Seems like we’re always trying to become some THING. An artist, a writer, an actor.
But you and I aren’t things, and we can’t become them.
We can paint. We can write. We can act. And no one can stop us.
The only thing we really need to become is engaged.
Why strive to someday become a writer when you can immediately be yourself engaged in the act of writing?
You can do it right now and any time you choose. No dream deferred. No gratification delayed.
Let’s stop trying to become some thing. Let’s stop dreaming, and simply start doing what we’ve been dreaming about. Then we can be what we really want to be: ourselves.
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{ 12 comments… read them below or add one }
This was succinct and inspiring! Thank you so much!
I’m engaged in being a huge fan of this post!!!
Absolutely love this. You’ve said it spot on and briefly. I don’t think this can be said any better than you just have.
.-= Jeremy Johnson´s last blog ..The Ant Philosophy =-.
Thanks, Jeremy. I have Seth Godin to thank for teaching me that a blog post doesn’t have to be long to be useful to my readers. I’m glad that you and Barb and Miriam enjoyed it.
(Just like the old aftershave commercial when the guy gets slapped with aftershave.)
“Thanks…I needed that.”
Thanks, Christina. I find that a gentle slap is often just the thing I need.
Ken,
I love this. Part of the problem with becoming the ‘thing’ is that we never know when we’re there. The finish line is always moving. There’s no ‘there’ there. But when we’re engaging in the thing, we’re here. And that’s so much more satisfying!
You expressed something I was thinking about but didn’t put into words in the article. The thing is always out there, in the distance, and moving away from us as we approach it. Engagement is here, near, and always accessible.
Sometimes, Ken, you hit it. Well, often times. Very nice.
Peace,
@vinylart
What a pleasure to see you again. Congratulations on becoming a father.
Ken,
I work with people in career transition and so often they come up with this same idea that they need to become something else in order to have satisfying work. I love what you said; “the only thing we really need is to become engaged.” So true!
Engagement has become my central focus. It’s been a good shift.