If a magic mirror was placed in front of you and you could only choose to do ONE thing, what would it be? During the last two years of the pandemic, many people have asked themselves this question, many have acted on it and some remain in a state of reflection, thinking about what they could be doing versus being present in the moment and being the best they can be at any given time. Dreamers always dream and this question is for the dreamer in all of us.
For some, asking what that one thing is can be perceived as threatening, as it stirs up many subconscious thoughts of being deserving of what we want, of actually being happy and enjoying what we do, and of being recognized and rewarded for our good work. Those nasty sabotaging little voices in our head creep up and try to distract us the closer we get to doing what we are meant to do. Fear is an ugly animal and does its best work when confronted with doubt or insecurity - the opposite of confidence and belief in ourselves. When this happens, try this simple exercise and do what my mother taught me - smile, take a breath and sing your favorite song. Positivity and the belief in yourself will come back. I promise.
For others, the ultimate gift is the opportunity to choose to do what we love, what motivates us, what causes us to feel complete, and to actually do it..
There is no greater place to appreciate people who work at their best performance than entertainment, sport, and speakers. Actors and athletes, in whatever discipline, (dancers, skaters, skiers, singers, musicians, performers, etc.) who love and live for their passion are transcended into a special place, a space where time just is, when they perform. It is visible to those observing. There is a look on the faces, an emotional connection within that permeates the moment and transcends them into a different place. This past month, I was affixed to the television watching the Olympics, sharing the enjoyment and pain of the athletes’ performances. I also attended the theater and felt the same connection. Think about it, when do you lose yourself in something you love, and don't tell me it is when you are working on excel charts.
When I was searching for my career path many years ago, I prayed and visualized something that would combine my theater and business experience. The hospitality industry found me after a brief temporary work assignment that led to an unexpected introduction to attend a trade show that changed my life forever. I was fortunate to find a career that I loved, that gave me the opportunity to affect people's lives, to bring people together and that immersed me in time. It was the one thing I wanted to do. Doing your one thing does not mean that you must aspire to notoriety. Your one thing is what makes you happy, content, and fulfilled. The most effective and impactful people are the mothers and fathers who have influenced their children to become their “one thing”.
Scores of books, articles, poems, and therapy sessions have been written and spent on the age old questions, “Why am I here? What am I meant to do? How can I do my part and contribute to the world?” I’m reminded of a Dolly Parton quote, “Find out who you are, and then be that on purpose.”
There is an expression, "compare and despair." We often find ourselves looking at others and wondering what it would be like to be an actor, Olympic athlete, race car driver, gardener, astronomer, writer, musician, artist, or speaker. Does it come from admiration, emulation or envy? The "others" make what they do look like fun, easy, and effortless. We don't know what their personal lives are, but I can assure you that they have problems and challenges just like all of us. They just choose to do what they love and follow their life path with gratitude and faith.
Embracing your “one thing” takes courage and being selfish at times. Courage to ‘change the things you can’ requires identifying and admitting to yourself who you are first. Performers, celebrities, and business leaders have to be selfish. Selfish in the sense of having boundaries and not being distracted along the way to becoming and doing their “one thing”. These people know their one thing will not only help them to be richer and more fulfilled, but will cascade and help others too.
When I was studying Yoga, I vividly remember the teacher telling us that whatever 'absorbs' your attention to the point where no distractions enter, is yoga. For the man in my life, this is golf. When Michael practices and plays golf, he is in the moment; immersed, engaged, and hyper-focused on his game. It is this concentration that makes time fleeting because he is doing what he enjoys and not letting distractions get in the way.
To do your one thing takes:
What's the “one thing” you would love to do? What makes you happy? What uses every bit of your spirit, soul, and brain? When you find that, embrace it, seize it, and become it. And then, I can watch you be in your moment and share in your happiness.
