Let me warn you first: This is a long but rewarding read…
I was sitting at my desk working on a business plan for a vegetarian Italian restaurant for one of my degree courses. When I got to the marketing section, I had to explain why my idea had a demanding market. I begin to wonder if I would be a part of that market. Would I ever decide to be a vegetarian? Quan is a vegetarian of sorts, so is his sister. I get a good bit of exposure to the no meat way of living. I’ve never doubted its benefits, but I am a rebel. For me, I have to do what I feel compelled to do. I’ve never been one to fake it in any sense. I am a, “in the moment, feel the moment” type of guy. So, I was thinking…I would only decide to become a vegetarian just because it’s something different that I’ve never done. That speaks to my workaholic, get this shit done type of personality. From there my mind went into this wild tangent of thoughts and aha moments and then, this blog entry ensued. My question for you today is simple. How often do you challenge yourself to do what you’ve never done?
If you’ve worked at a corporation before, you may have heard this saying once or twice or 20 times: Doing the same thing over and over looking for a different outcome leads to what? Insanity! Say it loud for the people in the back. Insanity! Have you been feeling a little out of it lately? Some of you may have been asking yourself about life and where is it taking you? Even I have been asking myself about the type of businessman I am supposed to become. I was told years ago by my dear cousin that I have not even scratched the surface of what I was put on this earth to do. Somehow, I believe that. That’s a good thing though because you should always feel like there is more to you. I talk about ‘more to you’ in Coping with Transitional Milestones. **Shameless Plug** Go get this freaking awesome book on Amazon. Do what you’ve never done and take about an hour to read it.
Okay, back to the narrative. So, I thought to myself more. It’s really simple. We can condition our minds to be so much more willing to step into our destiny if we would begin with the little things. Yes, the little things. Think about little things that you can change about your life that can condition your mind to think more freely. The reason why so many of us are not walking in happiness is that we are limited. We are afraid to break away from old, tired relationships that serve us no purpose. We are afraid to quit jobs that make us unhappy. Kudos to my baby for doing this a couple of years ago. Sometimes you have to reposition yourself. Do something different. Become a vegetarian. Let it mean something to you. Cut your hair and let it represent something. Move to another city, let that represent something. The spiritual transformation that will accompany your change will be paramount. You can take that to the bank. Let he who has the ear to hear what the prophet is saying. Do what you have never done before.
Do What You Have Never Done
All I am saying is that you own your life. If you are not moving the way you think you should, then try something different. If you are too afraid to try something different, then start with something small, but still, try something different. Here’s a thought, listen to a different genre of music. Guess what, I discovered that I really like country music, like I REALLY like it. I am loving the person that I have allowed myself to discover in the last three years of my life. It’s like finding something buried in the back yard. “Cool, look what was buried back here!” I was buried back there.
It started with me deciding to leave my traditional role in fundamental Christian ministry, because it no longer served me, move from my hometown, because it no longer served me. I can imagine this restaurant plan may turn into the real thing one day and not just a class assignment if I chose to do something different. I’m always doing something different. Lord knows I love my chicken, but I just may try the vegetarian thing out. If it’s just to say I did it. What will you try out? What will you do differently? Do what you have never done before.
I’m going to close with this. My dad would play the Isley Brothers when we were coming up. He’d blast it. They have one song that says, “Life is for the living, so let’s live it Baby, yeah yeah!” Speaking of music, one of my favorite country music songs is Lee Ann Womack’s I Hope You Dance! The gist of the song is exactly what I have told you today. Next time, do something different. Do what you have never done. I hope you dance. As a matter of fact, I went to a party this past Saturday and watched everyone dance because I never dance. One day I will, one day…I will.