Two Ways

Three important concepts when thinking about living a fulfilling life are Commitment, Openness, and Results. There are two ways of looking at each of these ideas that can seem, or be, in opposition.

Commitment can mean showing up with a level of intensity. Being fully present, and willing to bring everything you can offer, every time. It can mean a level of quality. 

Instead of showing up "this time", it can also mean showing up "every time". Less intense, more long term. "There is nothing to writing. All you do is sit down at the typewriter and bleed." Ernest Hemingway. Hemingway didn't wait for inspiration. He didn't wait for quality. He built habits that created the environment in which quality is born. He did the work.

Openness can mean a willingness to try everything. It can mean letting go of reservations and leaning into experiences and ideas. A level of flexibility.

Instead of always being prepared to change paths, it can also mean listening while staying on a chosen path. The grass is always greener, and real growth takes time, patience, and building. You can recognise the challenges on your path, and work on them. Every path has challenges. Starting again has costs. Openness doesn't require action as proof.

Results are the way we count and identify growth. Growth is our scorecard. We need to identify a place we were, a place we are, and a place we are going to. Something with words and numbers we can articulate to paint a picture of change. Results are the cornerstone of plans and goals.

Not everything that counts can be counted. Some work is internal. Alexander the Great was a brilliant strategist, and military genius. A man of results. As his Empire expanded East towards India, he came across famous meditating Yogis. Alexander's fame was for conquering the world. The Yogi's success was "conquering the desire to conquer the world". My friend Francois calls this the "Paradise Principle" - where even the staunchest non-believers live a postponed life for some imagined future. Tolerating the present for a future pay-off when our lives will commence. Not all results are about change. Some are about acceptance and awareness.

Commitment, Openness, and Results take different forms. Choose those forms consciously.

Are you Empire building?