Continuing the Shift to Living Above the Line
Are you living above the line or below the line?
You know some concepts that you see, hear and agree with, however don’t take the time to really digest the depth of them?
For me – living above the line was one of those concepts.
What is Living Above the Line?
Living above the line is a concept I heard in a coaching workshop, so I investigated it further. I found more about it in the book Walking the Talk by Carolyn Taylor. Carolyn indicated she learnt the concept from Robert Kiyosaki (from Rich Dad, Poor Dad fame) and then I saw it in the book The 15 Commitments of Conscious Leadership by Jim Dethmer, Diana Chapman and Kaley Warner Klemp.
As you can see in the diagram below, living above the line is about –
- Taking ownership of your life,
- Being accountable for it, and
- Being response-able.
It is recognising we have the power to change ourselves and the results in our lives. It is about being open and curious and living with a growth mindset.
Yes sometimes this is easier said than done (especially when you have had challenging situations occur in your past), however it is possible and is far better than living below the line.
What is Living Below the Line?
Living below the line essentially means giving our power away to other people and external situations. It is being closed and –
- Blaming others for our situation,
- Making excuses,
- Being defensive,
- Living in denial, and/or
- A sense of entitlement.
Continuing the Shift to Living Above the Line
Do you think living above the line would be useful in your life? If so, maybe the follow can support you as you start or continue the adventure? Next time you start a project or activity at work or home, you could ask yourself –
- Are you ready to take ownership of the project entirely?
- Are you ready to do your best and make yourself accountable for the quality of work you produce? and
- Are you going to hold yourself responsible for the end product?
For me, one of the most challenging parts of living above the line is acknowledging when things don’t go the way I had hoped. However, that is also my responsibility, which then provides a great opportunity for growth!
“I know of no more encouraging fact than the unquestionable ability of man to elevate his life by conscious endeavor.” ~ Henry David Thoreau
Over to You…
I hope this post has helped you with the concept of living above the line. If you have any questions, please feel free to share them below.
If you are ready to reclaim your courage and take the next step towards freedom and opening your heart, why not join our Toolkit.
References –
The diagram created above, has been adapted from the work of the following –
Dethmer, J., Chapman, D., & Klemp, K. (2015). The 15 commitments of conscious leadership: A new paradigm for sustainable success. Oakland, CA: Conscious Leadership Group.
Taylor, C. (2015). Walking the talk: Building a culture for success (Revised ed.). London, England: Random House Business.