Acorns of Aspiration

Have you ever considered the fact that all the genetic information to grow a giant tree is stored inside a tiny acorn? The blueprint, design and instructions necessary to create the towering oak are hidden within that little nut. They still require nutrients and resources to thrive, but the acorn intrinsically contains all the design and potential to become the oak tree.

However, very few acorns ever reach their potential. Some are eaten by forest creatures. Others never find suitable soil. Still others never receive the proper nutrients to grow and thrive. Some may sprout but then are trampled and die. Many of those sprouts will also not survive the harsh winters.

People are a lot like those acorns. We are all born with incredible potential, but many will never see what they are designed to accomplish or execute what they are capable of doing. Like the acorns, that potential is often devoured. Not by squirrels or forest animals, but by doubt and fear. Some potential is squandered in unsuitable, uninhabitable environments. In other scenarios, that potential is never properly nurtured and cared for – the necessary investments into the future are not made. Sometimes everything seems right and capabilities sprout and begin to shoot up, only to have the budding possibilities trampled by negativity and unbelief from passers-by. And of course, many times those germinating aspirations develop quickly when conditions are favorable, but then wither away during the harsh seasons of life, fraught with difficulties, setbacks and discomfort.

You have an advantage the little potential oak tree does not. The little acorn falls where it may and is helpless against the perils that may keep it from ever realizing what it was designed to be. You do not have to be imprisoned by the conditions in which you landed. That may be where you started, but you don’t have to stay there. You can fertilize and water your aspirations, nurturing them while you strive to create the right environment for them to grow. You can protect the tender shoot from being trampled and in the same way, fend off doubt and fear from consuming it. Now the winters, they are unavoidable. They will come, often unannounced. But when they do, allow the harshness of those seasons to drive your roots even deeper into the soil, strengthening your resolve and determination.

It’s your acorn, make sure it grows.

Comments

Toxic Humility

We have all seen false humility: the guy who tries to hide his arrogance with feigned modesty. It’s usually pretty obvious and always obnoxious. But there is also another variation of false humility out there: toxic humility. This is often displayed in self-deprecating talk and a lack of self-confidence, belittling or undermining one’s own talents and abilities. The danger in this kind of behavior is twofold: it is too often accepted as true humility and like a virus, it spreads doubt and disbelief. To clarify, it is not that the bearer of this toxic humility isn’t honest about his view of himself. That is the very issue: he absolutely believes he has little value or utility. He thinks downplaying his own worth is humility but I disagree. CS Lewis said it best when he wrote, “Humility is not thinking less of yourself, it's thinking about yourself less.” His point being, true humility is not an ever-present raincloud of self-doubt that follows you around. It’s a focus on

Primed for Progress

Just as some pumps need to be primed to work effectively, our lives need to be “primed” to flow efficiently. Good mornings and productive days don’t happen by accident, and by “priming” your day, you can set yourself up for better results. Does it mean you won’t have bad days? Of course not, but it’s making your day happen instead of just waiting for what happens. Once again, it’s a choice of being proactive rather than reactive. You will still have challenges and difficulties, but how you face those hurdles and respond to the struggles will be different with a primed mindset. I am sure there are many ways to prime your day and set the tone for the hours ahead, and what works for one won’t necessarily work for all. However, the process of creating a plan or a model of how things should unfold is a great place for anyone to start. Also, as I have mentioned before, how you actually start the morning is critical - the battle with the alarm clock is your first chance at victory for

Flower Among Thorns

About six or seven years ago, my wife was around three months pregnant as we eagerly anticipated the birth of another child. One night, as I lay sleeping, I had a dream that our baby was born. It was a beautiful little girl with thin, wispy hair and large, bright eyes punctuating her beautiful face. I held her proudly in my arms and stared down at this precious little creation. I carefully handed her off to her older brother, who was just a toddler himself, as he sat on the coach, arms outstretched, anxiously awaiting the chance to hold his baby sister. I helped him prop up a pillow underneath his little arms to help support my daughter and then stepped back to take in the amazing sight as he gazed down at her with both pride and amazement in his eyes. As I stood there watching them, the dream quickly faded. When I woke up, my eyes met the tearful glance of my wife. “I’m bleeding,” she said as she fought back the emotions, “I think I am miscarrying.” Those words sunk deeply i

Mindset Matters

Search This Blog