Have you ever heard a similar expression “Be careful what you wish for?”
If you have heard it, have you ever asked “Why?”
I believe that the caution in the old expression is intended to help people realize that they often don’t know what they really want. But, I prefer the wisdom of Rumi.
“What you seek is seeking you” – Rumi
Because once you know, you seek, and once you seek, you find.
Instead of being careful of what you wish for, I’m learning the power of being very clear.
Have you ever pondered a life of financial abundance (millions of dollars)? What would you do or not do?
I had a pretty significant insight surface up as I spent some time pondering this question.
I will never be a person that sits on a yacht drinking cocktails for any extended period of time.
I realized that I am wired to work, and to work hard, on things that really matter……to me. Friendships, Parenting, Career Initiatives, Creative Explorations, Vitality.
Here’s what I’m also finding out. Most of us are like this.
We desire true fulfillment. Which can only be found by working hard towards a goal and living a life that we’re really proud of. A life described best by Hunter S. Thompson –
“Life should not be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside in a cloud of smoke, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming “Wow!”
The goal is not the top of the mountain. You could do that in a helicopter. The goal is reaching the top, but having the journey to reflect back on – The climb it took to get there.
And when we reach and reflect, we learn and we grow, and find a new mountain. After all, who wants to sit on a mountain for longer than a few hours? Likewise, who wants to sit on a yacht for years on end? Especially without a journey that got you there to reflect on.
Most of us are not really seeking financial abundance. We’re seeking adventures that we’ll smile about on our death beds. People that will love us endlessly because of how much we’ve loved them. Work that we’ll be proud of. The remains of a body and spirit that helped make the world a better place.
When we realize what we’re truly seeking, the path to get there becomes very clear. We remove our ego. We smile every chance we get. We find time for the things that we really love and we reduce time spent on the things we don’t. We build and work on meaningful relationships and we let our selves gravitate towards the work/places/and things that inspire us most.
What you seek is seeking you. But be careful what you wish for.
Chad Shipley 