Things You Don’t Need To Do

The internet is full of websites offering advice on how to improve yourself, change yourself, follow a few simple steps to success. Well I propose something different: Don’t listen to me.

We are taught that we are insufficient. We need this degree or that degree, we need to read this newspaper or listen to that commentator, we have to follow steps or tricks or paths to enlightenment, or financial gain, or romantic fulfillment, or even a cup of coffee.

I’m often guilty of this myself, being inspired by someone or something and then emulating their methods exactly. But we are not clones. And if you are too busy pursuing someone else’s secrets to success to develop your own, your are depriving yourself and those around you of something special.

Here are some things you do not need to do:

• Join the military
• Join the Peace Corps
• Buy a house
• Sell your possessions
• Join a monastery
• Buy a flat-screen television
• Get a graduate degree
• Take a job at a national corporation
• Leave a job at a national corporation
• Read a book a week
• Visit every country in the world
• Start a non-profit
• Start your own company

Yes, exciting people have undertaken the above mentioned activities and many of them have exciting stories to tell about their experiences. Don’t bother, if you are taking up the challenge because of someone else’s exciting stories; instead, create and tell your own exciting stories.

I hear, often in Christian circles but even in secular ones, that we’re missing something fundamental. We are flawed, broken, small, insufficient, or unworthy. We need someone else, be that a parent, teacher, priest, messiah, or God to make up for our shortcomings. I don’t buy it. I’m not saying that humans aren’t darn good at messing things up (you can decide whether you call it original sin or systemic injustice), but I AM saying that too often, we don’t give ourselves enough credit and at the same time, let ourselves off the hook too easily.

Maybe just a little advice…

So what’s my suggestion (oh wait, I’m not supposed to be giving advice!)? Start off by making a Dream List–10 grand, glorious, breathtaking dreams that are yours and only yours. It can be challenging, it took me about an hour to come up with a complete list of 10. Stick with it. The process is just as important as the result, allow yourself to unlock your imagination and your inner self.

And now trust yourself. You have everything you need to realize these dreams. You are good enough, smart enough, well-connected enough, rich enough, worthy enough. But what about everyone else? Invite everyone along for the ride! Realize your dreams and passions in a way that builds people up, that is inclusive, that learns from everyone, that loves radically, and that challenges the status quo whenever necessary. The best you have to offer is all of our best hope.

Instructions Not Necessary

I don’t suggest making a step-by-step plan to accomplish each of your dreams, instead I like to pick out small things to change. Simply having this list always in front of you will help orient and reorient your life. You may realize that you want to start your own company, or start a non-profit, or take a job with a big corporation, or leave a job at a big corporation–in the end, you will know what is best.

When have you trusted yourself and what was the outcome? Share one time when your dreams came true, share one time when you needed to go back to the drawing board and try again.

Photo by adactio