Keeping it Real

Posts Tagged ‘Passion’

One of the true certainties in life is that little is certain… to truly experience life, energize your passion and clear your limitations to explore all possibilities.

photo credit: chema.foces

“Relinquish your attachment to the known, step into the unknown, and you will step into the field of all possibilities.”
~ Deepak Chopra

It took me a long time to understand that stepping outside of my comfort zone was the only real means to experience new things in life.  In doing so, I have overcome fears and perceived limitations in nearly every facet of my life.  Every once and a while, however, I need a little reminder and the quote above from Deepak Chopra reminded me of that tonight.

Let me know your thoughts?

Regards,
Darren Sproat

A friend of mine recently spent 8 months volunteering/working in a humanitarian role in her homeland of Thailand.  I find this to be incredibly inspirational as she placed her life on hold to, essentially, devote herself to helping others.  And when she started out that was her intention…to help others.

Some Background

She was born in Canada but her parents and 4 of her 6 siblings were born in and around Thailand.  While she always knew of her ancestry, she didn’t really have a deep connection back to her homeland until she spent 6 months living with her Grandmother right in Thailand.  As it turns out, that 6 months was the last 6 months of her grandmother’s life.  In the brief time she spent there, listening to the stories of her Grandmother growing up in Thailand and raising her own family there, she realized that she had unintentionally embarked upon a journey of personal self discovery. 

She returned to Canada after her Grandmother’s passing only to feel compelled to return to Thailand to continue her grandmother’s work.

An Intention to Help becomes a Personal Journey of Self Discovery

Once she confirmed her intention to move and continue her Grandmother’s work, I encouraged her to maintain a journal of her experiences while she was there.  In the back of my mind I was thinking it would be fantastic material for a blog about her activities and experiences.  While it never did turn into a blog, she did maintain a journal while she was there.  In writing the journal she had only one guideline… at the end of every day she would write a short paragraph about a person she met, an event she attended, an experience she had, or a realization or discovery she made that inspired her in some way.

She provided me access to her journal and, in reading it, I become incredibly humbled and inspired by her story.  Frankly, I think her writing is worthy of publishing.  She is adamant, however, that keeping her journal private is important to her at this time so I will, of course, honour her request to keep this information to myself except to share that it tells the story of a 30-something young woman taking herself out of her comfort zone to give all of herself to assist those in need.  It tells the story of a young woman discovering, first hand, the privileges she lived with, the institutions and freedoms that she took for granted, and the general well-being of living in Canada.  It tells the story of a young woman, through her selfless actions, discovering herself.

In a recent conversation, she admits that this journey was one of self discovery - one of facing fears and overcoming barriers.  She admits that it was her who, ultimately, was benefiting from her intentions to help others.  In her words,

“I realized that anyone is able to change the world one thought at a time.  I woke every morning and set a few very attainable goals and at the end of every day I wrote about the one person or thing that day that inspired me.  I didn’t write about the ‘good deeds’ I was doing for the people or families I was with because I soon discovered that what I was doing was helping me as much or more than it was helping others.  The more I did for the community the more I learned about myself – what inspired and motivated me.  I felt enlightened to what I am and can become.  I discovered what made me, me.  I understand now what my Grandmother knew for a lifetime.”

I would be honoured if you chose to share your thoughts.

Regards,
Darren Sproat

Will you remember in five years what you did today?

It would be incredible if everyone lived every moment as if to create a memory they could cherish for a lifetime.  What kind of life do you want to create?
~ Darren Sproat, 2008

Take a moment to absorb all that is wonderful going on around you and you stand a good chance of creating those memories you can cherish for a lifetime.  What kind of life do you want to create?

Warmest Regards,
Darren

I was thinking about something a past manager once said to me…

“…a person’s biggest personal or professional strength is often their biggest weakness.”

We all have our strengths and our weaknesses… and we often understand how our strengths can contribute to our successes in life.  But, have you ever considered how your strengths have become a weakness and contributed to a failure you may have experienced?

