I came across a very interesting quote this morning when I was studying that is causing me to ponder its meaning in my own life. It said, "lay hold upon every good gift, and touch not the evil gift." it seems like a worthy theme for 2009.
To me this is a very fascinating and aligning thought. It helps me to see just how important it is to set a standard. I realize that good gifts and evil gifts are very subjective in today's world. I have my own standard by which to judge the difference and I invite you to make sure you develop your own. It makes things a lot more clear when you are trying to determine worthy pursuits.
It is my desire this coming year to leave behind me some of the behaviors and characteristics that limit my effectiveness. I realize I cannot leave them all behind, but I want to grow and become a better me. The only way that I can think of doing this is to look toward the good gifts and leave behind the evil ones. This is a very interesting process because a lot of change management theories are based on problem solving processes. This means that we identify our problems and then create action plans to solve those problems. As soon as we solve one problem we begin to work on another. As a result, our entire life is focused on our problems. I really can't think of a more depressing thought. I think my problems are the evil gifts to which the quote I found is referring. Life is not a problem to be solved it is a gift to be lived.
When I focus on the good gifts that I possess and those I want to develop, I feel much more energy in my life. This type of focus makes life worth living. It gives purpose to it, at least for me. It requires that I use my imagination – I need to be able to imagine what can be and who I want to become. Then it requires me to plan my life so that I actually become what I want to be. It is a life filled with expectation and hope instead of a life weighted down by my problems. This type of focus helps me see something that I think we all struggle to see. It helps me see my own individual worth in the world. What could be better than that?
One of the greatest minds of the past century, Carl Jung, stated, "The greatest and most important problems of life are all fundamentally insoluble. They can never be solved but only outgrown." I believe it. That is why I do not want to spend my time focusing on my problems. I want to spend my time focused on becoming me not on solving me so I am going to lay hold upon the good gifts this year and leave the evil gifts behind.
Be excellent!
Andrew Thorn
760-559-3548
athorn@telioscorp.com
