When good is near you, when you have life in yourself, it is not by any known or accustomed way; you shall not discern the foot-prints of any other; you shall not see the face of man; you shall not hear any name; the way, the thought, the good, shall be wholly strange and new. - Ralph Waldo Emerson
The world buzzes about goals and visions. Focus. Create a vivid picture of exactly where you want to go. Dream big, then don’t let anything or anyone stop you. The problem, as Daniel Gilbert wrote in Stumbling Upon Happiness, is that we’re horrible at forecasting how we’ll really feel 10 or 20 years from now – once we’ve gotten what we dreamed of. Often, we get there only to say, “That’s not what I thought it would be,” and ask, “What now?” Ambition is good. Blind ambition is not. It blocks out not only distraction, but the many opportunities that might take you off course but that may also lead you in a new direction. Consistent daily action is only a virtue when bundled with a willingness to remain open to the unknown. In this exercise, look at your current quest and ask, “What alternative opportunities, interpretations and paths am I not seeing?” They’re always there, but you’ve got to choose to see them.
(Author: Jonathan Fields)
I could have written this prompt. I am a journey evangelist. Having the luxury of being able to look back for longer than I have to look forward, I can attest that the life trip is to be enjoyed, not fought against. Just today I was chatting with my youngest son who is in Texas for the summer and facing some big decisions. My final words to him were: “Plan? Absolutely. Be flexible? Oh yeah. Stay prayed up and listen...”
So, today, I want to second the sentiment of the prompt and not add anything to it. Enjoy the journey and don’t get bogged down in the “what ifs” and the “what nows.” Approach the bends and forks in the road with a positive “what can I do with this so I can continue to move forward.” Most importantly, find a way to enjoy...
#Trust30 is an online initiative and 30-day writing challenge that encourages you to look within and trust yourself. Find out more at http://ralphwaldoemerson.me
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