“Each obstacle we overcome makes us stronger for the next one.”
~Ryan Holiday
The Obstacle Is The Way
Do You want to Build a Snowman?
Suddenly awakened to that familiar question:
Do you want to build a snowman?
She asks you so much, prompts you, disturbs you with this question that you both love and wish would end.
When you give in, go and do your magic, it is wonderful. You play and have fun, while creating something so few really can.
This is your life, this is your ideal life. You have people in it who love you, who respect you, who want you to bring your brilliance to the world … then something happens.
A mistake.
You blame yourself & are so scared of making another mistake that you decide to hide yourself.
That sweet small voice, she still calls for you. Asks you … prompts you …
Do you want to build a snowman?
What is your Snowman?
We all have it. That thing that we love to do. It’s an intersection of our natural strengths, what we could be the best in the world at, and our passions, the activities, people, topics, or places that energize us when we are producing for, with, or in.
It’s something so natural to you that it might take work, at least to an outside person, yet you would rather do it than most anything else. It’s both work and play to you.
The results are magical.
How long since the last time you built a snowman?
It had been years for me.
For many years I hid my brilliance. Like taking a lamp and putting it under a basket so that nobody could see.
I was miserable.
Maybe I was building mini snowmen in my backyard … like Calvin often did with Hobbs, yet that’s not the level I should be playing at.
Has it been months?
A Year?
5 Years?
10 Years?
Can you even remember a time when you were really working with the who, what, when, where, and or why that causes you to come alive; bringing your unique magic in a flow that people around you would think is so simple until they tried it?
Now the question really is … when was the last time you heard:
Do you want to build a snowman?
Who is asking you to build a snowman?
That person, that sister, that brother, that friend, that co-worker, that sweet small voice inside of you. Knocking at the door, asking you to open it, and magically play in a way that only you can.
That’s someone to hold onto.
That’s someone you need.
In all of your life, only you can provide your unique magic, yet it’s not for you alone & you can’t gain the fulfillment, joy, or happiness by building miniature snowmen in your backyard with a stuffed tiger. Not at the level you desire today.
To achieve your greatness you need a combination of your magic and a group who values your magic.
It might not be as you dreamed. Your art, your magic, your work might not fit the desires, problems, and pains to have the lifestyle you desire.
So, how might you let your light shine & also achieve your dreams?
How do you appreciate and accept the promptings from your supporter who keeps encouraging you?
Understand what the voice is wanting. She wants you to be the best you can be.
She wants you to be full of joy.
She wants you to let go and own who you are.
She wants you to do magic and building a snowman is simply the only words she has that represents that for her.
It’s not about balls of snow, with coal, sticks, and a carrot nose … it’s about you performing at a high level in a way that is hard, creative and fun.
There are many ways that your abilities, talents, strengths, connections and passions can be developed and used.
Will you?
What would be your snowman?
Do you want to build a snowman?
Will you do it, today?
Measure of a Great Day
1. feed my soul
2. work my body
3. grow my mind
4. show love to my wife
5. work on my legacy
6. stop, rest, observe beauty & celebrate it
[Read more…]
Enough Hope
These two words are very important to you. You might not realize it today, but at the core everything you do is something to do with enough & hope.
Enough
All motivation that leads to action is due to a combination of a desire you have & your belief that the action will cause your world to be closer to what you desire.
Repeating an action is where “enough” comes to play.
You do something, you see the results. You judge – did this give me enough results?
If yes, continue, if no – do something else, even if just slightly different.
[Read more…]
Reflect, Thank; Dream, Plan – our process to success
My family has this process that we started the fall after my wife and I were first married. It stems from my frustration of Thanksgiving being overlooked & disdain for New Years Resolutions. Currently I am calling it Reflect, Thank; Dream, Plan.
Reflect
The first step is to look back on the past year, or longer, and see where you have come from. What all has happened?
Having twin one year olds this Thanksgiving, I can say that the year went by fast. We both have much to be thankful for, especially the growth in our babies and each other — both as individuals, as a couple, and family.
Thank
This part is simple, but important – be thankful & speak to people what you are thankful for. As a general practice I am trying to be encouraging more in the day to day, but there are still some specific people who have had an impact that I try to go out of my way to thank.
Dream
This moves from the past & present side to the future. Dreaming what the next year or longer should be. Currently I am thinking about a model based on relationships for viewing your world, so:
– Yourself – physical, mental, spiritual, capabilities
– Family – the special relationships around you
– Business – if you are an employee – you are a business hiring out your services to your employer. If you own or desire to one one, then you have a slightly different relationship
– Society – other people who are not in your business, or family.
So, what are the dreams for those four big areas? What about the subparts? Can you paint a picture that you are aiming for?
Plan
The practical steps you intend to take to make your dreams reality. Before you fully make plans you need to make goals. Goals are important because they are the measuring stick of how well your plans do, but doing the important work to write out the steps you are going to take to make the dream a reality is also vital.
My family is in the middle. We talked about reflecting and thanks recently. This week my wife and I will talk about our dreams for the next year – thinking in those four big fields. If you can have one dream for each & work on just four things over the course of a year – it will be amazing, as long as you take the steps of really making a good goal and then a plan.