Category: Inspiration

Some people wake each morning ready to face whatever the day may hold. Others dread even getting out of bed in the morning.

It all comes down to outlook.

“In India, there’s an old parable about a wise king who sent two of his court officers away to explore faraway lands. One of the courtiers, the king had observed, was arrogant and self-absorbed; the other was generous and open-minded. After many months of travel and exploration, both men returned home to report their findings. When the king questioned the men about the cities they visited, the generous courtier said that he found the people of foreign lands to be hospitable, generally kindhearted, and not much different from the people one met at home. On hearing this, the arrogant officer scoffed with envy, because the cities he’d visited were full of scheming liars, cheats, and wicked barbarians. Listening to these reports, the king laughed to himself – for he had sent both men to the same places.”

How many opportunities do we squander? How do we recognize an opportunity when it comes along? How many chances do you think we get?

Being ready for an opportunity means to have everything in place. “Success is 90% preparation, 10% perspiration.”

When opportunity knocks, you have to be ready to answer. You can second guess yourself, but it’s better to do it approaching opportunity than running from it.

 

Some days are easier than others. Some are harder. Either way, most days don’t go as anticipated.

So what do you do with your days?

There’s only so many we’re given. Only so many we get to enjoy. Wouldn’t you rather spend them pursuing your passions than toiling away and losing days to mediocrity?

It’s always a distant reminder of what we’re not. We can strive to reach it. Yet, when we arrive where we swore it was, it’s suddenly moved farther on. Perfection is not something we can ever attain, because we are our own harshest critics.

There is a benefit to using perfection as a guidepost, because we can make improvements in those areas that we push forward.

It can also be a setback when we’re focused on the perfection, rather than on incremental improvements – always comparing ourselves to what we’ll never be.

As the old maxim says, “It’s the journey that matters, not the destination.”

It’s easy to overlook to negatives of the steady stream of communications and modernity while focusing on the benefits. Instant communications. Live updates. Award shows…

We should keep in mind that the great ideas historically are born of silent moments. This data flow like we experience now has only been increasing in this way for the past few decades. It’s still unclear what our adaptation will look like.

So when inspiration is needed, seek the silence.

Each day is a new day, with new challenges and new rewards.

Face the new day. Do your best. And that’s all that can be asked of you.

It’s all that can be asked of anyone.