in the letters we wear in our jewelry, on our clothing, and put on the bags we carry and the vehicles we drive. Our Founders were insistent that it isn’t focused on what we can do just for our sisters, but rather the impact we have in the world about us. AOII is all about reciprocity, and what we send out we get back 1,000 times over. Our interactions ripple out to our communities, our chapters, and ultimately back to ourselves because all life strives for balance. We reap what we sow.

At a women’s conference recently one of the other presenters shared this by author Michael Hyatt, “We lose our way – when we lose our WHY!” Reflecting on a recent chapter visit, I realized that’s what happens in our chapters when members forget or never connect with Ritual – they lose their WHY. The membership falters and the sisterhood itself begins to crumble because gossip and pettiness undermine the very foundation of the chapter. They lose their way and it ripples out into the world around them.

Dan Nielsen says this in his blog: “If you lose sight of your original vision… disillusionment and discouragement can set in and you start to lose you way. You start believing those who say, “You can’t.”… It is crucial that you don’t lose your ‘why.’ The journey will likely be difficult, but if you keep focusing on and reminding yourself of the greater purpose…then you won’t lose your way.”

Stay focused and never lose sight of our motto, our original vision, our why. If we are always intentional in our interactions, then we won’t ever lose our way.

You may contact the Rituals, Traditions, and Jewelry Committee (RT&J) about anything Ritual-related at RT&J@alphaomicronpi.org.