Remember the glory days?
"When I was a child, I used to speak like a child, think like a child, reason like a child; when I became a man, I did away with childish things."  With Bruce Springsteen on the charts again, I was reminded of a song of his from several years ago called Glory Days. If you're too young to remember it, The Boss sang about how people he knew sat around dwelling on the past, reliving and constantly rethinking what has long gone and will never be again. Unfortunately, many lead lives that keep them in the same small town (metaphorically speaking) for their entire lives. Still re-living the big game, still talking about the "old times," still thinking about the way it was. What type of childish things (in all areas) have outworn their welcome in your life?How many people continue to go to the same church and listen to the same sermon for years at the risk of being locked in chains of mediocrity? How many individuals stay in jobs that have lost their luster and vibrancy long ago out of fear and insecurity? How many stay in relationships, trying to remember the "glory days" when there was passion, connection and love? Many movies and books have been written about the "mid-life crisis" when people make radical changes in their lives. Grown men leave their families and date women half their age. Women long past their prime are seen frequenting bars and parties that are known to not satisfy in the long run. Dr. Anderson in his book, The Stages of Life, is the first (to my knowledge) who has observed this occurrence as a good thing... at least, to a point. While the behavior is not wise, this external search is driven by an inner spiritual desire to evolve and grow... A setting aside of the dying and a breaking through into a new realm. Unfortunately, a return to the past behavior of glory days and younger years is unable to satisfy.In most cases, the temporary thrills of chasing teenagers and other juvenile behavior is short-lived. The wise individual realizes that it all was the outcome of an inner longing for something more and of greater significance. The student lives life in the Now... not hanging onto the past and not longing for the future. When asked the question, "Where are you, and what time is it?" there is only one answer: "Here and Now." Everything but the Here and Now is a mental construct and an illusion that robs your life of precious energy.The sad individual that lives, thinks and talks consistently about the past is looking to affirm their sense of identity. The problem is that this identity is based upon a long history and interpretation of past experiences and life situations. You are more than that. Don Juan told Castaneda, "The person of Power is the person who has no personal history." "But James," you may ask. "Doesn't the past imprint upon us and make us who we are?" My answer is both yes and no. There is much to be learned and gleaned from the past, and yet to the degree we cannot release it and live in the Now, we are in chains. Our very identity is locked in the grip of the dead and gone. Let the dead bury the dead. Conversely, the person who is constantly thinking about the future is living in never-ending anticipation.I once coached a young man who set his watch to audibly notify him every 15 minutes so that he could pause and visualize his future. When he proudly informed me of his new practice, he was surprised to find that I was severely unimpressed. Constantly thinking of the future is a strategy of the ego based upon a deep dissatisfaction with what is. While I'm a strong advocate of visualization, constantly visualizing the future will often do more harm than good. I doubt very seriously if Bill Gates visualizes becoming a billionaire or has billionaire affirmations taped to his mirror. Bill just is. Once you get there, you don't need the map... What was once profound has become a childish hindrance to release and put away.What of goals? Setting a goal and working towards it is positive. You're clear on where you want to go. The key is to honor and give full attention to the step you are taking right now in this present moment. Those who are excessively focused on the future are doing so because they are seeking happiness, fulfillment or a more complete sense of self in the glory days of the future instead of the past. The organized religions of the West have built their entire identity playing on the ego need for a perfect heaven in the future. Unfortunately, this very mindset creates a perfect hell in the now. It's not what you do that determines your success but how you do it.This statement, when fully understood, is so deep in its implications that it can literally transform and enlighten your life. The "how" is the internal process from which you live and move. When your continuous mental dialogue is in the past or future, your life is passing by you at quantum speed. The Journey of Power is a journey of defining your future clearly... releasing the past while living full-on in the moment! Just suppose this is as good as it gets? What can you do to more fully experience and appreciate the beauty of life right now? To your continued wealth and happiness,  P.S. Nothing helps you live in the Now more than meditation, and Collapse the World is designed to do just that... And it's on sale through September 30, 2007. Click to learn more and save 20% off the retail price. P.P.S. Ask me anything! I'm hosting a free live Q&A session on October 10th... The lines fill up fast, so reserve your spot and ask your question today. |
First - it is brilliant from a marketing perspective to take Springsteen's re-entry on to the charts and use it and "Glory Days" as the basis from which to present such a profound message. (Has Bruce learned to write a song without repeating the same 4 chords over and over throughout yet? Has he discovered the impact of including a bridge? So many questions...) Brilliant marketing - even IF you did start the whole post off with a preposition...
