Friday, February 16, 2007
Your Gold & Silver Boxes
I read *Jann Arden* today. And as usual, something she says always makes me think deeply.
"Perhaps we can will ourselves to where we want to go. Perhaps everything we picture will come to pass.My Grandmother told me a great story once, about a man who went up to heaven and was led into a huge warehouse filled with beautiful gold and silver boxes. They were all shapes and sizes and they seemed to go on for a hundred football fields. The man said to the being that led him in through the doorway of this magnificent place, "what is this? Where have you brought me?" The being quietly replied, "these are all the things you never asked for when you were alive on earthâ... I loved that story. I hope the room I am led into someday, has but a few little boxes on its shelves. I intend on asking for much in this life. I will ask for all of it." ~Jann Arden
We are taught not to ask for it all. Religion is at the heart of the adage "It is better to give than to receive." Religions have always relied heavily on the support of the congregations, so they definitely want you to value giving. And altho the central message of valuing generosity over seflishness is important, it should not be to the detriment of the larger picture of happiness, well-being and your own evolution.
I rarely catch Oprah, but something she said a number of years ago stuck with me. Ask for what you want. Ask. Make it known. Because you never know what ears will catch your request and make it a reality. Most people do enjoy giving and helping out, after all. It's a shame we all aren't taught to receive as graciously as we give. Ask for help. Ask for what it is you want to become. Don't lock all your hopes and wishes in a jar. Share them. Be proud of them. Whatever it is that you want, put it out there. Make an effort to be heard.
We're basically taught to defeat ourselves. Our insecurity, lower self-esteem and negative beliefs are major deterrents. I also liked this bit from Jann's blog:
"Loving one's self is a delicate balance. You have to slowly relearn how to speak to yourself. You have to change your language. Try to balance one bad thought with two good ones. If you think you can't, you won't. If you think you can, you might. If you know you can, you will. Many people underestimate the power of thought. I have thought my way to where I am. I am mindful of my thoughts, I don't toss them about recklessly. I point them in a direction, and focus them on my intent. I fail, I fall and I screw up constantly, but I march on." ~Jann Arden
People tend to float through their lives, forgetting that they can control the ship. I loved what Jann said about pointing her thoughts in a direction. I think of this process as a maze. You're going to hit deadends ("fail...fall...screw up."), but to stop in the middle of the maze and not keep moving forward is a choice to stay stuck. Seems to me this attitude would go a long way toward helping today's children develop valuable life skills. More valuable to the majority than algebra, that's for sure.
Ask for what you want. :) Keep giving, and keep asking. It's yin and yang, and we were never meant to favor one over the other. Otherwise, we'll wind up at the end of our lives with a warehouse full of gold and silver boxes.
~Shephard :)
Labels: Life Skills
posted by Shephard @ 