Whenever I think about that quote, it really sends chills down my spine. Not because its something we can look at and just appreciate at a passing glance, but the reality of it really hits us at times and we choose to over look it. What does it mean to live? Rather than existing? Well the reason this hit home for me is because sometimes we really don’t realize how fragile life is. See once we are comfortable or not working hard towards some goal or dream, the comfort and the time that passes isn’t something we can get back. the most precious resource we have as humans, is time. But if we waste it, its over with.
Living is something we think we are doing when in reality sometimes we are simply just exisiting, repeating the same actions over and over, often feeling like we are in a rut. Wanting to change a rountine but never really getting around to it, always putting it off. And something we don’t think about and don’t want to do is taking a risk, maybe finding out where our talents really are, where we can have the biggest impact. But the comfort of life usually kills any thoughts of discomfort that will follow if we want to pursue a change. And rightfully so, why would we want to make our life uncomfortable? Why would we want to take risks when we can take It easy?
Because living is the reason we should pursue our dreams. If we are slaving away, working for someone else’s dreams and just getting by, do we really feel fulfilled? When we turn on the TV, and see the athletes or the people that are making a name for themselves and reaching goals, do we ever think “I wish I could do that?” I’m sure many of us have. The thing we don’t realize is, they didn’t reach their goal from a place of comfort.
Do you think Michael Phelps reached his peak from a position of comfort? Or that Steve job started apple from a position of comfort? No! The struggle and the hard work was something they went out of their way to PURSUE. They worked hard, they knew the price and the patience and the struggle they would have to go through. Granted we only see the success, we don’t really see the hard work which usually puts the image in our mind that you have to be talented, or special to do those things. And that is where we are wrong, hard work is something that all our hero’s, people we look up to, have put in. They worked when others were asleep, they put in twice as much when others put in barely a half days work. see the only way to reach and do our best to find and pursue a dream, is to do things we haven’t done before. To try things we haven’t tried, and have always talked ourselves out of. when our mind tells us we cant do anything and we agree, it often puts limitations on us. and these limitations really come to fruition when we try to do something but already have failed in our mind. and so that carries over. The people we end up watching on TV, they worked past their limitations, they didn’t mentally stop themselves before even attempting the work needed to be put in to reach what they wanted to do with their life.
Our life is something unique to each person, so to simply exist and move along at regular pace Is something we unconsciously do. But isn’t it better to walk alone in the right direction for us, rather then the wrong direction with the majority? For instance think of something right now you know you excel at, you are good at. Now ask yourself, am I bettering myself and pursuing it? What are the challenges in the way? Are they ones that require hard work? and commitment? Is that why we are shying away? Are we perhaps putting up excuses that mentally stop us from trying? Not doing, but simply TRYING? We have to be careful not to view life as something that we can’t do anything about, because in reality we can make a difference, we can pursue our goals. People don’t want to read about the ones who inherited greatness, rather the ones who struggled and have a story that shows they worked hard to reach their goals. So next time you wake up, challenge yourself to do something different, to change your life, not simply think about it, or daydream at work later. Challenge yourself to perhaps live, instead of simply exist.
Personal Development 