EP 611 | The Art of Alignment

All this week, we've been exploring alignment in leadership. As we come to a conclusion of the series, let's look at one last point - the art of alignment. 

Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:05):
Hello everyone, and thank you so much for joining me
for Daily Spark for Doctor Angela. I'm your host, Doctor
Angela Butschester. You guys know who I am, and you
know what I like to do on my shows. Say
it with me. I want to enlighten, inspire, and empower
you to become your best self now. Scripture reminds us
that the tongue is a small thing that makes grand speeches,

(00:28):
but a tiny spark can set a great forest on
a fire. And that's what we want to do today.
We want to get you fired up about the art
of alignment. So you know what I'm gonna tell you
to do. Go get comfy, get cozy, get your coffee
or get your tea, because we are about to get started.

(00:50):
Hello everyone, and thank you so much for joining me
here for Daily Spark with Doctor Angela. I'm your host,
Doctor Angela but Chester. I'm really excited about this time
of a year because this is the time in which
we are starting to make certain changes. We are starting

(01:11):
to look at what works for us, what isn't working
for us, those things that we want to change both
for a positive affect, meaning we want to continue down
that road or we're making a change because something hasn't
been working for us and we don't want to continue
down that negative road. But it is a time that

(01:33):
we're trying to find balance uncertainty in our lives. So
let's talk about it. Welcome again to the show. So
all this week we have been exploring alignment and leadership.
We've been talking about aligning your vision with your values,
with balancing your call with career, and even the importance

(01:57):
of spiritual alignment in day to time day decisions. But today,
as we close this all out, I want to take
you a little bit deeper, and we're talking about the
art of alignment. Why is it called the art of
alignment because alignment is not a formula that you follow

(02:20):
once and forget. It's something that you check off your
list and move on from. Nope. Alignment is living, reading, evolving.
It requires creativity, intentionality, and yes, a touch of grace.

(02:44):
Let's look at our scripture foundation for today. Scripture tells
us in Proverbs three six, in all your ways, acknowledge him,
and he will make your path straight. Notice that it
does say in some of your ways. It says all

(03:05):
alignment begins with the willingness to surrender every part of
who you are, our personal life, our professional ambitions, our
spiritual journey back to God, and when we do, he
takes all of those moving pieces and places them in

(03:29):
divine order. But here's the beautiful thing. Adjustment is not
just about God lining things up for us. It's about
us learning to walk in that order, and that my
friend takes practice. What alignment really means, that's the question.

(03:56):
Alignment also means living without contradiction. Too often leaders find
themselves saying one thing publicly but then living another privately,
and that dissonance eventually shows true Alignment is integrity. It's

(04:17):
the thread that ties together your faith, your values, your vision,
and your daily actions. When people see consistency in you,
they trust you, and when they trust you, they follow you,
not just because of your position, but because of who
you are authentically. Now, let's me make sure I put

(04:43):
a disclaimer here. I'm not confessing to be perfect, nor
am I saying that anyone is perfect, because Scripture also
tells us that none of us are perfect. No, not one,
only Christ is. So with that being said, every day
we strive to be our best selves. Every day we

(05:07):
strive to be more like Christ. And with that I
think that if we are continuing to stay mindful and
aware of what we're doing, how we're doing it, with
whom we are doing the things that we do, then
we are putting our best foot forward. Another aspect of

(05:31):
alignment is rhythm. Just as a car must be aligned
to move smoothly on the road, our lives need constant
adjustments as well, so that we don't drift. Have you
ever been in the car with someone who can't seem

(05:51):
to stay between the lines. They keep drifting over to
one side or the other. It's unnerving because you know
that you're supposed to be in between the lines. A
leader who is aligned creates the rhythm in their day
in the same way, and not just for themselves, but

(06:15):
also for their teams and for their organization. This rhythm
allows for balance, the ability to push forward without burning out,
to rest without feeling guilty, and to pursue success without
losing your soul. Yes, I know you heard that, push

(06:38):
forward without burning out and resting without feeling guilty. You
do not have to sell your soul in order to
pursue success. Far too many times we get caught up
in the idea or the learned behavior that is we

(07:00):
rest during the day, whatever daytime means for you. But
if we rest during the day, that we are this
horrible person, that we're lazy, lacking in some way. If
your body is screaming to you to take a break,
please do. The fatigue is real and our bodies have

(07:24):
a wonderful way of setting you down if you do
not sit down yourself. So take the time that you
need to make sure that you are fully charged before
you do the next thing. Alignment always draws people in.

