People without food, homes, jobs, health. self-respect, family, etc. don’t have many choices. Most of us have a ton of choices (like the cereal aisle – 100 kinds of cereal – really?)
We’re so invested in our comfort and conformity that we literally say… we have no choice but to… work a job we hate, stay in relationships with people who harm us, believe things that make us hate other people.
Here’s a little inspiration by Liz Strauss. I don’t know Liz except for her twitter posts. but I really loved this.
Be a treasure.
Start a quest. Create and conspire.
Be a mentor, a leader, a teacher. Inspire.
Be a beginner, a learner, an adventurer. Aspire.
Shine at being you.
Shine because being brilliant is what you do.
Do it because YOU have decided you’re living up to being a treasure.
Influence yourself.
Be irresistible.
– ME “Liz” Strauss
Do you understand that you are a treasure? Do you know how much you can influence the world? Start with yourself. If you’re not sure where to begin– try being quiet; the answers will come to you– I promise.
Photo credit: Nightgaunt Graphics
Carl Hoffman
June 13, 2012What you say is the essence of what I preach about practically every Sunday twice and Wednesday night. I work with seniors where their children are working class and middle class people where many are not living the “American Dream.” My ticket was education where I learned how to think critically and became a lifelong learner. I clearly do not have the answers but it is sure fun and challenging to find the answers which are always evolving. Personally, conformity is not appealing but you do have to make some concessions, like following a dress code. In my field. While my religion does not have “clerical clothes” I am expected to dress a certain way and it does not bother me. To have pressure to think a certain way is a problem for free-thinking me. That is why I left denominational life.
Deborah
June 15, 2012Hi Carl, asking questions and participating in the evolving answer discussions are part of the fun! I like moving farther and farther away from conformity and as I try to make art, I find it harder to figure out why we stop being creative. As always, happy to hear from you.