1. The 3A’s:
Creating a Purposeful Life through
Attention - Acceptance - Authenticity
www.dyanwilliams.com
(612) 323-1859
dyan@dyanwilliams.com

2. What
gets in the way
of creating a
purposeful life?

3. CHAOS
(or, more precisely,
aversion to chaos)

4. UNCERTAINTY
(or, more precisely,
apprehension of uncertainty)

5. MATERIAL GOALS
(or, more precisely,
attachment to material goals)

6. What are the
potential responses
to what
gets in the way?

7. PURPOSEFUL
ACTION
INACTION
© 2013, Dyan Williams
OVERACTION
CHAOS | UNCERTAINTY | MATERIAL GOALS

8. 3 Practices to Create
Purposeful Action
Attention (seizing the power of
the present moment)
Acceptance (embracing
uncontrollable situations and
circumstances as they unfold)
Authenticity (acting in
alignment with your true self
and core values)

9. BUSYNESS
Overaction
STUCKNESS
Inaction
ATTENTION
Purposeful Action
Attention - Continuum
© 2013, Dyan Williams

10. Attention - Continuum
BUSYNESS
 Juggle
 Multitask
 Work harder & faster
STUCKNESS
 Drop
 Procrastinate/Delay
 Keep idle
ATTENTION
 Focus
 Single-task
 Work in harmony
© 2013, Dyan Williams

11. RESISTANCE
Overaction
AVOIDANCE
Inaction
ACCEPTANCE
Purposeful Action
Acceptance - Continuum
© 2013, Dyan Williams

12. RESISTANCE
 Fight reality
 Micromanage/Control
 Bully way through
AVOIDANCE
 Escape reality
 Overthink/Obsess
 Fail to follow through
ACCEPTANCE
 Befriend reality
 Nurture/influence
 Stay open and curious
© 2013, Dyan Williams
Acceptance - Continuum

13. ACHIEVEMENT
Overaction
RELINQUISHMENT
Inaction
AUTHENTICITY
Purposeful Action
Authenticity - Continuum
© 2013, Dyan Williams

14. ACHIEVEMENT
 Chase external rewards
 Fixate on goals
 Succeed at all costs
RELINQUISHMENT
 Seek certainty/familiarity
 Give up on goals
 Shun challenges
AUTHENTICITY
 Align with core values
 Strive for goals without clinging
 Learn no matter what
© 2011, Dyan Williams
Authenticity - Continuum

15. 9 ways
to practice
the 3 A’s

16. Attention
1.Commit to
the present

17. Attention
2. Observe
without
judgment

18. Attention
3. Choose
one thing
at a time

19. Acceptance
4.Face
imperfect
conditions as
they are

20. Acceptance
5.Capitalize
on your
strengths and
let go of your
weaknesses

21. Acceptance
6.Feel what
you feel, but
drop the
story line

22. Authenticity
7.Claim
your
uniqueness

23. Authenticity
8.See setbacks
& mistakes as
opportunity to
grow & develop

24. Authenticity
9.Let go of the
when-then trap

25. Purposeful Action Leads to
a Purposeful Life
Attention helps you appreciate
what is before you
Acceptance enables you to
move freely with the highs and
lows
Authenticity allows you to savor
the process and your progress,
regardless of the outcome

26. The 3A’s:
Creating a Purposeful Life through
Attention - Acceptance - Authenticity
www.dyanwilliams.com
(612) 323-1859
dyan@dyanwilliams.com