Month: November 2017

Recently two of Albert’s Einsteins personal notes concerning his “secret to happiness” have surfaced in the media and I thought it very fitting that we look at the notes of the genius.  These notes sold recently for a combined $1.8 million, so apparently someone placed a great deal of importance on them.

“A quiet and modest life brings more joy than a pursuit of success bound with constant unrest”

“where there’s a will, there’s a way”

The first note commanded the highest price at auction at $1.56 million.  To me, this note seems to say to be content.  While I rarely am satisfied with being stagnant and content, I do think there is a weariness that comes with constantly pushing yourself to pursue success.  Burnout is common and frustrating.  I have also found that as I have gotten older, I find much more joy in the simpler things in life.  I encourage you to look around and embrace those simple things and not allow them to get lost in the shuffle as you reach for success in life.

The second note is a common saying we use today, but knowing it was embraced by Einstein can give us hope of reaching our goals.  Truly where there is a will, there is a way, but you must still put the will into motion and act upon it to reach the “way”.

 

My favorite musician is Dave Matthews.  I often find relevance in his lyrics and use those words to impact my world.  One of his most powerful statements is found in a line from the song You Might Die Trying.  It goes like this:

To change the world
It starts with one step 
However small
First step is hardest of all 
Once you get to your gate 
You will walk in tall 

Powerful words if you allow them to sink in.  Many times we procrastinate in moving into a new area of our life simply because of the size of the first step.  The first step is truly the hardest.  Finding the energy to step out of our comfort zone and venture into new territory is a challenging process.  However, as the verse says, once you take that step and are able to walk into that new realm, you will walk in tall .  Meet your challenges head-on and don’t be afraid to take that first step.

A young poet named Erin Hanson wrote a short, but very powerful poem several years ago.  The words are childlike, yet powerful.  The verses allow you to visualize a mother bird speaking to her newborn on his first attempt to leave the nest.

There is freedom waiting for you,
On the breezes of the sky,
And you ask, “What if I fall?”
Oh, but my darling,
What if you fly?

This poem should challenge you to not hold back on things that you want to achieve.  The risk of failure is assured for those who do not try, simply because you have robbed yourself or something so very important…hope.  I encourage you to take that first step toward achieving your goals and not be discouraged by others or by the size of the task.  Hold on to hope and maybe you too will fly.