Leadership Thought #414 – An Important Life Lesson – What Next?
I am currently reading Gordon Livingston‘s excellent book, The Thing You Think You Cannot Do, and, as usual, he delivers a worthwhile life lesson. In one chapter, he discusses the importance of asking the question, “What’s next?” While his clinical therapy patients may often be dealing with much more significant challenges than my clients, as human beings, we all have things that hold us back and inhibit our positive momentum. It’s easy to get mired in the past or become caught up in the urgency of managing the present. Many of us are far too quick to embrace the role of victim and tell our sad stories to anyone who will listen. We end up creating negative energy, which hinders our ability to move on and create a positive future. I’m not saying we don’t have to make peace with what has happened, but the best way to get out of a hole is not to keep digging deeper but to climb out.
Of course, it is important to be “present” in whatever you are doing and experiencing. However, it’s equally important to know where your actions are taking you. We all need to be working towards something; otherwise, we are merely existing. Bad habits and unhealthy thinking won’t just magically disappear one day. Life is too precious to submit to the external forces and claim that as our destiny. I appreciate the way Buddhists view life as a journey, with each step being a part of the path to enlightenment. What we can only ever control are our actions. In addition, it has never been about how we respond to things when they occur, but more about what we do with this life experience on an ongoing basis. We are either moving forward or backward; there is no in-between (a widely embraced life lesson).
Whether you are dealing with a major life crisis or a simple business annoyance, life goes on until it doesn’t. Sadly, the world doesn’t stop and acknowledge our misfortune or pain. We all face adversity – it’s just a matter of when and how often. I am regularly fascinated by the resilience of the individual human spirit. You just have to read the papers, watch the news, or pay attention to what’s going on around you to witness people experiencing and overcoming extraordinary hardships. My life often seems to pale in comparison until I step back and fully realize what I have also faced in my 46 years on this planet. We are all the heroes of our own lives. Thankfully, I am still offered many opportunities to count my blessings with each passing day. Sure, there are some people who have it better, but many more have it worse. As with all things, it comes down to context and perspective.
I encourage you to proactively get unstuck in any areas of your life where you are currently struggling by simply focusing on what you can do next. It can be small or big steps. The pace is always up to you. Just remember that a journey of 10,000 miles begins with that very first step. You’ll be amazed by what consistent movement forward can accomplish in your life. Push through the energy holding you back and embrace a positive future, even if it feels like it is far off in the distance. You will get there, or at least be better off for trying, while learning a valuable life lesson.
Related articles
- Your point of power is in your now moment in time (examiner.com)
- The Power of Self-Reflection (joyofspa.com)
- Buddhism and Management (ivythesis.typepad.com)
- The Tempest (preetispace.wordpress.com)