(07:46):
Think about it. When you encounter someone who is fully aligned,
spiritually grounded, emotionally whole, and strategically focused, you can feel it.
There's a calm confidence about them, a clarity that's attractive.
People want to partner with leaders who know who they

(08:09):
are and where they're going. Alignment doesn't just serve you,
It magnetizes the right people, opportunities, and resources to your path. Now,
if you find that someone just seems to get under
your skin, you do have to take a moment to

(08:32):
self assess. Sometimes when we feel a certain way against someone,
it's not that that person has done anything wrong. It's
your ego getting in your way of seeing how brightly
that person shines. So instead of appreciating their gift, instead

(08:54):
of applauding their ability to do what you do can do,
you see them as competition that must be undermined. So
that's not a good place to be. We don't have
to live in that space. We can all shine brightly

(09:16):
together and illuminate the way for those who cannot see.
So as we learn. As you pick up these bits
and pieces along the way, use them. Perhaps they will
be for yourself or for someone you know. But by

(09:37):
gathering the bits and pieces along the way, you become
the best leader that you can be. When we talk
about alignment, we really talking about agreement, agreement between what
we believe, what we value, and how we act. Spiritually,

(10:02):
alignment means that our faith is not just words but
lived experiences. We are not just talking about trust, but
we're practicing it emotionally. Emotional alignment means that we are
not fragmented. Our feelings, thoughts, and actions are integrated. We're

(10:25):
not putting on one face at work and then another
at home, but living in authenticity. If you can smile
for your coworkers, you can smile for your family too.
If you are overly honest with friends, and family. Be
overly honest at work too. That's what people are asking

(10:49):
you to do. Determine where your balance is, where your
center is. Far too many times when couples come in
for a count, that's the issue because they see that
their partner can be the person that they want them
to be. And how do they know Because they don't

(11:10):
treat their clients that way. They don't treat their boss
or supervisor or manager that way. Or perhaps they are
the supervisor, the manager or the boss. They don't treat
their employees that way. But the moment they get home,
all of those guardrails they leave them behind and treat

(11:33):
friends and family any kind of way. So if we're
able to figure out who we are on our nine
to five, then we should be able to figure out
who we are on our six to six. Make sure
that you are always putting forth your best foot will

(11:56):
there come a time where things just won't work out.
We are, after all human, But if we strive for
our best self to always come forward, then more times
than not, our best will be delivered strategically. Strategically speaking,

(12:19):
alignment means that the goals we set and the plans
we execute are consistent with the mission that God has
given us. We don't chase every opportunity just because it
looks shiny. We choose the ones that resonate with our calling.

(12:41):
When those three layers, spiritual, emotional, and strategic are aligned,
we walk in clarity. We stop second guessing every decision,
We stop feeling stretched in a thousand different directions. Instead,
we move with confidence because we know we are walking

(13:05):
in harmony with God's design for our life. Alrighty, everyone,
it is time for us to take a very short break.
But when we get back, we will continue this conversation.
We'll be back right after this.

Speaker 2 (13:35):
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(13:57):
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Speaker 1 (14:06):
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(14:27):
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(14:50):
on Amazon or wherever books are sold. And we are back.
Thank you so much for joining me for Daily Spark
with doctor Angela. I'm your host, doctor Angela Butschester. Today
we are talking about the art of alignment. Let's jump

(15:15):
back into our conversation when we are talking and dealing
with and trying to figure out our sense of alignment,
to find our center, to find that balance. I believe
in practical reflection that that's what will help you get

(15:37):
to where you're trying to go. Practicing the art of
alignment using practical reflection is the stepping stone that you
can use to success. Let me share some of these
reflections with you right now. Number one, start the day

(15:59):
in centeredness, So before you read your emails, before you
go to any meetings, before stepping into leadership mode, pause,
take a breath, pray, journal, do whatever you need to

(16:23):
do to remind yourself that leadership begins with alignment, not activity.
And how can we be reminded of this. We all
have seen, worked with or know someone who has that
busy bee energy. Right. You see them buzzing around, They're

(16:45):
doing a lot of motion, but when you really pay attention,
you see that they're not doing very much, but yet
they look busy. That's because there's lots of activity. There's
lots of movement, but very little result. When you start

(17:07):
your day, your leadership day in alignment, it's totally different
because there's no need for the busy work. There's no
need for the distraction because you are about your day
with a plan and a purpose. Number Two, check your

(17:32):
emotions mid day yep I said it. Check in with
yourself midday. Midday is whatever halfway through your day is
for you. That could be noon, it could be six pm,
it could be eleven pm. Whatever is mid day for

(17:56):
your work day. So around your lunchtime or perhaps it's
dinner time for you, but around that time of day,
stop and ask yourself, am I leading from peace or
am I leading from pressure? Am I leading from a

(18:17):
place of centeredness, or am I leading from a place
of anxiety, pressure, chaos and uncertainty? Did someone bite my
head off so now I must chew on someone else?
We have to be aware of why we're doing sane
and being the people that we are. Alignment emotionally often

(18:44):
requires us to reset in the middle of the day.
A five minute walk, a scripture, meditation, or even a
moment of gratitude can realign your heart now, depending on
how you work, the environment in which you work, close

(19:07):
the door to your office and have some me time.
Close the curtains, the blinds, whatever you know, pull the shade,
have some time, turn the light off if you need to.
If perhaps you don't have an office and that's okay,
you can sit quietly at your cubicle for just a moment.

