There is one thing I am sure of; we are all God’s children. The external influences of this world, once we are born, are what influence who we are today. The obvious influences generalized are; family, friends, religion, society, events, experiences, geographical location, money, etc.
Picture the Kentucky Derby or any horse race. Some horses wear blinders so they can only see what is front of them, not beside them or behind them. This is to keep the horse focused and since horses have peripheral vision, it keeps them on course. At what point do we, as individuals, decide to put on blinders?
I believe in having goals, passions and a purpose or calling. All of these motivate us and keep us going and on course in life. Our principles and core values are the underlying key factors that should drive us to make decisions and set boundaries. At what point do some of us allow for these goals, passions, purposes or callings consume us completely?
I will use an alcoholic as an analogy to illustrate what I am trying to say. A lot of alcoholic’s begin as social drinkers, enjoying the occasional drink at a party or with dinner. They can take it or leave it. There comes a point, though, sometimes gradually and sometimes almost overnight, in which that drink becomes an obsession. “The drink” consumes this individual’s thoughts, decisions, moods, desires, actions and becomes their sole focus and drive, day in and day out. The alcoholic will drive drunk with no consideration of others they may hurt or kill on the road. The alcoholic, active in the disease, has absolutely no regard for anyone or anything around them. It does not matter at that time to them who they hurt or what lives they destroy, if you are in the way, move or prepare to be hurt. The difference with the alcoholic is that they usually become physically addicted to the substance as well as mentally inhibited, preventing them from making different decisions while they are active in this disease.
I understand that our experiences in life shape and change us. My husband and I are completely opposites when it comes to how we view people and relationships in our lives. I feel that is a result of our personal experiences throughout life, how we have been treated, how we saw others treated and what we were exposed to. We were both married before and granted he has 12 years on me, we have both experienced a lot in our lifetime prior to entering each others lives. My husband is very goal oriented, he is very good at self-control and he is set in his ways and opinions. I too have goals, but they don’t drive my every decision, I’m working on self-control and I tend to be more open-minded.
Why do we both witness the exact same thing, yet view or interpret it so differently? I believe how you choose to view something is based on self-confidence, pride, past experiences and what is driving you (emphasis on what drives you).
If you are so driven by external things, you lose site of who you really are inside. Your core values and your principles no longer exist in that moment. Like the alcoholic, that person when sober, is not the same careless and reckless drunk active in their disease.
Check in with yourself today. What is motivating you? What is weighing on you? Why? What can you do about what is weighing you down right now? If there is nothing you can do, move on and let it go for today. Know your truth, who you are deep down, your core values and beliefs. Remind yourself every morning of these. Then for a minute, reflect on how you see yourself and compare that image to your actions and actual events of yesterday. Do these two match up? What are you going to let drive you today?
please leave comments, feedback, thoughts. Maybe point me in a direction I might not be looking.