Last week my blog was about growing and expanding our capacity in different areas of ourselves.
I was recently talking to a friend and colleague about his fifteen year old son. We discussed what he wanted to “do” when he got older. We talked about his career, his occupation and other things and it occurred to me…Who does he want to “be”?
I realized that when I was younger I never thought about this and that I didn’t have anyone ask me either. Or maybe I did but I wan’t paying attention?!? Although the question of what I/we, any of us wants to do is very important. I believe that it’s tremendously more important who we want to be and the way we feel when we’re doing what we’re doing. So…who do I want be when I grow up? I want to be happy, safe and live a life of ease.
We all need to differentiate within ourselves that we are not what we do. This goes for both the good and the bad. I make mistakes, we all have, it doesn’t mean that I’m bad or worthless. Or you might make $5,000,000/year and that doesn’t make you good and it may or may not make you happy. I want to be content while I live my life.
There are two main things that create fulfillment; the first is to be able to sustain oneself and the second is what we contribute to the world. For me, I’ve learned that I’m fulfilled much more when I feel like I’m giving of myself to the world. It’s important to note that this is not about performing. This isn’t about going through the motions of contribution but simply creating a life where you live out your vision and give of yourself to something important in the world that you believe in and something the world needs.
The point is this I think all of us could make use of the idea that what we do is not as important as the state of being while living our lives.
So, I’ll leave you with this question. How do you want to live your life?