Anybody and Everybody - Really? Is that what you want?

Full due credits to the author and success coach - Robin Sharma, for the story below:-

The Tale of Two Fields 

Once, there was a pristine green field that was alive and lush, amidst the extraordinary bloom of Springtime. Next to it happened to sit another field. This one full of weeds, dirt and rough edged stones. A testament to mediocrity. And an acute lack of care.



Through the operation of Nature's laws, the seeds of the weeds from the mediocre field were slowly blown over to the lush field. And so, day by day, the once stunningly beautiful one - with once awesome potential - succumbed to the influence of it's low-grade next door neighbor.



Before the season was through, there sat two fields. Both completely overcome by weeds. 



The leadership lesson for you and I (in this world that aches for real leaders): your influences and environments matter. The people you associate with will infect your thinking. The content of what you read/watch/listen to will affect your game. And the things you surround yourself with will determine whether you work at wow. Or end up at a field called mediocre.

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With the experiences I've had thus far in my life, there has been a significant change in my attitude and personality with gaining the understanding that "it is not important to be all things to all people, but it is important to be all I can be". One fine day, pondering on the idea expressed in the story above, I felt inspired to write the lines below-->

"It is possible for all living beings to mingle with each other; it does not seem a unique characteristic. The unique part is when we are able to use discernment over abilities. It is important to protect ourselves at all times from negative influences. This is what goes on to eventually determine 'Thought Quality' ~ 'Life Quality'."

But then again, there is a need to mention - the desire for life experiences and ways to attain them is subjective to every individual.

Interdependence

I recently read this article titled "Interdependence" on one of the blogs I follow. Funnily the next time I checked in on the article it wasn't there anymore. Thankfully, I had printed it out. Now since I have the tendency to lose the pages that I collect, I decided that I'd imprint the article on the blog. Why am I doing this? I loved the simple, surprising truth it conveys. So here goes -->

We all depend on one another for all kinds of things, don't we? We depend on the butcher, the baker, the candlestick maker. Interdependence. That's fine! We set up society this way and we allot different functions to different people for the welfare of everyone, so that we will function better and live more effectively -- at least we hope so. But to depend on another psychologically -- to depend on another emotionally -- what does that imply? It means to depend on another human being for my happiness.

Think about that. Because if you do, the next thing you will be doing, whether you're aware of it or not, is DEMANDING that other people contribute to your happiness. Then there will be a next step -- fear, fear of loss, fear of alienation, fear of rejection, mutual control. Perfect love casts out fear. Where there is love there are no demands, no expectations, no dependency. I do not demand that you make me happy; my happiness does not lie in you. If you were to leave me, I will not feel sorry for myself; I enjoy your company immensely, but I do not cling.

I enjoy it on a non-clinging basis. What I really enjoy is not you; it's something that's greater than both you and me. It is something that I discovered, a kind of symphony, a kind of orchestra that plays one melody in your presence, but when you depart, the orchestra doesn't stop. When I meet someone else, it plays another melody, which is also very delightful. And when I'm alone, it continues to play. There's a great repertoire and it never ceases to play.

Eat, Pray, Love

The experience of watching the movie Eat, Pray, Love felt like therapy. I really enjoyed it because it was relatable in so many ways. Through out the movie I kept scribling down dialogues that appealed to me. Some of those lines felt like messages that could be applied to different aspects or experiences in life. So here goes,

When Julia Roberts had this aching desire to travel and felt lost in her marriage --
"The only thing more impossible than staying was leaving."

She was confused how to pray, this was how she started --
"I am a big fan of your work, God."

The realization that dawned on her, whilst at her spiritual pursuits --
"Ruin is a gift. Ruin is the road to transformation. We must always be prepared for endless waves of transformation."

This was a no-brainer line --
Older man to Julia Roberts: "Your probably the only person in the world to fall asleep while at meditation."

Older man helping Julia Roberts through her mental distractions --
"You wanna get to the castle, you gotta swim through the moat."
"You need to select your thoughts the way you select your clothes in the morning."

Julia Roberts writes to her ex-boyfriend --
"Its not that I need easy right now, I just can't have so hard."

Older man to Julia Roberts: "Your gonna stay here till you forgive yourself. Everything else will take care of itself."

Julia Roberts in the dream sequence with her ex-husband. This is where she lets go of the past baggage --
Husband: I'm gonna love you.
Liz: So love me.
Husband: I'm gonna miss you.
Liz: So miss me.
Send me a love line everytime you think of me and then drop it. Nothing lasts forever.

Older man to Liz: Hey groceries, believe in love again.

Liz's faith realization:
"God dwells within you, as you."

Random from here on ----

"Smile with your face. Smile with your eyes. Smile with your liver."

Guy: "You really look {pause}"
Liz: "Ravishing?"
Guy: "Astonishing!"

"Only way to heal is to trust."

Guy: "You don't need a man Liz, you need a champion."

Finally --> Physics of the quest
"If you are brave enough to leave behind everything that's comforting and set out in a quest, treat everyone along the way as teachers, truth will reveal itself."