Moving Into Light

As we lapse 150 days in quarantine with the possibility of as many ahead, optimism seems hard to come by. Our challenges of yore seem minimal reflecting upon them now. We would have silenced ourselves then if we knew the profound discomfort we would soon be experiencing.

I have to think that all of us who live through this will find humility through the appreciation of the simple liberties we’ve been neglected.

The only way forward is Humility!

No longer can we allow our egos to handicap us. We cannot be sidetracked by negativity. The world will open up and we will walk into light again.

Are we going to go back to the petty disagreements that smacked of privilege forgetful of what was to be taken from us?

Dismantle Your Ego

A lot of people go to work to receive validation for their effort. There are people who have forgotten the purpose of their work but are addicted to hearing how great they are. With the dissolved physical office, these folks now have to search for other ways to have their egos stroked: Vlogs for the sake of hearing one’s own voice, “reply to all” ideas for advancement and shameless self-promotion.

If you are punching the clock every day simply to have your name in lights at an annual banquet, you need to reevaluate your purpose.

The only reaction to professional achievement (especially when others are struggling) is humility. Those who are truly successful take lessons from every success and failure and share them with others for the sake of collective progress.

Seldom are the top achievers the best influencers. Those who play the sink-or-swim game will always keep their cards close to their vest.

… and then you die with a bunch of trophies on your desk instead of a human-built legacy.

Unconditional Positivity

We’ve been confined to our homes for 160 days, fires have polluted the air and power outages are rampant… how is it possible to be upbeat in a time like this? Frankly, one’s wavering mental health may be an involuntary consequence of the aforementioned isolation. With every day we get closer to the return to normal. Then what?

Can it be said that there are those who secretly enjoy the built-in misery that a global pandemic brings them on a daily basis?

What will we do when our reason to complain is taken from us?

Many people wake up every day in search of a reason to be unhappy (a greater number than those who seek happiness). Misery takes no effort. You can observe others and mock them without any courage. To get up and fight to find the glory in each day is far more difficult. The streets are littered with people who tried and gave up. Finding true meaning in life involves the ability to tie up your boots and step over those on the sidelines on your way to the field. It never gets easy, it takes courage in every day and there is no finish line. Thus, the great majority remain in a slumber over notebooks filled with broken dreams.

Action Oriented Discipline

… Accountability …

People don’t like that word. It is rooted in control. The type of control that comes from those who do not inspire but instruct.

Fair enough.

But, until you find the path to accountability, you cannot discover glory!

You don’t have to obey anyone. You don’t have to discomfort yourself simply to impress someone you don’t respect. If you choose to ignore the aforementioned authority, you do have to have standards for yourself far greater than those of your oppressors. You have to be accountable to yourself. Self respect is not a core value of any company because it is the individual’s duty to discover it.

I’ve never met anyone who gave their greatest effort to every day and wound up unsuccessful. If effort is something you possess without compromise, you will win. It might take a minute, but as sure as the sun will shine, you too shall find glory.

Glory!

…. the combination of self respect, hard work and a life lead with purpose.

“It’s like a finger pointing away to the moon. Don’t concentrate on the finger or you will miss all that heavenly glory.” - Bruce Lee

Leave the trophies to gather dust.

Walk into the light!

~ Dave