Have you ever had an excellent idea which went by the wayside?
How about a moment of inspiration, a solution to all your difficulties, which turned out to be nothing more than a dream?
It happens to me all the time!
I once read a story which has since served as a lesson in life. “What is the difference between simple and easy?” the author asked. He used the example of golf, which is a simple game though certainly not easy. All we need to do to become a great golfer is to put the ball in the hole in 3, 4 or 5 strokes depending on par for the hole. It’s quite simple. For those who play golf, or in my case have “tried” to play golf, it’s far from easy.
So it goes with many things in our lives. From being a Sunday afternoon quarterback in the comfort of our living room, to creating a plan to lose weight or write a book. Intention abounds in our quest to solve the world’s challenges. Where we frequently fail is to take immediate action necessary to reach our objective.
We have countless answers and alternatives. What is most difficult is “putting the pedal to the metal” in order to achieve what we desire. When we perceive our destination as fraught with peril, danger and uncertainty, it’s common to feel overwhelmed with the amount of energy we need to expend to achieve our intention. Taking action, regardless of how small, is frequently the difference between “What if…?” and “I did it!”
Any worthy destination requires a first step. Losing weight is a function of eating less, eating healthier and exercising. Writing a book requires a first word, sentence, paragraph and page. Without a first page, there will never be a book. Any project can be cut into tiny pieces and tackled one at a time.
When is the best time to start?
Next Monday, next month, next year, or right now?
Intention is the first step to our desire. We must then take action to give direction because it’s not what we know, rather what we do with what we know which is most important!
It’s the Bounce that Counts!
∞ Rob McBride ∞
LL I 46
Life is like a game and each morning we cast the die. Sometimes we hit double sixes; other days, it is snake eyes. What is important is not what luck throws our way, rather our reaction, response and reflection.
Let’s suppose in a moment of distraction, someone rear-ends our car while we are waiting for traffic to move. Undoubtedly, it’s an unfortunate and bothersome situation. It may unleash a series of troublesome events which influence the rhythm and timing of our day. Simply said, we hit “craps” to start the day.
What is marvelous about being human beings is we can choose how the day will develop based on what we think and do with what we are given. We have been taught as humans it’s only natural to be disgusted and perhaps even become aggressive. “Why did you have to be so careless?” we may ask. “Now you’ve ruined my entire day!”
As we observe the world and all living things, we see plants survive with water and sun. Only when we fertilize and care for them will they flourish and radiate their phenomenal potential. Similarly, we can survive with food and water. Only when we fertilize and nourish our brain, body and spirit will we flourish and radiate our own phenomenal potential.
If we feel satisfied with where we are and what we are doing, we have probably already provided the nutrients we require to realize our potential. If this is the case, we are on our way, Contrarily, if we are unsatisfied with where we are and what we are doing, our best option is to take action today to create change tomorrow.
Each of us has something unique, a special gift which makes us extraordinary. This gift is often quite elusive and there is no single road to find it. Many go their entire lives without finding it while others find it when they least expect it.
Each and every day we have a choice. We can climb up to the top of the world and look down, or go down to the dungeon and do the deed. Frequently, our job becomes nothing more than a bore, a chore with which to bide our time until the dawn of another day. We can bathe in fresh dew of a new day or dwell in the drear which seems always near.
It is said, “Our attitude determines our altitude.” While an excellent attitude isn’t, by itself, enough to get what we want in life, it will help us to do everything better than we would do with a terrible attitude. Our current situation is a function of circumstance and decision. Even though our circumstance is often beyond our control, it is our decisions which drive our destiny and direction.
Even if we are currently engaged in an activity which isn’t our burning desire, we can choose to put our best foot forward and charge forth. Taking the first step is usually the most difficult. To gain momentum we must be willing to push beyond our comfort zone and reach beyond our grasp.
We can reach beyond our grasp. To achieve objectives which are readily available does not require great effort. To be valiant we can take risk and go beyond the comfortable and convenient. When we require more of ourselves than anyone else, we begin to create our desired destiny.
Instead of enduring, suffering, or simply tolerating times of trouble, we can rise to the occasion and become better as a result. When we stretch beyond comfort and convenience, we establish a foundation which allows our imagination and creativity to soar with the eagles rather than slither with the snakes.