There is a story in Native American Indian folklore.
An wise old man was telling his grandson a story about the two wolves that we have inside all. The two wolves are in constant battle with each other. One wolf, he explained is our faith and our dreams and it is calm and measured. The other is our fears and it is angry, disruptive and aggressive.
The child eventually asked his grandfather,
“which one wins the battle?”.
The Grandfather replies;
“it depends which one you feed”
Mathew McGonaughey is know for many things, but I hadn’t realized that he was also a highly effective speaker. This talk is totally captivating, Don’t miss out.
His recognition that happiness is only a result, an outcome of what we do. He rightly says that happiness is an emotional response to an if-then scenario. It’s an effect,
It’s Joy that is the constant and we find joy by doing what we are fashioned to do. It’s the doing, the process that is the reward.
McConaughey also talks about Gratitude. Giving thanks for what we already have, Gratitude reciprocates and if we study and nurture the habits we already have that bring Joy, that in itself is success.
I recently gave a talk where I joking ended by defining the meaning of life. I defined it as finding Purpose.
We are constantly plagued by our search for meaning, but it seemed to me that meaning is just the purpose we give ourselves. When we prioritize who we want to be then we are able to define what success means for us and therefore gives us meaning.
I constantly bang on about the way we are wired to find pattern, to make connections between one event and another. Once we make that connection or pattern we are able to make sense of what we see. i.e. we give it meaning.
So I agree with McConaughey, focus on what brings you Joy. Get rid of excess and Decrease your options. Eliminate who you are not!
