Just a quick thought from listening to "Welcome Home" (We Shot the Moon):
Think of a defining moment in your life. A moment in your life where you accomplished or made a decision about something that really reflected the kind of person you were at the time. Did you think of something? Or do all your experiences just kind of blur together? Do you find that the moments of your life just seem to "culminate" into the person you are now? Sure, it would be limited and narrow to say that you would be defined by a single moment or glimpse in time. We are the result of a series of life decisions and reactions.
But let's put it another way. Actually, every moment is PREPARATION for the next defining moment of your life--the moment that says "this is me." And that's just so intangible... reasonably unpredictable... unfairly uncertain... but it's an essential perspective if you're aiming for the top of Maslow's heirarchy of needs (self-actualization, don't you know).
People say that great men are products of their time. But what made those men different was that they were in some way 'prepared' to step up to challenges of their time. (A recent example: Jeremy Lin)
From the beginning, we understand this notion intrinsically with the idea of "dreams," the defining moments we come to expect and shoot for. We're told we have to work hard in school because one day the defining moment of your whole high school career will one day encroach upon you: the acceptance letters to the schools of your many destinies and, most importantly, your final decision. We learn our whole lives and get a degree for a defining job interview that lands the job of dreams. We have a restricted diet and heavy exercise regime for the defining race, athletics event, or social occasion you have to look good for.
But aside from these expected defining moments, we must always be prepared for the unexpected. And that reflects the more difficult side dream-chasing. Although we have have this notion of preparing for defining moments, it's still an intangible notion. People know in their hearts that they have to be better, more disciplined people, physically adept people... but why do people procrastinate? Why do people sign up for a marathon and put off training for it? Why do diets always start tomorrow? Some people live life defined by their day-to-day failures. They neglect the need to be on standby for the moments that define us thinking that when those moments come, they can wing it. Actually, a rare few are actually capable of improvisation but they were probably uniquely "prepared" for those moments through their own series of life events (upbringing, genetics, etc). For underachievers, the problem is complacency which sets in when people get stuck in an environment where they can't see any opportunities to shine or they believe that any visible opportunities are above then.
How much of that complacency is failing to grasp who you really are, what you really want, and who you are capable of becoming? How much of that is just going through life trying to meet the expectations of others without knowing what you expect from yourself? How much of that is refusing to overcome your fears or refusing to take on the difficult truth of self-awareness?
currently reading: the road less traveled: a new psychology of love, traditional values, and spiritual growth (scott peck)
currently listening to: we shot the moon - welcome home
"Here I am--a longing soul of good intentions."
