“aint no such thing as a free lunch” – my dad
Good labor day to you friends. Whether you are enjoying the day off or you have to work, labor day is in honor of you. The day itself is a creation of the labor movement and is dedicated to the achievements of the American worker. When you consider the term labor either in childbirth or physical exertion, we are talking about a term that is synonymous with hard work. This weeks topic is designed to get you to think about the work you do, and what you are working for.
Consider the topic of “freewill” (free will). Free Will is the power to act without the constraint of necessity or fate, and is the pure ability to act at one’s own discretion. This conjuncted phrase is created by two words fee and will. The word free comes from freedom, and speaks to a state of unconditioned thoughts, actions, and being.
This is like the air that you breath. It has no place of origin, or destination that it is headed and it moves and is received without condition. The second word in this phrase that follows free is will. Will (the improper noun) is defined in various ways as a direct, deliberate, or fixed desire or intention. It is by this faculty that a person decides and initiates action towards their future results. and no matter what the goal is “will” requires that you be willing.
As a child one of the most cliche questions that I (you as well) often encountered was “what do you want to be when you grow up?” I have learned that the response to this question will vary based on a persons “free” belief of what their life “will” become, as the answer is “free” to reflect all areas of possibility. Children will profess to want to be everything imaginable like a doctor, a musician, or even alive, and they are correct in whatever they imagine for themselves…freewill. The emphasis here is not found only in the answer that a person gives in response to the question, however the the root focus should be on the response itself as this confirms the desire of a future occurrence. Hope.
So why do few children/grown people become what they want to be?
Through this question we learn that a person can declare what they want to become through their free imagination. Once decided the path to becoming requires talent, sacrifice, and work to become the epitome of one’s projected self. While on the journey to becoming what is most desired, many are faced with adversity or temporary failure and some individuals abandon their thought of ideal self and acquiesce to become something else.
Adversity can come in many forms and the psychological effects of mental adversity far outweigh any physical adversity characteristics.
Physical Adversity Example: If I want to become a history professor I can begin the journey to becoming one. I would read and learn about as much history as possible, I would consult other historians and learn about their path to success, and I would emulate and replicate the actions of a professor while blazing my own trail to becoming one. If I stick with it I will become a professor of history…easy or hard I can do it.
Mental Adversity Example: If I want to become a history professor I can begin the journey to becoming one. Who am I kidding, people like me that come where I come from, that look like me, and think like me don’t become professors and neither will I…easy or hard I can’t do it.
self reflection:
what do you want to be?
If you are not becoming who you want to be, who/what/when/where/how/why are you becoming?
what one thing will you commit to doing to work towards your improvement?
to get a different result, you must do something differently
Everyday of our existence is a new step in our journey to becoming what we want to be when we grow up. For me, this question constantly rings in the recesses of my mind like a church bell that is stuck on 12:00 o’clock noon. It is so loud!
You see if you truly believe in your ability to be free, and will yourself towards the apex of your desires you will achieve whatever you want. While in the process of achieving your goals always remember that you can become what you want to be. As a trusted friend and mentor recently reminded me “you have to give yourself permission” to do, act, and become anything. Remember, If you are not permitting yourself to grow up you choose not to exercise your freewill to become what you want.
In the words of the late great NFL Head Coach Denny Green “they are who we thought they were…and we let em off the hook.” Stay hooked to the ability to grow into your best self, and maximize the value of your freewill.
make the rest of your life, the best of your life