So begins Day 5 of Rick Warren's influential book, "The Purpose Driven Life – What on Earth am I here for?"

I'd like to flip that and ask, "What shape do you see yourself as?" And to keep this simple, let me offer you as many choices as you have digits on one hand!

Do you see yourself most like a box? Or are you more like a triangle? Do you resemble a circle? Or would you prefer to see yourself as a squiggle (like an uncoiled spring)? Not sure? How about a rectangle?

Pause before you proceed and place those five shapes in order of preference. You have the capacity to be all of these but not the preference, so put them in a list from your favourite to your least favourite. {And, yes, I know some of you have done this before – there's a new twist coming!}

Dr Susan Dellinger calls this shape-system PsychoGeometrics™ - and she assigns different communication styles to each shape. For today, though, let's see them as windows through which we see our lives.

The box or the square window is a window that enjoys detail and analysis of life. It likes to see the boxes ticked. It's about process and procedure.

The triangle (or arched window if you ever saw the UK's show, "Play School") likes results – literally to get to the point (or the top). It's about production.

The circle or round window is all about the people. It's about harmony and balance in relationships.

The squiggle doesn't have a frame, so it's more interested in creating more possibilities.

And the dear rectangle is never quite sure what shape it's in so it is about procrastination, discovery and change.

It takes all shapes to make the world – specifically your world. You were never meant to do this alone. You cannot be all shapes all the time. So don't try to.

Do you fancy changing the shape you're in?

'Cos you know you can choose the shape you're in, don't you?

One shape at a time.

You could choose, today, another frame through which to see the world.

And once you've settled on the shape that suits you, seek out the other shapes so you may build a better world together. We need one another.

Who is best at seeing your world through the square window? Spend time with them, learn from them, imitate them when you need to. Who can see most effectively through the arched window? Who do you know who is wonderful as seeing through the round window? And who is always seeing possibilities? Build your house with all these windows in it and you will see a more amazing world than you ever imagined!

Lex

A Moodscope member.