Inspiraelevation

Times of Uncertainty come upon us and catch us unaware.

Right now we are living in one of the most uncertain moments in history, and there is not one person who is not being affected.

It is testing the depth of our resolve, of our humanity.

The truth is, it is only in moments like these that we find out what we are really made of.

We get to the bare bones of it all.

Do we have hope, or are we like ships lost at sea?

Do we have faith or are we faithless?

On what or in who do we trust?

Are our houses built of sticks or stones?

Moments like these test all the notions we have had and bring about revelations that we could have never fathomed

It is in these times that others see how prepared we really are.

The funny thing is, we never really know or uncover the truth until we dig deep or have no choice but to get underneath it all.

Those discoveries present valuable opportunities to make the changes that are necessary for your life, opportunities to live a more authentic and fulfilling existence.

Everyone has roots, a source, a beginning.

This is not a concept that is purely understood in the context of genealogy.

When dissecting success one can see a strong connection to fundamentals, the core of that success. One can see the roots.

Having roots is important, but sometimes we forget just how important it is. We become so consumed with growing and the speed at which we can achieve and accomplish something that we don’t take the time to establish strong roots.

This is something that cannot be taken lightly.

Yesterday through meditation I was reminded of this very thing.

There is a parable that is often recounted that paints a vivid picture of a seed without roots.

In the parable, a sower goes out to disperse seed,

^” Some fell on rocky places, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly because the soil was shallow.  But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched, and they withered because they had no root.”

Having roots means you are grounded. There is something foundational there that will nourish and sustain you through tough times. Without roots, it is easy to give up because there is nothing holding you in place. It is easy to burn out.

Although you may grow, and that growth may be phenomenal, it is so easy to lose it all when there is no base upon which to rebuild.

That is detrimental.

Not everyone has deep roots, or roots firmly implanted in good soil, which keeps a tree (person) anchored. That is why knowing one’s roots and the reach of those roots is important. Obtaining that knowledge is one of the best things you can do for yourself.

If your foundation is weak or lacking you can always build and create a stronger foundation. You can strengthen your connection to the source.

Putting in work is necessary.

The new habits that you will form, the principles you will learn will form a base for your continued success.

We all have heard of influencers, people who have the uncanny knack of getting people to follow them.

They lead the pack and are highly sought after by marketers.

Gladwell expounds on this topic and shares profound knowledge on influencer’s and his or her role in making an idea viral in his book, The Tipping Point.

In The Tipping Point, this is what Malcolm Gladwell had to say

“There are exceptional people out there who are capable of starting epidemics. All you have to do is find them” (Goodreads).

They are out there, but the fact is the sheer number of the influenced outweigh the influencers.

It is so easy to jump on somebody else’s bandwagon because it is already moving.

But riding someone else’s momentum will never bring you to achieve what you set out to achieve. It may get you to a destination faster but not necessarily your destination, and definitely not on your own merits.

You must be the person capable of ” starting epidemics.”

Building your dream and legacy and becoming the architect of your dream’s means being an influencer not being the one influenced.

It means avoiding the herd mentality, the desire to follow.

“You must create your own herd and get others to join it” – Gladwell David & Goliath

“Successful people are really herd creators and herd movers.” Gladwell David & Goliath

It is more than worth it from time to time to stop and take inventory. Ask yourself the important questions.

• Am I riding the trend or am I setting the trend?
• Do I often find myself going with the flow?
• Do I often echo the sentiment of the majority?
• Do I wait for others to weigh in before I make up my mind?
• Do the perceptions and ideas of others drive me?
• Am I a follower or a leader?
• Am I a master builder or just a bricklayer?

If you find yourself answering the affirmative to any of these it is probably time to make changes.

It is time to explore who you really are apart from everyone else and stand up and be that person.

Don’t let others hold sway over you.

“Look at the world around you. It may seem like an immovable, implacable place. It is not. With the slightest push—in just the right place—it can be tipped” – Gladwell (Goodreads).

