I write this at 7am in a log cabin under two majestic tall pines in the redwood forests of northern California.
I came here from London this weekend to attend the wedding of one of our Modern Elder Academy cohort that came together and bonded tightly during our week in Baja only this past April.
When invited, in the words of yesterday’s post, I chose “Hell Yeah !” so here I am and wondrously majestic the entire experience has been.
As I sit here, awake before the whole house as I embrace my London body clock waking early I hear the birds chirping in an otherwise silent hillside garden.
This morning I consider the power of commitment and boldness and the magic it can bring.
In my life, I am currently choosing a context, a driver word, of “Experience”. The “Hell Yeah” decision-making process supports me in committing to new experiences.
Once one commits, it is amazing what happens.
In the context of leadership, I offer you to consider the resonance of these musings for you as a leader and decisions maker for yourself and for those who follow you.
So, thanks first to my friend Travis Carson for bringing to my consciousness this poem by Goethe on commitment, then a reminder of a succinct phrase from Coelho that flows from the Goethe.
Commitment
Until one is committed, there is hesitancy, the chance to draw back, always ineffectiveness.
Concerning acts of initiative (and creation) there is one elementary truth, the ignorance of which kills countless ideas and splendid plans: that the moment one definitely commits oneself then Providence moves too.
All sorts of things occur to help one that would never otherwise have occurred.
A whole stream of events issues from the decision, raising in one’s favour all manner of unforeseen incidents and meetings and material assistance which no man could have dreamt would have come his way.
Whatever you can do, or dream, you can begin it.
Boldness has genius, power and magic in it.
Begin it now.
~ Goethe
So, from that Goethe poem, I am reminded of my favourite quote from one of my favourite books, The Alchemist, by Coelho,
“To realize one’s destiny is a person’s only real obligation. All things are one. When you want something; all the universe conspires in helping you to achieve it.”
