DREW SIMMIE

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September 11, 2017

Planting New Seeds

Human beings, by changing the attitudes of their minds, can change the outer aspects of their lives. William James.

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A few months ago, over dinner and a bottle of wine, a friend of mine, whom I had known for a long time, asked me a question that stopped me in my tracks. He said, “What’s your secret”?

He was referring to my work. It has been 17 years now since after much introspection, reading and studying, I slipped the bonds of convention and my successful, middle class life and started down a totally new path. Simply put, everything looked all right but it felt all wrong. I just knew I would have to rewrite the script.

In retrospect, I wouldn’t have had it any other way. To this day, my journey continues, coaching a select group of high achievers, speaking and writing. I have published two books, The Tug of the Kite and Life Without a Parachute and a third book is in the works. (More about that later). I have been blogging twice a week for nine years.

None of us are who we were when we first started out. Subject to the shifting currents of change, as we make our way through life, we all pass through a number of phases. We put on and take off each one, as Roger Houston so aptly stated in his book, Ten Poems To Open Your Heart, “Like taking off an old coat and putting on a new one,” as we keep searching for ways to live and work as closely to the beat of our own hearts as we can.

At some point, many inquiring minds find themselves at a point in their journey when they pause and wonder, do they stay the course or make a correction? Seeking to live life to the fullest and be the best they can, for themselves, their families and people who mean the most to them they are reaching up and outward but occasionally find that a fresh pair of eyes can often make a difference, especially when they come with a special blend of personal and business experience. That’s what this series is about.

In keeping with our time-starved, 24/7 world, this post is the first in a new series of articles I have decided to write to answer my friend’s question. Framed another way, what he was questioning, I think, is what do you have to do to stay inspired and stay fully engaged when you begin to think that you have been there and done that and yet sense there is much more up ahead?

Once a week, over the next few months, I’ll highlight, one by one, some of the key steps I took and share with you what I learned and experienced along the way. On alternate days, I will keep on writing and addressing a variety of subjects I think are relevant to living in the first quarter of the 21st. century.

I don’t have to tell you we are living in a very challenging time. Change is today’s currency. Disruption is omni present. Many of our old values and morals are in question. At the same time, on the positive side, driven by technology and invention, exciting new discoveries and opportunities are beckoning, waiting for those who dare to accept them.

If you have been consciously thinking about where your life is now, how you could kick it up a notch and where you would like to go next, my hope is that you will find this series helpful. If you know of others in your circle of influence who may be interested, please pass it along

So let’s get started.

The Need to Grow.

We all need to grow. Personal growth is as necessary as breathing. It is part of humankind’s DNA. You are wired to be curious, wanting to learn more, do more and be more. It isn’t the goals and aspirations, though, that count. It’s the action of striving to reach them that lies at the heart of the process of continual growth.

That’s because the action of striving is a creative activity. When you are growing, your are full of energy. One idea effortlessly flows into the another. Serendipitously, people and events come into your life just when you need them. The ensuring sense of accomplishment propels you ever farther along your path.

On the other hand, if you stop growing your life begins to diminish. You become stale, dull and uninteresting. Worst of all you start to lose your courage. You begin to doubt your own abilities and personal value, sometimes without even realizing it.

When that happens your horizons begin to narrow. Where there were always answers, there are now only more questions. Where there used to be joy, there is creeping despair. Where there was hope there is now only enervating doubt. Boredom raises its ugly head.

You become bereft of spirit and drained of energy. Cynicism sets in and you are frightened of losing it all. Fear rules the day and all your actions, your options diminish. Wait. It gets worse. The status quo settles in, snuffing out new ideas and original thinking, the very nub of innovation and absolutely critical to success in our information/knowledge age.

Here’s a question for you: Do you feel you have stopped growing? How would know? Have you stopped asking questions? Not open to other’s points of view? Unwilling to to accept new ideas and methods of doing things? Think the past was better than the future?

You’ve stopped growing. Sorry.

What happened, you wonder?

Fear has stepped in. Nothing like fear stops personal growth and any other kind of positive advancement dead in its tracks. As tough as it is, if you are unhappy with some aspect of your life and need to change it, at some point you have to get past the fear and take action to deal with whatever is holding you back, no matter how painful. You can’t move forward until you do.

This is where your courage comes in. It comes from from having an unswerving sense of belief in yourself. Courage counters fear. Getting over fear starts with you and you alone. All you can do is tackle it head on.

For starters, pause for a while. Begin by making a victory list. Write down all your accomplishments, the many places you have travelled, the amazing people you have met in your journey. Think of the times in the past when you have overcome adversity. Remember, you got past rough spots in the past and you can again.

Honour your heart. Once you have decided on the remedy, just jump right in and do it. Sure you will be tested but you’ll be saved overtime by a mental toughness that will create in your mind the clarity of direction to see you through.

Living isn’t always easy, but if you are up for the challenge, willing to expect the unexpected, have the courage and capacity to love and to believe the future will be better than the present, it is the greatest of all adventures. Go for it.

Life is very precious. The clock is ticking. Resolve today that you are going to commit or recommit to yourself. There isn’t a better time than today to plant new seeds.

See you here next week.

Drew.

In these challenging times, as you navigate your future, is your current plan the right one? Could a recalibration be in the cards? I would love to hear from you. Like me to speak to your group? I am easily reachable. Text/call 416.450.8867 or email drew@drewsimmie.com

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