You are the master of your soul the captain of your sea.

As echoed in the lyrics of Believer by Imagine Dragons

When you are sick and tired of building the dreams of others, with the way things are, then you will be ready to be an influencer and ready to tip the world on its axis.

Lyrics to Believer by Imagine Dragons

First things first
I’ ma say all the words inside my head
I’m fired up and tired of the way that things have been, oh ooh
The way that things have been, oh ooh
Second thing second
Don’t you tell me what you think that I can be
I’m the one at the sail, I’m the master of my sea, oh ooh
The master of my sea, oh ooh

Works Cited

Goodreads. “The Tipping Point Quotes.” Web.

https://www.goodreads.com/work/quotes/2124255-the-tipping-point-how-little-things-can-make-a-big-difference

Gladwell Malcolm. David & Goliath: Underdogs, Misfits, and the Art of Battling Giants.

London; England, The Penguin Group.

One thing all mankind has in common is that they age.

As long as breath is in your body and time passes you age.

Age can be seen as an asset or barrier to achievement. 

In one’s youth, when one thinks of all the time that is ahead of them, there is a sense of invincibility. It seems like you have an eternity to do what is necessary to make dreams a reality. And sometimes building becomes less of a priority.

In one’s autumn and winter, perspectives change.

Limitations loom large, sometimes larger than life. And it is easy to often think about the time that is left to make dreams a reality.

The individual begins to see their mortality clearer.

Sometimes, I sit and ponder, and though I still feel all the vitality of life I see the signs that time imposes on my body. Eyesight is a little less acute. Muscles that strain against their normal occupation, and it gives me pause.

But, I know that it is not about the years you have to live.

It is about the life and love you put into the years that you are living.

There is no timestamp on mortality.

Time is the great equalizer and stops for both the young and aged alike.

The best we can do is to live every day to the full, giving everything we got, loving as much as we can, and continuing to build upon our dreams.

Whether you have passed little or much time on this earth, keep building, because as long as there is life in your years it is never too late to dream or achieve.

Sometimes your biggest disadvantage can be your advantage.

You have to find the opportunity, the edge.

According to world-renown author Malcolm Gladwell, author of the book Underdog Misfits and the Art of Battling Giants: David &Goliath history has proven that disadvantages do not impede success. In many cases, it has been shown that disadvantages have benefited those on their path to success. Gladwell refers to this concept as a desirable difficulty.  “The idea of desirable difficulty suggests that not all difficulties are negative”  (Gladwell 133).

Sometimes What seems like something that will hold you back is exactly what you need to propel you forward, but you have to change the way you look at things.

“For some reason, this is a very difficult lesson for us to learn. We have, I think, a very rigid and limited definition of what an advantage is” (Gladwell 25).

A disadvantage can equip you to achieve the very thing that is desired and turn out to be a bigger advantage than what was once realized. Often times a disadvantage is really a lesson that prepares you for what is up ahead.

Personal Anecdote

I had my last child two years ago almost 15 years from the birth of my last child., it was a much-welcomed gift but has taught me so much. Now it is no secret that I have at times had a hard time adjusting to change. But, nothing teaches you about adjusting to change like a child. Children are spontaneous, their schedules constantly adjust and readjust, at least for the first years of their life.  Your world and time revolve completely around them.

 

You sleep when they sleep or don’t sleep at all. You learn their schedule and try to work your day around their schedule especially if you want to get anything done.

In fact, a lot that comes with rearing a child from infancy to adulthood requires spontaneous change, the type of change that can completely alter plans.

You have to take what looks like a disadvantage in the way of time and turn it into an advantage. This is a lesson that can be applied to all of life. Not to say that it is easy to do but extremely necessary.

Find whatever seems like a disadvantage and use it in your favor.

You are not an underdog no matter what life throws at you, you have a real chance at success and achievement but you just have to believe it.

 

 

Gladwell, Malcolm. (2013). Underdogs, Misfits, and the Art of Battling Giants:

     David and Goliath, London, England. Penguin Books.