Passively Following in Life–or Actively Leading?
“Most of us are passive followers who fear the disapproval of our peers and the wrath of authorities.” –Sam Keen
When I read this quote, it hit me like a brick, realizing that for most of my life I have lived it through a screen of conditioning, passivity, and fear of what others (especially authority figures) thought of me or because of me. I desire to be a leader, and influencer, yet feel the gravitational pull of just being rank-n-file, that lets others tell me what to do and what life to live. The only One I want to set up in my life to do that is God. It’s time for me to be authentic and not worry about the perceptions of others that I cannot control.
Running
"I've got the time and I'm wasting it slowly Here in this moment I'm half-way out the door Onto the next thing..." Stacie Orrico (There's Gotta Be More)
Running, running, running. A person can run to something or be running away from something.
Running with a purpose is the most productive;
it gets you to your destination faster and is a healthy exercise.
Running away or to a constant something-else is usually not dealing with an issue.
It will keep coming up until dealt with.
Running because of a life filled with no margin slowly erodes that life.
What kind of running are you doing today?
Expansive Minds
“Leave you mind where it is and it will cling to what it knows.”
Personal development is a constant moving forward to undiscovered territory within yourself, in other people, in our field of expertise, in the world around us, and a seeking to know God Himself personally. We can stagnate if we stay in thinking-ruts and don’t exercise those muscles of exploration and deep thinking. Which means our progress will be hampered, and our creativity and excitement in life will be non-existent.
OK to Cry?
“Since boys are taught not to cry, men must learn to weep…….Men have much to mourn before they can be reborn….A day without grief is a day without awareness and compassion…When we refuse to soften, to surrender, to mourn our daily dying, we necessarily live with a high degree of illusion and depression.” –Sam Keen
I know I was an emotion-stuffer. It wasn’t OK in my home growing up to display “perceived negative” emotions. A person must also feel a safe-ness around another person if he is to cry in front of them or express those kinds of deep emotions. A good exercise to do is to figure out what in life there is to mourn: from poverty to divorces to missed opportunities–it’s different for each person, but it’s a soul-cleanser and shows a pliable heart. The Bible says those that mourn will be comforted–a great promise from God. It just might be the first step toward a breakthrough emotionally.