How Was Work Today?
September 27, 2008 by Aspen Eggimann · 5 Comments
I had to hold back a laugh a few days ago when I heard the above question. My cousin had just asked it to his brother in law.
The reason for my laughter? I was caught up in seeing the huge difference in the two people having this conversation about work. My cousin, David, had just gotten back leading a group, myself included, backpacking and exploring in Mexico. As part of his work he takes small groups down to Copper Canyon on cultural/humanitarian work. The trip goes thru the third world area of Copper Canyon to visit the Tamarah indians. Filled with helping people and moment by moment adventures. When he is not in Mexico he teaches wilderness survival. He doesn’t do it for money and he certainly doesn’t do it for prestige. He does it because its his passion, his dream.
As he asked his brother in law the “How was work today?” question I thought I saw a twinkle in his eye. “Oh you know, its work.” was the long faced reply. He brother in law is a banker.
Neither one leads a life the other should be leading. But one has a job, the other a dream come true.
After the humorousness of the moment was gone I was left deeply impressed by what I had seen. And it made me think a lot about my life and those around me.
I am sure most have heard the quote;
“Most people spend their lives working at a job they don’t like, to get money they don’t need, for things they don’t want, to impress people they don’t like.”
This may be an extreme statement on first hearing it, but for most it rings partially true.
Many people lead a life wishing they could do or be something they aren’t doing. They have a dream that they want to live, and yet when asked if they are living that dream they aren’t.
I believe everyone has a dream. Maybe from childhood, maybe not, but its real none the less. Dreams are important to an individual. When talking to people about their dream they come alive, their eyes sparkle and their voice gets excited. And then comes a statement I am sure we have all heard and said, “Oh well, maybe someday.” and the sparks are gone, the passion fizzles out and they go back to life just thinking about their dream.
Men and women all have a dream. Not just some or those who have thought about it or have been told they should have one. I mean ALL. Every single person if you search long enough has a dream inside them. And most of them aren’t living it.
The excuses for not living a dream are wide ranging. No money, no time, no resources, no skills, no support. In other words, no reason.
Why don’t we live our dreams?
Simple question, hard to answer. The answer is hard because it is so elusive. You really can’t tell why exactly. The excuses we use are just that… excuses. So what is the real reason? Fear? Laziness? Lack of faith?
If you are scared well… you should be. Living a life of dreams is scary. Not in the spooky sense. But in the difficulty and challenges. Its not easy and you will be tried, talked out of it, have road blocks put in your way and cross into unknowns. Yes it is scary. But worth it? Completely.
As for being lazy there really is no other reply then to get off your rump and start working. This life is short and there is no time to waste.
There is an old western quote that says;
“The cowards never started and the weak ones died on the way.”
At least start. Then you can figure out the rest as you go. But the truly strong start living their dreams now.
If we live a life without faith then it is no life. You were given your dreams for a reason and there is no power that would give you dreams and desires only to not give you a way of fulfilling them. Have a little faith.
“To dream anything you want to dream. That’s the beauty of the human mind. To do anything that you want to do. That is the strength of the human will. To trust yourself to test your limits. That is the courage to succeed.” - Bernard Edmonds
We are limitless in our capabilities, endless in our resources and have and untold potential to build anything we can imagine. So why hold back?
What is the one thing that makes you come alive? The one thing you would die for, or more importantly, live for?
What is your dream? And what do you need to do to start living it?
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Copyright © 2008 by The Cause of Liberty. All rights reserved.
How real are your fears?
January 25, 2008 by Stephen Palmer · Leave a Comment
Do you know the roots of and reasons for your fears?
Paul Slovic, a psychologist at the University of Oregon, has spent decades studying how we decide what’s risky and what isn’t. His studies have shown that how risky something actually is has almost nothing to do with how risky we think it is. Slovic has demonstrated that people think skiing is safer than flying on a commercial aircraft, that smoking is less dangerous than being around handguns, that nuclear power plants are riskier than cars. Think about these questions: Do more Americans die of suicide or homicide? Which is more lethal, kidney disease or AIDS? According to the U.S. Government, in the year 2000 nearly twice as many people killed themselves as were murdered, and kidney diseases caused nearly three times as many deaths as AIDS. Although Americans consistently rate nuclear power as one of the most dangerous of all technologies, it’s actually safer by any objective measure than most other forms of power. And two of the deadliest things in America are cigarettes and cars; auto accidents alone kill an average of 115 Americans every day.
When we’re subject to fear our judgment is severely clouded and we make unwise decisions. Overcome fear through a commitment to continual education and persisting in courageous actions.
Move the Cause of Liberty by (1) subscribing to the Sentinel, a free weekly newsletter boldly illuminating the principles of freedom in a darkening nation, and (2) pledging your Life, Liberty, and Sacred Honor to the Cause by signing the Declaration of Dependence.
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Copyright © 2008 by The Cause of Liberty. All rights reserved.
Make More Mistakes
January 25, 2008 by Stephen Palmer · Leave a Comment
We live in a culture that, from birth, discourages making mistakes. However unintentional, our educational system is generally designed to make us believe that mistakes are bad and should be avoided at all cost. Yet the reality is that making mistakes can be the most effective way to learn, provided we have the right attitude and proper guidance from wise mentors.
It’s precisely by learning that certain things are painful that we learn to avoid or correct them. The more we shield ourselves and/or our children from making honest mistakes, the more we all are crippled by the fear of acting. Education should be the process of open and honest experimentation where people are free to make guided mistakes in order to learn from them.
You may not be able to change our entire educational system, but you can begin to reprogram your mind to see mistakes in a productive light. There’s no need to be naive and simple-minded about this by rushing out to make unnecessary, juvenile mistakes, but we must find mature ways to overcome fear if we are to truly achieve our highest potential.
Move the Cause of Liberty by (1) subscribing to the Sentinel, a free weekly newsletter boldly illuminating the principles of freedom in a darkening nation, and (2) pledging your Life, Liberty, and Sacred Honor to the Cause by signing the Declaration of Dependence.
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Copyright © 2008 by The Cause of Liberty. All rights reserved.
Cutting Off Your Options
January 25, 2008 by Stephen Palmer · Leave a Comment
What does it mean to make a decision and why does decision making seem difficult?
The Latin word incido means to cut, and is the base of the words incision, excision, and decision. Therefore, incision means to cut into something, excision means to cut out something, and decision means to cut off something. Every time you make a decision you are cutting off possible options, which is why most people are afraid to make them.
Overcome the fear of decision-making by managing your attitude toward your choices. Eliminate regret from your life, and stop labeling your choices with moral judgments that limit your productivity. For example, many people who have experienced bankruptcy live their lives full of regret for the “bad” choices they made. But their bankruptcy could be the best thing that ever happened to them if they simply changed their attitude. Any choice, however negative, can be turned to productive use according to our attitude.
*Special thanks to Dr. Paul Jenkins, founder of Creation Tree Coaching, for this topic.
Move the Cause of Liberty by (1) subscribing to the Sentinel, a free weekly newsletter boldly illuminating the principles of freedom in a darkening nation, and (2) pledging your Life, Liberty, and Sacred Honor to the Cause by signing the Declaration of Dependence.
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Copyright © 2008 by The Cause of Liberty. All rights reserved.
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