This morning I reflected on something I read in The Boonly, a weekly idea newsletter I get on Sundays.
“Are my pursuits genuinely reflective of my own dreams and values? Have I been seduced by the success stories of others, mistaking them for roadmaps to fulfillment? You see what other people are doing, their lifestyles or success stories, and you start thinking you want the same.”
Here’s the crucial question: “Is this what I really want?” In other words, do my pursuits come from my own passions or from the influence of others?
My theological mind immediately recognized this as a manifestation of coveting. The commandments are clear that we are not to covet, or desire what other people have. This would include both things and relationships. But isn’t that exactly what we pursue?
Are your new year’s resolutions things you really want to do or be, or do they reveal your wishes to be like someone else or have as much fun as them? Too often, “Instead of carving our own path, we find ourselves measuring our worth against borrowed ideals, often feeling empty, dissatisfied, and disconnected from our own reality.”
The author, Irena Spegar, expresses a different approach: “Your journey is a narrative waiting to be written, not in the ink of borrowed dreams, but in the colors of your person aspirations.”
I love the words, but I’m challenged that she does not suggest a strategy for accomplishing this. How do I identify and set out on my own personal path? How can I make sure I am painting my life in my own colors?
I guess it’s up to me to suggest a few ways to do that. (I am learning here as I go, so be easy with me!)
- Turn off everything. Phone, social media, doorbell (yes, we clipped the wires), don’t walk to the mailbox, close the bedroom door, and be alone. I need to spend a few moments listening to my thoughts, my feelings, and my appetite.
- Look back at the things that inspired, energized, or motivated you in the past. That’s who you are and that’s who you really want to be. I play trumpet and guitar, I love to read and write, I’ve always enjoyed running and fitness. I should try to be even better at those things.
That’s all I’ve got for now. My resolution is to use my own ink and write my own story. How about you?
Waite for it... 