Habits

"We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit." -Aristotle

The opposite is also alarmingly true...I love this quote, because it embodies the whole "Create your own opportunities" thing in a different way. We can create anything we want: If what you want is excellence, learn everything you can about what your chosen field, and practice what you know will bring the desired results. Sounds simple, but then, people are people.

It goes back to being specific about what you REALLY want. Not just sort of want. I mean REAAAAAALLLLLLY want. With passion. With desire so strong it can outlast the momentary lapse of boredom, or temptation to go down another path.

If discovering what we want in life were so easy, everyone would live in ecstasy, I'm convinced. The mud gets stirred up by family, personal dysfunction, bills, and other temptations. Distractions to our heart's desire.

"What do you want?"

"If you could be anything...?"

Why is that so difficult a question? Because, to truly answer it, one must allow vulnerability to come into play. It's a risk, to show the soft underbelly of one's soul and desires...as if speaking those dreams aloud will somehow make them trite and unimportant. To open oneself to ridicule, as if no one else has the same dreams or secret desires...

I believe the opposite is true: That speaking the words aloud gives them power, gives them purpose, and can give one courage to say a few sentences more. To not be so afraid of revealing the truth. Isn't it a crime that most people don't want to hear the truth? Or at least nothing but their OWN truth.

Stephen R. Covey, in "The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People," is pretty clear about being open to experiences and the deep listening it takes to have awareness of what's around you: Listen deeply to yourself, first, then expand that awareness and sensitivity to encompass more and more. The knowledge is there for us to gobble. All you have to do is be still. And listen. Practice. Practice until it becomes your way. That's the rule of excellence. True excellence-it has to belong to you, and not be imposed. It's the "Personality Ethic:" versus the "Character Ethic" Covey talks about-one is superficial, one is deep, rings true, and is part of the soul. Un-separate-able. Forever. Bonded. Eternal.

Isn't it a shame that we are not born with this level of self-awareness? That the process of being here and learning is as universal as it is? Are we boring to the gods above, since we're totally predictable in our stages of growth?

Well...it's not about them anyway. It's about us as individuals, learning to become more full of life, more full of love, more full of unleashed potential so that we can live in a state of excellence and ecstasy. How fab would THAT be?... Gotta practice for it to become a habit.....okokok...