MountainSpirits
You cannot teach a man anything; you can only help him find it within himself. -- Galileo
Greetings to all, and Happy New Year! Thank you ever so much for your generosity in accepting my invitation to receive this newsletter. I find the above quote to be quite appropriate for this first issue. In the months ahead, I hope that the sharing of thoughts, stories, information, quotes, dialogue, and whatever else may develop, nurtures the seeds of growth and change that reside deep within your soul. I imagine that if you find something here that strikes a cord with you (and I hope that you do), it is because that seed already has been planted within your soul and has perhaps lied dormant, waiting to be awakened. That is what I hope this newsletter does – awakens your soul to the magnificence of life.
Just a quick word about the newsletter’s name. For those that know me, the name will probably not come as a surprise. Over the years I have developed a strong affinity for the mountains. I find that they call to me, urging me to scale their vast heights to get a better understanding of the world below them. And they have never let me down. With each and every trip to their summits, I find I gain a greater perspective on the life that surrounds me. Without fail, the MountainSpirits always hold a jewel of wisdom for me as I gaze out from their seat in heaven. I hope that the spirit and community created around this newsletter will hold some of these same jewels of wisdom for all of us.
Well, it is the New Year, but not just any new year. It’s the Big One. The one before Armageddon, the Y2K meltdown, and the one that will indubitably be marked by numerous remakes of the Royal Purple Highness’ (Prince) "1999." That’s right, brace yourself for Shania Twain sings "1999". It’s a showstopper!
Other than the promise of bad musical remakes, this time of year causes many of us to reflect upon our lives and ask some pretty significant questions. Where am I going? What do I want to do? What have I accomplished? Should I make stuffing instead of potatoes? All very valid and meaningful questions. By the way, make the stuffing. With Armageddon around the corner, you might as well treat yourself.
The questions are great! They are the kind of questions whose answers really matter in our lives. Unfortunately, many times the answer given steals our strength and "proactivity" to make our desired future unfold.
"I don’t know"
Three little words that steal our future. As I reflected on the power of these words, I began to notice how entrenched they have become in our vocabulary, especially when we are on the brink of embarking on a new life that promises to be magnificent, yet may generate some fear within us.
"What do you want to do (or be) when you grow up?" – I don’t know.
"What are you going to do next?" – I don’t know.
"Where do you see yourself in 5 years?" – Oh, please. Was this the worst interview question or what?
"When are you moving to California, Rich?" – Uh, I don’t know. Did I say I was moving to California?
I’ve been thinking a lot about these questions and the answer "I don’t know," and I realized something I thought was interesting. It’s not that we really don’t know what we do or don’t want to do. I think we do know but are afraid to say (or think about it). The answers to these questions go straight to the center of our soul and beg forth the dreams and desires we have harbored in our heart since we were children. It’s not that we don’t know, it’s that we are afraid to say, because with that answer comes awareness and responsibility. A responsibility to who we really are and a life we really want. As long as we say, "I don’t know" we don’t have to do anything. We are accountable to nothing. Our future is shrouded in a nebulous cloud of haze. But the moment we take a deep breath and look inward, and reach into our hearts and declare who we are, what we want to be and what we want to do, well, then there is a responsibility to that discovery. Once spoken, the answer is now sitting out there, and we must do something about it. The beauty of the Universe though, is that once we have uncovered our self-truth, the Universe moves to support us. As Goethe says, "the moment one definitely commits themselves, then Providence moves too." And we ain’t talkin’ Rhode Island.
So where is "I don’t know" showing up in your life?
Take the time to BE with the question that is generating that answer. Don’t let "I don’t know" steal away your ability to have all that you want in life. Know that behind that answer lies a dream waiting to be lived. "The Universe is holding its breath, waiting for you to take your place" – David Whyte. Trust that the Universe will be there to support you in your answer!
QUESTION OF THE MONTH
Here is one of those questions that I probably think about when I am at the top of one of those mountains. I am interested in any thoughts you may have on this question. If you have a moment, jot them down and send it to me at acuityrl@worldnet.att.net. Next month I’ll post some of your thoughts (anonymously of course, unless your looking for the spotlight).
First some set-up. I have become vastly intrigued by the speed at which we are living our lives. Seemingly controlled by the pace of technology, we barely have time to breathe. Cell phones, email, microwaves, faxes, laptop computers, beepers and on and on. At the very least, the technology industry is dramatically changing our way of life. At worst, it is controlling it. We barely have time to think. Which brings me to my question.
Who are today’s philosophers and what are they pondering?
Thousands of years ago we had Plato, Socrates and the rest of their posse to wax eloquently about the day's moral and ethical issues, the truths of life and others topics. I imagine a key element for them was that they had, or made, the time to think. I believe our thinking time, perhaps our "
Coach Links
