Questions

June 6th, 2011

What do I want to be when I grow up? What direction should I be going? What is my purpose? These questions plague everyone regardless of background, economic status or education. When these questions inevitably show up they are not a sign that you are on the wrong path. You are exactly where you are meant to be right now. “But it doesn’t feel like this is it” you say and you are right. THIS is not your future. THIS is preparing you for your future. The stirring that the seed feels before it bursts open and sends a fragile shoot searching through the darkness for the sunlight is not the seed’s future. The stirring, the uncomfortableness is a beginning. It is a signal that something is going to change.

If you focus on the stirring in the seed instead of the shoot you are going to feel lost. Once the seed cracks open, it’s dead. The shoot is where the life is after that. Focus on where that is going. Where is your life going? What ideas have been growing in the darkness of your thoughts? What themes keep popping up time and time again? What gives you pleasure to think about? What similar advice have several people given you?

What are your dreams? “Oh, I don’t really have dreams”. Liar! You have dreams. You just took your dreams out of the “possible” file and relegated them to the “impossible” file. “Oh, I couldn’t possibly do that now . What would my (fill in the blank) think? Besides I am too (fill in the blank) now.” Your dreams are stirring. You try to ignore them but nothing seems fulfilling or purposeful. Your dreams are stirring. You concentrate harder on what you are doing. Your dreams are stirring. You decide to take a course or buy a book and the seed starts to crack. You lay in bed or drive alone and you start thinking “What If…” and the seed opens.

Too many people go to the grave with seeds unopened. The ones that make a difference to themselves, their families and the world go to their grave and leave behind an orchard for others from the seeds they sprouted.

What do you want to be when you grow up?

(c)2011 All Rights Reserved, Patrick McBride
www.PatrickInspires.com