A goal
is something you can
achieve.
A vision
is a guide
that directs your life.
If all we have
are goals,
once we achieve them
we can get
lost.
If all we have
is a vision,
it can be hard
to make
progress.
Category: Short Form
Hamster Wheel
It’s easy to think
that the things
other people want us to do
are more important
than what we want to do.
It can seem
that doing what we want to do
is selfish and bad
while doing what others want us to do
is altruistic and good.
And yet,
we are the proverbial “other people”
to somebody else.
May we pause
to deeply wonder
what it is we’re doing
and ask ourselves
the wonderous question
of “why?”
Why have we prioritized
certain tasks
over others?
May we live life
as the wonderous
and paradoxical
mystery
that it is
instead
of merely a series of problems
to be solved,
otherwise
our lives
can easily turn into something
akin
to a hamster wheel.
The 3Ss
Imagine
a tight rope
walker.
Without
a net on the ground
for the future,
it can be difficult for her
to feel
safe.
Without
a supportive rope
in the present,
it can be difficult for her
to feel
stable.
Without
sufficient preparation
prior,
it can be difficult for her
to feel
secure.
When we feel
hesitant
or vulnerable,
it may be useful
to ask ourselves
which of the 3
is missing,
Abundance vs Sufficience
Having enough
does not mean
having
abundance.
Having enough
means
having
space
without the desire
to fill it.
Having abundance
does not mean
having
enough,
either.
In fact,
abundance
can fuel
greed.
Having enough
requires
a particular relationship
with space.
To Do vs To Done
A to-do list,
can misguide us
to focus on getting things
done.
May we remind ourselves
that it is a to-do list,
not a to-done list.
The list may say
spend 1-hour writing,
as opposed to saying
write 1 page.
Some things
don’t get done
by forcing it.
They get done
as a byproduct
of diligence
and persistence.
Magic Words
Thank you.
Please.
I’m sorry.
Three
magic words.
…
If I may add
one more,
it would be…
“If something goes wrong,
I’ll take responsibility for it.”
Cost of Hyper-Empathizing
When something
or someone
with which we hyper-empathize
is threatened,
we can obsess over rescuing
or protecting
that something
or someone
with which
we hyper-empathize.
This can drive us
to lose sight
of everything around us
and focus solely
on the survival
of only those
with which we hyper-empathize,
even if
it is at the expense of others
with whom
we do not
hyper-empathize,
even if the other
is our so-called
“self.”
Empathic Humor
“I want to kill him,”
she said,
her heads down,
referring to her co-founder.
“Tell me how you’d do it.”
I asked,
“What?”
she looked up
puzzled.
“I want to hear your plan.”
I responded.
“Ha ha ha!”
she laughed out loud.
I smiled,
noticing her shoulders relax
and tension release.
Illusion of Progress – Part 2
We tend to associate
progress
with forward movement.
But sometimes
stopping
and not moving at all
can be progress,
if that’s what’s required
for us gain the clarity required
to move
not merely forward,
but in the direction
we desire.
Need for Support
We are born
to need
the support of others.
This is more obvious,
when we’re near birth
or near death.
In between,
we may pretend
we don’t need
support
or we may think
we’re weak
if we do.