Imagine that you and I are going to a barbeque party at a friend’s house this afternoon. You pick me up at my house and as we drive away I turn to you and say, “I hope they have potato chips at the party!”
You look away from the road for a moment, to look at me to see if my face will help you to understand what I meant by that. “Uh…….Ok. Yeah. I like potato chips, too.”
Me: “No really! I hope they have some there.”
You: “Well. We’ll see!”
Shortly, we pull up to the curb in front of our friend’s house, get out of the car and ring the bell at the front door.
Me: “I hope they have some!”
Door opens. “Hello!” Greetings all around. As I shake hands and hug a few people, I’m looking around the entry way and living room for bowls. I’m not seeing any.
Me to You: “I’ll be back. I’m going to look in the kitchen.”
I walk into the kitchen, eyeing the counters, the top of the fridge. No chips. Lots of other stuff, no chips.
I ask the hostess, “Are there any potato chips?” “No, I didn’t get any, but I think Mark said they were bringing some. He’s out back with a bunch of the other men, managing the barbeque. Go ask him.”
“Thanks.”
I proceed outside to the back, wading through smoke. I see a veggie tray, but no potato chips. I come back inside and say to you, with tears in my eyes, “I wanna go home.”
You: “What’s wrong?”
Me: “I was really hoping that they’d have potato chips here. And they don’t. I never seem to get potato chips. It’s always been that way. I keep hoping that there will be some, and so often, there aren’t. I never get them.” I’m angry, disappointed, tearful and suppressing a sob.
Ridiculous story, right? If I want chips, it would make sense to BRING the chips.
And yet…how often have you heard yourself or someone else say:
- “I just don’t have passion for what I’m doing.”
- “I want to find something I really love.”
- “I’m just not inspired by……”
….or something to that effect?
We diminish and forget our own power. It’s there, just underneath the surface, right within reach: As soon as we’re willing to pick it up, to take it on, to embrace it.
- If I’m committed to passion, I can bring it.
- When I’m committed to love, I bring it.
- I bring inspiration with me.
What it takes is a willingness to let go of being upset, and to practice something new; a willingness to stop waiting for things to happen to me or be provided for me; a willingness to give up wishing and hoping (with apologies to Burt Bacharach and Dusty Springfield) and take on commitment and creation in life.
