I read a fascinating article recently on a speech that Steve Jobs (founder of Apple) gave at Stanford University in 2005 at a graduation ceremony. The article entitled “Connect the dots and live to the fullest” was an edited version of that speech. Now I have read countless “self-help” books, inspirational books and philosophical books about the secret to happiness, reaching your potential, living in the moment and achieving your goals. Because let’s face it how many of us are truly truly happy? How many of us are doing exactly what we were meant to be doing? How many of us wake up thinking there must be “more” to life, but don’t quite know what that “more” is? Anyway, back to Steve (It seems as if “Steve’s” are featuring strongly in my life this year!)
I read this article and had what Oprah would have described as an “Aha moment”! Without going in to too much detail (although I would highly recommend everyone read this article), Steve Jobs read a quote when he was 17 that went along the lines of “If you live each day as if it was your last, someday you’ll most certainly be right.” This quote made such an impression on him that he now regularly asks himself “If today were the last day of my life, would I want to do what I am about to do?” He goes on to say that when the answer to that question is “no” for too many days in a row, then he knows he needs to change something!
Some might find this a morbid thought – living each day as if it’s your last. It’s also such a cliché when one thinks about it, it’s something “everyone” says we must do, but how many of us do it? For me, I think it is the way in which Steve has changed the “live each day as if it was your last” to more of a question that you ask yourself “If this were the last day of my life…..” and for me, that’s the difference!! You’re given a choice – you decide if this IS what you’d like to be doing if it was your last day on earth. It puts the responsibility back in your own court, once again, reiterating that you decide how you want to live your life/respond to people/choose to act/feel etc.
Where I am right now (work wise), my answer to Steve’s question would be a resounding NO! In fact it’s been “no” for more than just a few “too many days”. If I were to be hit by a bus tonight, I’d be devastated to think that this is how I spent my last day on earth! I know this isn’t what I was meant to do! Yet, this is what I do day after day! WHY? …. and that’s where the difficulty comes in!
It’s not so easy to just wake up and decide that this isn’t how you’d like to spend your last day and make a life-changing decision that usually not only affects you, but potentially others as well. But then again, is there ever a “right time” to make a life changing decision? All the books say “DO IT”, the net will appear… it will all work out… etc etc. BUT those authors aren’t responsible for your child’s school fees, your phone account and the payment of other essential bills!! So what does one do? Take a chance, not take a chance? Do you leap and trust that the net will appear or do you sit tight because “it’s comfortable and safe”.
I think there’s a third option that gives one the best of both worlds – leaping, taking a chance, BUT with a plan in place! That’s not to say that your plan must roll over and over for the next 10 yrs and you end up staying in the same place anyway… NO, I’m saying, make a decision (put a time limit to it if necessary) and then put plans in place to go for it! Yes, you’ll still be taking a chance (things might NOT work out), but there’ll at least be some preparation on your side.
Oprah says there is no such thing as “luck”, it’s simply hard work meeting opportunity and I think THAT’S the key. There must be some effort on your part BUT when an opportunity arises (in whatever form) you also need to take that leap of faith and trust that it will all work out! So it’s a combo deal… put in some work, but keep the blinkers open for signs (or Omens as Paulo Coelho so eloquently uses in his amazing book “The Alchemist”) and then seize those opportunities, which may involve risks, but hey, as the old adage goes “nothing ventured, nothing gained”!!
So, I’m going to be my own experiment! I’ve always been a big believer in “The Secret” and the principle that like attracts like and what you put out there, you’ll get back. BUT I never really put it into practise – in theory, I believe that you can achieve what you believe, but have never done it myself. I’ve read wonderful stories about people who created vision boards and then one day found themselves living the exact life they had created on their vision boards! In all this time, I’ve thought WOW, that’s amazing, I must do that, I really believe that….. but I have never done it!
One of my favourite books of all times is “The Alchemist", a fabulous book about following omens and going after your destiny! Now for some reason, the “omens” have been very strong for me the last few days, so much so, that I have now written them down because CLEARLY the universe is trying to tell me something……… So for once I am listening!
So, I plan on “publically” putting all that I have read into practise and starting a blog (perhaps more of a diary) on finding that “something more” that’s missing! So no more hanging around waiting for things to happen, I’m going to make them happen – with the added pressure of documenting it all for the world (hopefully) to see!
My blog is currently under construction, but aims to not only document me finding that something “more” but hopefully inspire others to find their “something more” too!
Here’s to INSPIRATIONAL LIVING!
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