Second - it is brilliant to me personally because I have recently been arriving at this same conclusion many times over after reflecting on this very same thing. What is it that the highly successful do? They are fearless, bold, daring, dive in with both feet (never mind the mud!) with a desire, clear intention and just GO. If that doesn't work and they fall on their face, they dust themselves off and try something else... JUST LIKE CHILDREN DO! They aren't concerned with "what others think".
Being the kid as an adult is it! To this end I have been focusing on cultivating this buried part of myself. Like you say, it's not about lists and signs on the walls. (Lists and signs keep "the identity" that you are present, in my experience brilliance happens when that identity is transcended or "not present".) Brilliance is about BEing, just stating who and what you "are" (intention) and BEing that NOW. Kids don't analyze every angle; they know what they want, where they want to go, are intensely curious, courageous (they just go forth boldy) always seeking new adventures, always examining. To a child everything is accessible.
I remember being filled with fascination bringing home big fat green worms and eating the grass in the yard because it was yummy and smelled SO green! (I still love the taste of grass, only now I get in green drinks and not from the yard!). I didn't know that there was anything wrong with doing these things until the the Tall Knowing Ones, the adults, informed me in no uncertain terms that there was. This is what happens, our natural curiosity and "just go out there and do it"-iveness is eroded by well intended authority figures throughout our lives over and over and over, until we "get it". Unfortunately we are getting the wrong thing. We get "smaller and smaller" and our conscious options shrink. Of course they never really disappear, all we have to do is wake up the childish nature within and live as we did freely and vibrantly alive before we learned it was "wrong" to do so.
One of the most appealing things about you to me, is how present your "child" is. In the wonderful video you posted of the peek inside your free event, my favorite part (it always brings a huge smile) is of you going up to the top of the Tower in the glass elevator...such a little kid riding in that elevator!
Third - It amazes me how you always seem to be "inside my head"! Every time I have a question, am engaged in an inquiry, or deep reflection on something - you always address it or answer the questions somewhere, whether they are personal or general, in a blog, on a teleseminar, or elsewhere. Precisely too. It is astounding. So either you have access to my thoughts or this really demonstrates the One Mind - One Consciousness of the Universe.
I appreciate you and know you are wrapping up an incredible event in powerful Sedona. I can feel the energy all the way over here coming off of this event - the One Consciousness at work again!
With Love and Gratitude,
Amy
P.S.. somehow now I have this urge to run around and jump off of something! I really want access to a trampoline right about now....
I'm a National Training Director for a large public insurance company. Currently, one of my training initiatives is rolling out a customer experience project with several workshops for the claims employees. The past couple of weeks my participants have been engaged in the "Start with a Positive Attitude" session.
Your statement about "it's not what you do that determines your success but how you do it" caught my attention because that was one of the largest discussion points in the workshop. Claims employees at times deal with irate customers. During those times the "what" is irrelevant; instead it's the how response for the customer that makes the positive experience (e.g. how to speak, how to listen, or how they empathize).
Not only is this true in the business world, but in every personal relationship connection. When we focus on the "how" we do it, we give ourselves a gift in the present moment.
Thank you,
Michelle Strbich
"With passion, persistence, and purpose any dream can become a reality and any problem can be solved!"
Just wanted to let you know how much I appreciate this post. I continually find further layers of great wisdom within it each time I read it! It is truly a gift that keeps on giving!!
So thank you again and again and again for it!
All Love,
Amy