The Driver

The two previous posts have asked you to consider what gives you a sense of fulfillment, purpose. If you know or think you know, you are part way to having the fulfillment feeling. To get all the way there, it is important to consider what is driving you. Or who is driving you?

Remember the cartoons with the angel on one shoulder and the devil on the other? Well the devil is fear and the angel is faith in something greater than ourself. Fear wants to keep us safe from the criticism of others, from judgement and hatred. The angel wants us to shine, driven from a light or fire within. Some of the great climbers I have known have modelled this beautifully... always driven by the process, not the outcome. 

Who is driving you in your daily effort?
Fear of not enough money, not enough recognition?
A passion to share what you know, to understand more fully, to be helpful, nurturing?

Grab your journal and a pen. Begin to compile a list of things you get out of doing what you are doing - all the things including Netflix or Apple TV. You can separate out the relationship things and the career things as you go. With each of you daily choices, habits, notice where it lies. Do you brush your teeth because you are 'supposed' to? Or because you care about your health? Did you send that text with an intention to give? Or to get?
Then review and calculate how much of your time is spent in the should side of the ledger and how much is driven by a higher purpose or a purpose beyond your self satisfaction - health, integrity, passion for something, love, adventure. 

Once you know what bus load of actions the Devil is driving and what bus load of actions the Angel is driving, consider how you can give the Angel more time at the wheel.

For years I have noted those many amazing athletes I have known and considered that what drives them must be very self serving - especially those who have children and will put their lives in harms way. But now I have a deeper understanding of that same passion. Being able to express themselves through movement or through competition with themselves actually allows them to challenge what is considered the limit and it demonstrates to others, inspires others, to do the same with their own limits. It is a higher purpose.