Category Archives: Desire

“Be happy with what you have while working for what you want.”

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“Be happy with what you have while working for what you want.”

—Helen Keller, American author and educator who was blind and deaf

Image from Unsplash by Gabrielle Henderson

To what degree does today’s quote apply to how you live your life?

We’ve all heard over the years that happiness occurs in the present, however I frequently observe most folks still living by the phrase I’ll be happy when….

To what extent is fulfilling your expectations synonymous with happiness?

How often and how much is your satisfaction diminished when things fall short of your hopes and dreams?

EXERCISE:

Ask yourself:
What is working and going well in my life? How is your gratitude for these things already a source of happiness?

Ask yourself:
What am I working for that excites and inspires me?

How are your efforts and progress toward these objectives also a source of happiness?

 

Desires that arise in agitation are more aligned with your ego

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“Desires that arise in agitation are more aligned with your ego. Desires that arise in stillness are more aligned with your soul.”

—Cory Muscara, instructor of positive psychology at the University of Pennsylvania

Image from Unsplash by Piret Llver

There is nothing wrong with wanting things. The idea that we can separate our desires into two categories seems like a useful exercise if we feel the need to do a bit of re-balancing.

What goals are you pursuing that create a sense of agitation and stress?

Where are you pursuing power, status, or other achievements viewed and scrutinized by others in your communities?

What are some of your quieter goals that bubble up in stillness?

These are likely the ones with no specific metric or scoreboard to measure yourself.

EXERCISE:

Create two lists of your ego and soul-based desires.

Consider letting your level of agitation or stillness guide you to which items deserves more attention.

I am still learning

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“I am still learning.”

—Michelangelo di Lodovico Buonarroti Simoni, 14th Century Italian sculptor, painter, architect and poet

Image from Unsplash By Grant Whitty

Michelangelo was born in 1475 and died in 1564. His longevity would be remarkable even today, with the average life expectancy of a man being somewhere between 78 and 83.

Perhaps it was his Mediterranean diet or disciplined exercise efforts that added those extra years. My guess would definitely include his industrious spirit and his desire for continuous learning.

His Sistine Chapel ceiling was completed between 1508 and 1512, and the Rondanini Pieta sculpture was produced in the year of his passing.

EXERCISE:

How strong is your desire to learn and grow? Where might exercising your learning muscles add more years to your life and life in your years?  How does and can the pursuit of learning make your life a more beautiful work of art?

I say yes when I mean no and the wrinkle grows.

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“I say yes when I mean no and the wrinkle grows.”

—Naomi Shihab Nye, American poet, songwriter, and novelist

Image from Unsplash by philippe collard

Depending on when you are reading today’s quote, try these mental exercises:

If you read it early in your day, examine the activities in your schedule related to both your professional and personal commitments. How many have you agreed to out of obligation or to not hurt others feeling? What is the cost to your vitality and well-being for betraying or going against your natural desires and instincts?

If you read it later in the day, take a moment to reflect on the many times you said “yes” when your inner voice was whispering or screaming “NO!”? How fatigued or wrinkled do you feel and look at the end of the day having handed over many hours to others to get along and keep the peace?

EXERCISE:

Examine your days carefully through the lenses of the words MORE, LESS, START, and STOP.  Do your best today to save your yeses for the MORES and STARTS and voice your no’s toward the LESS’s and STOPs on your list.  Hopefully you develop only good wrinkles from the smiles that will result.

Friday Review: Desire

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Friday Review: Desire

What are your thoughts and beliefs about the concept of desire? Here are a few related posts you may have missed.

 

“Don’t wait until you are lost to evaluate where you are going.”
 

 

 

 

“Desire is half of life. Indifference is half of death.”

 

 

 

 

 

“In order to have faith in his own path, a warrior does not need to prove that someone else’s path is wrong.”

Friday Review: Desire

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FRIDAY REVIEW: DESIRE

What are your thoughts and beliefs about the concept of desire? Here are a few desire-related posts you may have missed. Click the links to read the full message.

 

“Desire is half of life. Indifference is half of death.”

 

 

 

 

“Don’t wait until you are lost to evaluate where you are going.”

 

 

 

 

“In order to have faith in his own path, a warrior does not need to prove that someone else’s path is wrong.”

 

 

 

“Success today requires the agility and drive to constantly rethink, reinvigorate, react, and reinvent.”

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“Success today requires the agility and drive to constantly rethink, reinvigorate, react, and reinvent.”

—Bill Gates, founder of Microsoft

Image from wordpress

Imagine you are Aladdin with a magic lamp and three wishes to dramatically enhance your life. How many of your wishes would be extrinsic rather than intrinsic in nature?

What internal qualities and personal characteristics would you seek to more fully realize your vision of a brighter, more fulfilling future?

EXERCISE:

Consider that you already have your own internal magic lamp within you. Where will you begin, today, to use it to rethink, reinvigorate, and reinvent whatever aspect of your world you choose?

“Step one is to start at step one.”

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“Step one is to start at step one.”

—Author Unknown

Image from Unsplash by Pawel Janiak

Today’s quote, and the related statement, “Just Do It,” helped make Phil Knight (CEO of Nike) one of the wealthiest people in the world, with an estimated net worth of 34.7 billion.

I am sure you are thinking there were many, many steps on his and Nike’s journey to success, but it all started with that first step. From there, it was on to the second and third… and the wonders of momentum.

It is a fact that something in motion will stay in motion unless acted upon by an external force.

EXERCISE:

How often do you stop yourself before you even begin?

On what priority project are you procrastinating, or stopped in your tracks?

What one step will you take to begin the journey to realize what you desire?

Consider sharing this goal or objective with a friend, family member, mentor, or even reply to this post to let me know what you intend, and for added social support.

A Warrior does not need to prove

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“In order to have faith in his own path, a warrior does not need to prove that someone else’s path is wrong.”

—Paulo Coelho, Warrior of the Light

If you are a loyal reader of The Quotable Coach, or even if you are somewhat new to this resource, I’m sure you have surmised that I am a win-win, positive, and life affirming individual.

For me, looking at what is right and what is possible inspires me to be a coach and support others in pursuing extraordinary lives for themselves.

I do, however, get discouraged at times, particularly when I see how often some people think that in winning the game of life for themselves, others must lose or be proven wrong.

EXERCISE:

How can you tap into your own warrior spirit to achieve what you desire, without needing to vanquish your foe, or prove others wrong in the process?