I watched an interview with mega success Hollywood producer Tom Shadyac [Bruce Almighty, Liar Liar, Nutty Professor etc...) the other day. If you don't know about Tom's recent personal and professional journey take a few moments and research "I am". In a nutshell Tom traded in the excess (large homes, fancy cars, expensive possessions) for what he needed. Before you tune out and say "I'm not giving up my stuff", relax- you don't have to give up your stuff, but take a moment and see how this might help you to adjust your perspective.
Tom moved out of his gigantic Hollywood mansion and into a modest two bedroom modular home in Malibu. He refers to the redwood taking only what it needs in the interview and a lion killing one gazelle because one is what it needs. "We have a term for something in the body when it takes more than its share," Tom says in the documentary. "We call it cancer." As I listened to his perspective I thought about how it plays into adjusting our perspective about what our definition of "success" is and if we need to adjust our perspective.
Tom's philosophy revolves around three key points:
1. It is scientifically proven that the entire human race is connected.
2. It is human nature to be cooperative rather than competitive.
3. If you don't do what your heart wants you to do and follow your passion, it will destroy you.
I know that when my business failed, I lumped myself into that same category. It's a difficult leap to get from "my business failed" to "I'm successful" but not because it isn't realistic, but because our perspective is flawed. We derive our success from our profession. I think we sell ourselves short when we do that. I think that if we stopped defining ourselves by what we do and rather by who we are we would see ourselves and others in a very different light.
Today is Earth Day. Today is a great day to acknowledge how much bigger it all is and how it doesn't center around you. When we're down, we have a tendency to wallow (and sometimes it's warranted, I think there is a time for wallowing, but it's short lived) and make our situation much bigger then it should be. On this Earth Day, step outside of yourself and feel the connection to the human race, be cooperative rather than competitive and indulge a passion. Take your tumbler to Starbucks for the free coffee and connect with a human being either on the way or there in the shop. Cooperate with someone- if you're short on ideas consider these: open the door for someone; give up your parking space and let the mini van filled with kids being driven by the tired mom park in the primo space that you tracked down; buy someone a cup of coffee who didn't know that they needed to bring a tumbler to get the free coffee; deliver the free tree that Lowe's is giving out tomorrow to a day care center so the kids can plant it.
Adjust your perspective on success. Success is not driven by what we do or how much money we receive for doing it. Success is driven by who we are. Who are you going to be today? Happy Earth Day!
Beach walk
Leave your mark in the sand. Hear the sound of the surf. Feel the energy of the ocean. Bask in the warmth of sun. Live in the moment. YOU are a success!
These are wonderful ideas. My passion is children. We may not have thousands of dollars but we do have what we need and that makes us successful right?
ReplyDeleteSpeaking of human connection I was in the store and saw this old man trying to get a gallon of chocolate milk...it was on the top shelf and he was using the hook of his cane to get it to fall so he could have it. I started to step in but I stopped remembering the "male ego" when he got that gallon down I cheered for him. He looked up and grinned a toothless grin and said "Thank you...now that you cheered I will think of that every time I drink this milk!" That was a unique connection that I value.