(19:30):
If you can't get the quiet that you require, simply
go for a walk. Though it's not quiet, you are
away from the hustle and bustle of your desk. Go
sit in your car if you're able to. That is
going to give you that peace and quiet that you need.

(19:50):
The most important part is that you take a moment
for yourself to yourself to recalibrate. There's nothing like having
a moment, even if it's just a moment to be
thankful to whisper a prayer to God. It doesn't have

(20:11):
to be long. We're not asking you to be Shakespearean
by any means, but be true and heartfelt. And if
you have the time to actually read some scripture, or
you have a moment to have a long conversation with God,
do that as well, because that's even better. You can

(20:32):
shake off even more of that emotional dust that no
longer needs to be on you. But take the time.
It is much more important. Then you may realize Number three.
Align your strategy before you make decisions. Every time you

(20:55):
face a big choice, whether it's hiring someone, launching something,
shifting directions, if it's moving. It could be something as
simple as selecting a new fill in the blank for
fill in the blank, and that could be from a
new school for your children, a new car for your family,

(21:18):
or perhaps a new location for your business. Whatever it is,
take a moment, don't rush, Take a moment. Ask yourself,
does this align with my values, with my calling, with
my faith. If the answer is no, don't be afraid

(21:42):
to say no. Why are you lying to yourself? Don't
deceive yourself. Be honest with yourself. Strategic alignment protects you
from wasted energy. The more you're able to speak truth

(22:04):
to your reality and speak the truth to yourself, you
will find that you are not only a happier, more
centered person, but that your work becomes more productive. So
align your strategy before your decisions. Number four. Close the

(22:27):
day with reflection. At the end of the day, reflect
did I live aligned today? Did my actions match my faith?
Did I honor my emotions and stay authentic? Write it down,
pray through it, pray over it, and let God gently

(22:50):
adjust what is out of sink. Now, if you're not
sure about something, the best advice that I can tell
you is to take it to God. Look forward in scripture.
Far too many times we've taken someone else's word for it,
and that's not what it says in scripture. That was

(23:13):
someone's paraphrase. And boy, where they way way way off course.
And now you've committed that to memory. And you're wondering
why finding center is so hard you it's easy. You
can google things nowadays. What does God say about Find

(23:35):
the scripture that aligns with and let that be your
starting point. If you're new to the faith and you're
not sure where to go. Ask someone in your church
and your family that you feel walks the path spiritually speaking,
that you want to walk as well. There's always a grandmother,

(23:59):
a grandfather, a mom, dad, aunt, uncle, bestie that's willing
to help you. We've all been new to the faith
at some point in our lives, even if it was
simply when we were little kids. But we all know
what it's like to learn and grow in our faith.

(24:20):
And it's okay if you too have a question. Closing
out your day with reflection gives you another opportunity to
spend time with God. So before you close your eyes
to go to sleep, make sure that you not only
start your day with an attitude of gratitude, but spend

(24:45):
some time being grateful for the day that you were
able to live. If you are given the opportunity to
have a tomorrow, what a great way to wrap up
your today. You started it with you gratitude, you ended
it with gratitude, and now you'll start your tomorrow with

(25:05):
gratitude again. It's a great way to live. So as
we are looking at our alignment journey, I want you
to remember that Alignment is not perfection. It is a process,
just like an artist returns to their canvas again and again,

(25:30):
adding a struggle to here, adding some shading there, a
few more layers, and so on. So do we return
to our alignment day after day. Some days everything flows beautifully,
like paint gliding across the canvas. Other days we might

(25:52):
feel like the colors clash or that the strokes are messy,
But even those days are part of the masterpiece. Leaders
who understand the art of alignment don't beat themselves up
for being off course. Instead, they simply return. They pause, realign,

(26:17):
and keep moving forward. That's where grace lives. That's where
growth happens. So as we close out our wonderful talks
on alignment, I want you to ask yourself, where am
I most aligned right now? And where am I drifting?

(26:40):
Maybe your spirit is strong, but emotionally you're running on empty.
Maybe you're emotionally whole, but your strategy feels scattered. Wherever
you find yourself, my dear sparker, know this alignment is
always available. God is not asking you to be perfect.

(27:03):
He's asking you to be present, to keep showing up,
to keep seeking his order. Because when your life is aligned.
Not only do you lead well, but you live well.
Alrighty everyone, and thank you so much for spending time

(27:24):
with me here on Daily Spark with Doctor Angela. I
hope that I have once again enlightened, inspired, and empowered you,
as always made. The Lord continue to shine his face
upon you. May you receive his grace and his mercy
in all that you do. Until next time, everyone remember
that you you are blessed in the Lord. Have a

(27:46):
great day everyone, Bye bye,