Question …
Do you believe it is more pride or humility that compels us to follow our dreams?
My first instinct would have been to say pride.
That pride drives us to believe in our dreams, and pride enables us to believe ourselves capable of achieving our dreams, and pride imbues in us enough self-centeredness to actually set out in the direction of our dreams.
Because following our dreams is inherently a selfish act, right?
But what if we don’t actually choose our own dreams? What if our dreams … choose us?
Does that change the equation?
Because if that’s true, if our dreams choose us, then is it possible that our humble acceptable of what we are being called to do is what actually propels us in their direction? And our pride, counter-intuitively, can be what keeps us standing in place?
The pride that fears failure. The pride that fears fears discomfort.
This thought occurred to me while watching the video below.
Here is the line I’m referring to:
People don’t choose dreams. Dreams choose them.
So the question I’m getting to, is do you, have the courage to grab the dream that picked you? That befits you? That grips you?
Or will you let it get away, and slip through?
The best time to begin pursuing our dreams was the moment we realized what they were.
The next best time … is right now.
Perhaps taking a different view of our dreams — acknowledging the balance of pride and humility necessary to pursue them — can be an important impetus in taking the next step in their direction.
WATCH: Everybody dies, but not everybody lives — by Prince Ea
Be a better person
Do you want to stand for something?
Then you have to make a choice. In this ultra-short blog post, Seth Godin describes what that choice will be.
READ: The best way to stand for something
Are you being intentional enough with your communication?
And by that I mean: are you considering how your word choice can impact the influence you have, and the confidence you portray? This episode of The C Method podcast dives into this topic, with a humbling reminder about how few words most of us actually use when we communicate.
LISTEN: Watch Your Language! How Words Can Impact Your Influence And Confidence
One more about joy
And following up on last week’s conversation about joy, this link was sent to me by a dear reader. It’s a great read.
I believe we forget the power of joy at our peril, for when we lose it, we can sink beneath the waves and become, to switch metaphors, breeding grounds for the forces of despair and destruction, frustration and fear. We become part of the storm, not part of the lighthouse.
READ: The Fires of Joy
Be a better partner
Want to enjoy better long-term relationships?
This piece does a great job describing five strategies that will help us get there. These work for marriages, but most of them can applied to any type of long-term relationship.
READ: 5 Surprising Factors of Long & Successful Marriages
Do you want to be better at giving your partner gifts?
Maybe it’s time to change how you view gift giving. Think not about what thing you want to give, but consider what message you want your gift to communicate.
LISTEN: How to Choose the Perfect Gift (#77 here)
And here’s another list post … with ingredients for a healthy relationship.
These are only ingredients, of course, not a cure-all, but internalizing them should help us respond in a constructive way when our partner has concerns.
READ: 7 Ingredients for a Healthy Relationship
Be a better parent
Deep breaths …
When our kids make mistakes, especially when they defy direct orders, it’s easy to get mad, and to punish — even with good intentions. But if we can stifle our prideful reaction that leads us to frustration and anger, and maintain the humility to do what’s best for the long-term, might we find that finding a way to teach is better than simply punishing?
READ: To Punish or to Teach?
Does the language we use with our kids on rainy days make a difference?
The incredibly accomplished Josh Waitzkin thinks so. Listen around the 18:40 mark of this episode of the Tim Ferriss Show to find out how Waitzkin uses rainy days as way to help his kids develop an internal locus of control. It’s fascinating … and something I’m making note of for the future.
LISTEN: Tools of Titans: Josh Waitzkin Distilled
Don’t be clueless
None of us want to raise a materialistic kid … and yet many of us are materialistic ourselves, and it’s easy to feel powerless in our materialistic culture. This post outlines a number of ways we can combat materialism in our kids (and maybe ourselves too).
READ: Want to Deprogram A Materialistic Kid? Here are 8 Proven Ways
