Over the past few months this great desire to do something greater than myself, to leave a legacy behind has been dominating my thoughts, specifically this blog. Not a day went by and goes by when I don’t think about it.
At the same time I was spending my time fighting the system. I looked around and saw so many people going through the motions. Waking up, going to work, only to do the same thing the next day. People ( or the majority of people) seemed so happy with doing the same thing day in and day out, rarely questioning whether or not they enjoy what they are doing ( or perhaps they have, but see it as an impossibility that they can’t break free or rather the time is not right). This frustrated me terribly.
I felt disillusioned with life. Everything seemed to be mediocre. People working 5 days a week, only living for the weekend. People getting drunk on the weekend or every other weekend for that matter. And yes I’ve been there and in many respects I’m still there doing very much the same things I have done in the past, perhaps in a little less moderation. But I find myself fighting this system spending more time thinking about why I don’t like it and worrying about getting dragged back into it.
And then I realised ( no it actually wasn’t an epiphany, I really wanted it to be for dramatic effect though, I could just pretend it was one, but that would be dishonest to you and myself.) what I was doing wrong after stumbling across a famous quote by Socrates:
"The secret to change is to focus all of your energy, not on fighting the old, but on building the new"
I was spending so much time fighting the old instead of focusing my attention on the new: the burning desire to create this blog built around helping, encouraging and inspiring people to transform their lives and the world around them. I needed to stop letting the negative thoughts about the ‘old’ occupy my mind. I needed to stop fighting the system and create my own new system.
My message to you then is simply the following. Focus your attention on building the new. Don’t let the old and associated negative thoughts occupy your mind. This is needed to truly create positive change, not only for yourself, but for the world around you.
YOUR THOUGHTS?
What change are you looking to make in your life? What is holding you back?
Hi Isabelinha,
I’m very happy that you could relate to this post.
Yes,visiting the past is important sometimes. I find that it serves as a reminder of what you don’t want. The important thing is to not dwell on this and create your own path.
Nick
the past is sometimes a good place to visit, but certainty not a great place to stay. let me quote it again; ” Out With the Old and in With The New: Creating Space for Positive Change”. Just what I needed, as much I think that I’ve totally let go and forgotten about my past, there always has to be something that triggers the thoughts I’d wish not excited. now I know what I have to do