A river is a wonderful metaphor for life. Melting snow from a mountain grows to a trickle that develops into a stream. Suddenly it’s a river full of life. Blind spots. Hairpin turns. Exhilarating and sometimes treacherous rapids and waterfalls that transform into brilliant still pools of water full of fish and teeming with birds and wildlife surrounded by beautiful vegetation. It changes constantly and can flow for thousands of miles before it joins an ocean or sea.
It’s also the template for a great tool for getting to know yourself and others. It has helped clients understand the patterns of their decision-making and behaviors.To get clear on the values that drive them.
Getting to know you
Creating your own River of Life is simple. Get a large piece of paper. Some pens and pencils. Photos. Magazine cutouts. Whatever works for you.
First, sketch out a river to create your personal story. It can be horizontal or vertical or diagonal. The beginning of the river is birth and it progresses decade-by-decade. Extend five or ten years in the future if you want. On one side of the river note the major events of your professional and academic life. School. Work. Community engagement. On the other side note the major events of your personal life. Family. Friends. Play. Love. Health.
Get creative. Dig deep. Surprise yourself. Let the shape of the river represent your life. Insert bridges and still waters at times when your personal and professional/academic life were in sync. Rapids or rocks when your life was difficult. Waterfalls when it was exciting. Tributaries when you were in transition. Islands when there might have been isolation.
Soak it all in. Look it over and make sure nothing major was left out. Then reflect. What popped out and why? Patterns and trends? What questions came up? What insights did you get? How did any of the patterns or signature events or people shape your core values? Change your life? What key choices did you make? What agitations or decisions are stirring inside of you now? How does this help you think about them?
Try it with a new teammate. An old friend. Sometimes we know those closest to us the least.