Inspiration
We must let go of the life we have planned, so as to accept the one that is waiting for us.
Joseph Campbell
Do not dwell in the past, do not dream of the future, concentrate the mind on the present moment.
Buddha
A Father’s Guide to Wisdom
Wisdom is gained by learning from the past. To negate its presence is to run the risk of recreating past mistakes for future generations. The running storyline of lessons learned from past mistakes allows for a world of possibility to emerge from its oftentimes clouded presence. What story do we want to tell of future intent. The foundation is always found in the stories told, that are being solved in the present moment.
But to dwell in the past oftentimes negates the world of possibility present. It is like walking with our focus on some distant object behind us. If we walk backward for too long, we are bound to trip and fall. Instead, we must know where we have been and understand the direction we are going in order to traverse the course necessary to make that direction become real in the present moment.
What we learn informs who we are. To negate the lessons present in life experience is to wander in the quagmire, consistently repeating the same behaviors as before, with hopes of attaining a different outcome. Does anyone remember this definition? Yes, it is the definition of insanity itself. But what can we do about this?
If the past is to be learned and the future is something for which we yearn, then that leaves us with the present moment. Let us touch the ashes left behind in our past wake so that we can find the glowing embers that burn within. This is the very place where passion lies, which in itself ignites worlds of possibility.
In today’s quotations, we explore lessons from the Buddha and Joseph Campbell. They remind us of those simple paradoxes called time and direction. Take a breath. It too is now in the past. But what lesson was gained from its presence?
Life, Liberty, or a dream to be yearned for? Sometimes honoring the presence of the past we removes its pull upon us, allowing it to move us towards a greater vision of what can become. That is the essence of our collective plight of being. What vision dictates your future? What from your past created its presence in the the here and now? How can you use this to create the future dream you wish to attain.
With prayers and blessings my friends. Believe… Achieve… Advance Confidently in the Direction of Your Dreams!
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