‎”The only way to do great work is to love what you do. If you haven’t found it yet, keep looking, and don’t settle.” – Steve Jobs

Learn to live in the "AND" rather than the "OR"

This was the first step on my personal journey to reach my potential and live my purpose.

By “And” I mean, having success and purpose. Being at peace and simultaneously inviting prosperity, and most importantly, serving and being abundant.

Face it. We’ve all lived way too long in the “Or”. I, for one, choose the “And.”

As children, we don’t think in terms of Or. We only see And. “I’ll have cake and ice cream.” “I want to be a doctor and a lawyer.” “I want to play football and basketball.”

Along the way someone told us to we had to narrow our dreams and accept less than we are worth—eventually, we all have to choose Or. That is the biggest lie of our century. It’s just not true.

Mark this prediction: 2012 is the year of And.

In 2012, there will be disasters and victories; there will be successes and failures. Being
on the winning side of all that 2012 has to offer is about learning to live in
the And.

Today, this week, this month and this year: we have to get in the practice of making new
choices in order to tap into this And energy.

Prepare to live in the And. Practice living in the And. And, do it now. Take your own first step.

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Trust the Process

The second step for me on this amazing purpose journey was to trust the process.

Let’s look at Webster’s definition of “trust”:

Trust

noun

1. Assured reliance on the character, ability, strength, or truth of someone or something
2. One in which confidence is placed
3. Dependence on something future or contingent:hope

Now, let’s look at Webster’s definition of “process:”

Process

noun

1. Progress, advance
2. Something going on: proceeding
3. A natural phenomenon marked by gradual changes that lead toward a particular result process of growth (2): a continuing natural or biological activity or function processes as breathing

So, “trust the process”
means: first, you have to have “assured reliance”. Assured reliance.

Think about that for another second. Assured reliance. To get assured reliance, you have to rely on hope (reliance), but…and this is the big part, you have to be sure. Being sure is an inside job, not an outside job.

That’s where the process comes in. Process is a natural phenomenon marked by gradual changes that lead toward a particular result. We advance. We progress over time.

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So, trust the process means:

• Choose to be sure of each step (you may only see a single step, and that’s okay)
• Rely on your faith that the next step will present itself
• Know that you will experience gradual changes that will lead to a particular end point

There are some questions I’ve been asked hundreds of times. One came up in our September 2011 Purpose Workshop.

How do I know if I am on the right path?

There are 2 ways you’ll know if you’re on the right path.

You’ll know you’re on the right path, when the doors stay open or new doors start to open.

It sounds simple, but that’s really the way it works.  Unfortunately, we confuse “path” with the “perfect answer”.  Many times our path is simply preparing us for something better.  And, a path is just that, a path.  It’s a process of life.  In most cases, many doors are really just windows leading us to bigger and better doors.  Besides, if a door closes, it doesn’t mean we failed, it just means a course adjustment is occurring as the process of our journey unfolds.

The second way to trust the process and know if you are on the right path is to pay attention to the level of fear. If you feel afraid…you’re on the right path.

Surprised?

I can remember reading about Franklin D. Roosevelt who was one of my favorite presidents, talking about “freedom from fear.”  For most of my life, I wanted freedom from fear.

What I didn’t understand back then is that fear is a healthy barometer that lets me know I am pushing myself forward.  If I want to grow, I will feel fear.  If I want to strive for success, I will feel fear.  If I want to do something I’ve never done before, I will feel fear.  Fear is healthy and has to be a companion on a purposeful journey.  

Fear is at the heart of living in the AND.

“It is not a matter of being fearless. The fear is sometimes constant, but it’s about moving forward regardless of the fear. Courage means feeling the fear and doing it anyway.”  – Gillian Anderson

You see a purposeful path requires courage.  It’s not easy to face fears.  It’s not easy learning how to live in the And.  It’s not easy to expect abundance when you’ve settled for mediocrity for so long.

But, the time has come.  Step into it with me.  Come join me and let’s live in the And.

I’ll end with this:  Do you want to know if you are the right path?

Start by listening to the song by Jana Stanfield, “What Would I Do if I Were Brave?”   When you listen to the song, ask yourself the question: “What would you do if you were brave?” If the answer is exactly what you’re doing right now…then it’s the best path.

“The ones who are crazy enough to think that they can change the world, are the ones who do.” — Steve Jobs