7 for Sunday

What transforms raw effort into ethical action? There was a time, not too long ago, when I had the work-ethic, grit, determination, bull-headed dial twisted to 11. I believe I understand the error, and sometimes I actually feel that a lower setting would be better. This is the fear, when people start being kind to…

Is stopping failure, or wisdom? A friend once said, “Life is full of compromises which you cannot avoid. So don’t compromise with yourself.” But if aspiring was our true fulcrum, you’d be on your throne already. Here’s the truth: It’s not the heights we aspire to but the FLOOR WE PUT UP WITH that determines…

Can I grow without clarity? I struggle to acknowledge my progress without big-picture clarity. I get a ton done, but it’s a blur. I grope for clarity, hoping it might empower me to continue. What are you working on? When will you change your mind? What can you learn, what can you challenge? ~ Seth Godin,…

How much of my life is shaped by choice—and how much is an illusion of control? Twice I didn’t act upon his invitation. I had no idea the second time was my last chance. Then he died. We make countless decisions every day. Some seem trivial and some seem important, but often it’s only clear…

When even flexibility wears you out, what’s left? With the power of hindsight I can see there was an age of fire. There was a long period—too long, probably—of trying to carve a path through the world. A period of trying to make a dent in the universe. Making my mark. I think it’s telling…

Is this tension serving me? If you’re just reacting to whatever life throws at you, then any armchair philosophizing about life’s purpose or finding your Life’s Work is, frankly, pointless. I’m not criticizing going through life in reacting mode; if one is crushed by situation or station, then you necessarily have your work cut out…

Can we invite insight instead of chasing it? I’m struck often by interesting relationships between how words are spelled and their meaning. Taken literally, the meaning of “sight” is what our eyes normally do, and things which can be seen are “in sight.” Now consider “insight,” which is about apprehending some new (to us) idea.…

How does acceptance transform us? In today’s world, rarely is anyone actually listening. Everything is intentionally distracting. Everything clamors for our attention. That makes what should be the “simple” act of listening into something profound. The results of fully listening are profound and couldn’t be more relevant today in times of immense distractions and a…

What makes a fulfilling life? It’s a mistake to continue doing something solely to extend the streak of doing. Longevity can be a sign of value, but it isn’t inherently valuable. I’m more interested in noticing that it was only just a year ago that I moved all of this to its own web site,…

Where does real progress begin? So much is written and discussed about history: recording it, studying it, learning (or not) from it, does it repeat or rhyme, etc. But why don’t more people talk about each of our personal histories? If progress is real despite our whining, it is not because we are born any healthier, better,…