Reflections
“Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery.”
I know.
You want to be original.
So do I.
We forget:
most of the greatest masters --
writers, painters, poets, designers,
engineers, architects, teachers,
preachers --
learned by imitation.
And the very best,
never stop
studying other’s work
to find the underlying principles
to incorporate into their own.
Often, the way to
originality
is infused with
imitation.
Find someone whose work and life
you admire
and
study them today.
If, just for once,
you
saw,
experienced,
believed,
and
trusted
the complete
wonder,
beauty,
and
graceful power
of
who
you
are,
your world
would never be
the same.
For this, there is no magic formula
You must
let go of
and
clear away
anything
(every thought, feeling, emotion)
and
anyone
who
blocks your view.
I did what I said I was going to do.
(Maybe it’s only one thing a day,
like getting up when the alarm goes off,
but doing that one thing you said you
were going to do leads to you doing
more things you said you were going to do
and more importantly, NOT doing things you
said you weren’t going to do.)
If you keep saying,
“Things have to change.”
know that they will
even
if you do nothing at all.
But those changes probably won’t be
the ones you were hoping for.
If you keep saying,
“Things have to change.”
remember
the
only one
you can
change
is
you
and
no one else can do it for
you.
If you keep saying,
“Things have to change.”
remember
you already have what you need
to
make the changes.
If you keep saying,
“Things have to change.”
start with small shifts
enacted
Every. Single. Day.
Soon you’ll be saying,
“I am changing.”
But
if you keep saying,
“Things have to change.”
they never will.
(This is as true for your personal life
as it is in your work, team leadership,
church, non-profit, and family.)
Results come from
what you do
consistently.
Nothing new there.
Makes perfect sense.
Except most of us don’t put it together.
We wonder why we can’t lose weight
when we still eat all the same foods
at the same time.
We wonder why our relationship is stagnant
when we say the all same things to our partner.
We wonder why our job is unfulfilling
when we continue to park in the same spot
every, single, day.
It’s not necessarily the big events
that put you where you are;
it’s what you do consistently
that is killing you
or
giving you life.
And you have control over them all.
Now, what are you going to do consistently?
(Try this: brush your teeth using the other hand.
What do you notice?)
What one thing
will you promise to yourself
today?
What one small (or large, perhaps)
task will you do?
What one change will you make today
to change your tomorrow?
And when you
do it,
complete it,
check it off,
will you celebrate it?
Will you put it in the
“win” column?
We forget the hundreds of tiny
everyday wins
because we are blinded by wanting
the big win,
the championship,
the all-star season.
We forget:
every successful season
begins
with one win.
What will yours be today?
When traveling,
our tendency is to pack
for every eventuality.
Impossible, really.
Instead,
pack lightly
and
meet
each eventuality
as it comes.
Might be a
good
plan
for life
as well.
I stopped
to watch
the
sun
set.
That is all.
(I recommend it.)
In Scotland,
the roads are narrow.
Signs read, “Give Way.”
Drivers do.
Straight roads
aren’t long here.
curves are the norm
and
one must have some patience
in getting to the destination.
In my native land,
the roads are wide.
Signs read, “Yield.”
Drivers mostly don’t.
Roads are mostly straight
with the expectation of speed.
We fret about it taking so long to get anywhere.
In driving,
the environment
shapes behavior
and
outcome.
So mind the choices
you make
between
the narrow and twisty way,
the wide and speedy way,
or some combination.
Because life is not always about
the destination,
but how you choose to get there.
A man talked to me
about his research.
Two years of studying
how the world was changing
for the worse.
All this time
and
his focus was fear.
He had not
answers
or
inclinations, even.
And so he is stuck in
fear
looking
forward.
It’s no life.