One of my biggest strengths is the passion I put into those things I focus on.  Be it a relationship, writing a proposal, a blog entry, or simply playing a game of pool with my friends… I try to put my best into everything I do.  This personality trait probably grew out of being brought up to believe that if I am going to do something I may as well do it right or not at all… It is a behaviour that has contributed to success I have experienced and, while I always look at my passionate nature as a strength, I can also see where it has contributed to failures I have experienced in life.

I have a tendency to be passionately focused on what can only be described as the ideal means to reach a goal.  It can be described as tunnel-vision or operating with blinders on.  I set my mind on what the ideal steps or path to achieve a certain objective and convince myself that success is only possible it if it can be achieved by following those steps.  This has served me well as I maintain focus on the steps necessary to achieve objectives and success, and often do it against the odds.  But, this passionate idealism can contribute to a lack of flexibility or an inability to adapt in a scenario when the situation I have convinced myself is ideal doesn’t present itself.  I find that I become frustrated and tend to handcuff myself if I can’t achieve the goal in the predetermined “ideal” or “perfect” way I had in my mind.

Take the example of a quarterback in football who calls a play for a long pass to his wide receiver… if that receiver is well covered by a defender and the quarterback is unable to adapt, the play is unlikely to have a successful outcome. 

You certainly want to remain focused on the objective or goal you want to achieve.  However, learn to use your strengths and your weaknesses to your advantage.  And, learn to identify those traits often seen as strengths that could, in some situations, be contributing to failures.

For me, I had to learn to adapt to unexpected or undesired results along the way… I still expect the best but now prepare for less than that… in fact, I use my passion to ensure I am able to detour or adapt well and still work towards the objective.

Absolutely everything that happens along the way to your objectives are opportunities to learn more about yourself and, if looked upon as learning opportunities instead of barriers to your success, you will find that you achieve more of your dreams faster.

As with so much in life, something as simple as a change in mindset can help you.  Stay balanced and take stock of your strengths and weaknesses, recognize and acknowledge them, and then work those weaknesses back into strengths.

Leave a comment!

Regards,
Darren

Posted by MsTausha,

Am I the only one who thinks the world is too engaged in unhealthy competition?

For example, when people find out that I am an artist, the first thing they want to do is compare my look and/or sound to another artist they are familiar with. One of the first questions people ask is, “Who would you compare your style to?” “Whose music would you say yours sounds like?” My answer is always the same, “My own…”

I’ve LEARNED, that what God has for me is for me.  I was not put on this earth to mimic Karen Clark Sheard or Beyonce Knowles in sound or action; I was put on this earth to be me…the best me that I can be, through the grace afforded to me…

It takes nothing more than a quick glance around the entertainment industry, or in your everyday space, to see the “cookie cutter mold” society is engaged in. With reality shows that aren’t really reality shows, and the mess that is called “music videos,” no one has a true sense of what’s real anymore. I truly believe that a majority of the issues we see in people today, especially our youth, are identity issues. A woman’s worth is now defined by how she measures up to the women seen on TV,  and a man’s worth is defined by how much money he has in his pocket or how successful he is considered to be. Everyone is trying to be like someone else. People are disfiguring themselves or losing their lives to plastic surgery because they are trying to “fit the mold.” Life has become more about what you look like on the outside, or what you own rather than true character. Ladies, you could be a straight up brick house: pretty face, slim waist, beautiful skin…but if you’re ugly on the inside, your life will still be miserable. Fellas, you could drive around in the most expensive car and have the grandest house; but money cannot buy you the true love and pure joy your heart desires.

Forget who the world says you are supposed to be, and dare to be who God says you are! A lot of us are afraid to be ourselves because we’ve been pretending for so long; we honestly don’t know who to be. Allow me to introduce YOU to the real YOU:

• You are made in God’s image, after His likeness (Genesis 1:26)
• You are fearfully and wonderfully made (Psalm 139:14)
• You are the HEAD and not the tail; above ONLY and not beneath (Deuteronomy 28:13)
• You are FORGIVEN, set apart, and justified (1 Corinthians 6:11 AMP)
• You are the one God loved so much, that He sent His only begotten Son to die for (John 3:16).

You betta ask somebody!

Leave a comment with your thoughts?

- Tausha