Author: Jim Gohrick (Page 22 of 147)

Engaging in the process – whatever that may be – and throwing your expectations out the window has always been a good recipe for me to not get discouraged and/or give up too quickly.

Often times, we have the ability to talk ourselves out of the game before it’s begun. Approaching our task – our goals – our challenges with the proper mental perspective can make all the difference.

What is that perspective? Staying neutral and diving deep into the process of doing. Of acting. Committing. No problems are resolved faster than when we are fully committed to engaging in the process with the intention of resolving it.

These are when the gem of ideas fill our mind as we arrive on the other side of our problem with grace and ease.

I’m sure this goes without saying . . . . but, I’m going to say it anyway because I’m thinking about it and it’s important for me to remember. After all, part of the reason why I started writing this blog was for me to solidify ideas that are rolling around in this hollow head of mine and remind me of what’s important in my life. In addition, to continue to implement these gems in my daily life and not just theorize about them.

I’ve always found it fascinating that it takes a loved one dying due to illness – cancer, natural causes or a horrific accident in order to have a completely stripped-down starkly honest conversation with two people who care for one another. Why is that?

Why does it take someone to be on their deathbed in order for the us to finally see – and hopefully – abundantly clearly what is important in life?

Why are we not able to look at someone in the eyes on a ‘regular’ Monday morning after a great weekend and tell them how much they mean to you and how grateful you are to have them in your life? Or to let a dear friend know you were wrong several years ago when you chose NOT to go to their wedding. Even if it was their second.

Why must we wait until the fragility of our own lives are at stake before dropping our masks – our ego – and be real? What if we were able to live truthfully – honestly every day while sharing our deepest feelings with those around us who we love? How much would those relationships be enriched?

I can only imagine.

And then risk.

The difference between someone who’s ‘discovered’ or makes that ‘huge deal’ or lands that ‘dream job’ isn’t necessarily the person’s off the chart IQ, their connections or charm (although all of those can help).

It’s merely their audacity to enter the game. To put themselves ‘out there’ in the world where they are free to fall on their face, possibly embarass themselves a bit or strike gold.

We’ll never know by sitting on the couch and dreaming about it or discussing it. We must enter the game. Those that are able to attain any semblance of success are the ones that ‘do.’

Even though it appears as if we long to be lone-wolf’s in this world, whether that’s through non-conformance, standing out of a crowd or the desire to go the opposite direction of the masses, in the end it’s the connection with others that seems to fulfill us all.

What good is winning a race or accomplishing a goal if you have no one to share your joy with.

So many of us seem to have goals that don’t include anyone else but ourselves, and there’s nothing wrong with that. But I know from my past experiences, it’s the sharing of the news with loved ones where I find most of my thrill.

No doubt, we can feel accomplished and gain confidence in oneself by putting out a sought-after goal and then consistently working hard until we’ve reached it.

But, let’s not forget the celebration afterwards. It’s those you’re surrounded with that share your joy for what you’ve done that makes that party special.

Twenty Nine years of marriage, 4 children and three houses later, my wife has decided to go back to school and I’m absolutely thrilled.

No doubt it will be a challenge to get back into the “classroom” as I’m sure much has changed since she was a young adult, but who cares!? Let’s go Lady!!

We can lose track of what’s important to us and possibly forget about the big dreams we had when we were younger because LIFE happens to us. We can get caught up in the day to day while we keep our head down working away and the next thing you know 10 years have past. What ever happened to those wild dreams we had as a teenager? Why have we forgotten about those? Isn’t there something within us that gets excited when we think about accomplishing a certain goal? Or expressing ourselves in a particular way? Maybe just partaking in the activity stirs the spirit within us.

That’s where I want to be. That’s what I want to do. And I truly believe, it’s never too late.