Trust30; day 15: One Thing

Do your work, and I shall know you. Do your work, and you shall reinforce yourself. – Ralph Waldo Emerson

Take a moment, step back from your concerns, and focus on one thing: You have one life to achieve everything you’ve ever wanted. Sounds simple, but when you really focus on it, let it seep into your consciousness, you realize you only have about 100 years to get every single thing you’ve ever wanted to do. No second chances. This is your only shot. Suddenly, this means you should have started yesterday. No more waiting for permission or resources to start. Today is the day you make the rest of your life happen. Write down one thing you’ve always wanted to do and how you will achieve that goal. Don’t be afraid to be very specific in how you’ll achieve it: once you start achieving, your goals will get bigger and your capability to meet them will grow.

Timing, as they say, is everything.

I find it hugely funny (the ironic version) that this should come up as today's prompt in Trust30, especially as we hit the half-way point.

I am a big advocate of "dynamic tension," meaning that there should be dreams, goals, desires in your life that fuel your passion, that are vital and life-giving, that keep you focused as you create your story. There is a "trap" contained within that tension because as it propels you forward, it can also "snap back" and bite hard if you get caught in what author Mike Dooley calls "the cursed hows."

Mike has written several books including "Manifesting Change" and "Infinite Possibilities," both N.Y. Times best sellers. At his website, www.tut.com, you can sign up for daily emails called "Notes From the Universe" that are geared towards reminders of who you really are, your power, your dreams, etc. Let me share the one that I just read before I checked in with today's Trust30 assignment:

WOW! Just checked in on your new home in Maui, Richard! Love all the "bells and whistles" you dreamed up! Smokin' hot!

Apparently, however, there's some confusion over where the bouncy seat is supposed to go. So I just told them to put it in your world headquarters executive office, in front of the aquarium... beside the hammock... behind the popcorn maker.

OK?

You're so cute,
The Universe

Your neighbors are going to flip, Richard, but then they probably expect this from you.

How's that for "coincidence?"

Mike contends that the "hows" are none of your responsibility, just deliberate action regarding what is directly ahead of you; sort of like getting in the car and knowing where you want to go is the first action required before "driving away."

In more traditional business and motivation, Steven Covey puts this kind of deliberate focus in the "Important, not urgent" quadrant. That's where he says your greatest gains will come from. I teach that one frequently when I ask those attending my training classes what they think or feel they "should" be doing next. (Again, I love contrasting "Should" with "Could." Nothing is more revealing or empowering in the way that I look at it.)

I fell in love with Maui in a deep, inexplicable, almost sacred way the first time that I set foot on her. She permanently holds a place in my heart and I took part of her with me when I left. I knew beyond "rational thought" that I wanted to be there, in a home or living space, three-to-four months of every year, January to April.

Considering that I live in New Jersey, 6,000 miles away from that dream/creation, I have no idea of "how" is this to happen. But I have NEVER given up or despaired about this dream. It is MINE. It fuels me, is a spark in my mind and heart, always and all ways. It is like a beacon, inspiring me to make small decisions that I don't even consciously know are linking up, creating the path that will unerringly take me there.

I am smiling as I write this. That is what a nourishing dream does for you. You feel good when you savor it; you know that it... is.. YOURS. And you are as selfish and loving towards it as you would be towards your children because that is indeed what it is, a child of your imagination and just as real as any "reality" can be.

I shared yesterday the "path" that got me from the depths of despair and life "destruction" to a permanent relationship, a job/career, rewards and opportunities that included presenting on national TV.

You could've "easily" traced that one out from where I started, right? The "hows" and the path were brightly lit and radiating as clear as day... not.

Am I willing for "this" to change? Am I willing to feel "alive" again and enjoy the construction of a vital, joyful dream? These are some questions that you could consider, to see if they help.

The joy is in the journey... IS the journey. That journey brought me back to this blog that had previously been languishing and a project that I didn't even know was coming or existed. And now, it is fun for me to "be my authentic self" and use this as a tool towards "putting it out there" and living it for all that it's worth.

Yep, saw that one coming a mile away...

I acknowledge myself that when the opportunity was attracted to me, when it met my "now" moment, that I chose to "take the step."

And I know it was the "right" step because it felt good and is only continuing to move forward in that energy. That is reward enough in the only time that matters... now.

I'll invite you to visit me in Maui a bit further down this road.