That is the question to ask. It is not, what will provide for me? Or what gains me prestige? Or what can I accomplish? These are all limiting questions. How do you expand yourself…yes, you as a man or woman walking this earth for a finite period of time till dust reclaims you? Todd Skinner’s book, Beyond the Summit, is a must read on this topic. He talks about battling one of the fiercest storms while trying to climb an impossible mountain with three other climber. He talks about the difference of success and failure lies in thinking in terms of “what you want to be capable of and where you intend to go when the storm ends.” I agree with him. I agree with Skinner in that we should base our choices in life on “aspiration – who you want to become.”
“To become remarkable people, we must see the extraordinary in ourselves and pursue the paths that lead us further toward our potential.” Yes, yes, yes! And again, “So when you ask which is the better path to take on this day, consider what you stand to gain from each alternative.”
Inside, we wrestle with the courage of such choices. That is what defines us. You can never expand beyond the experiences you have chosen. They bring out and demand your best response. If they don’t, you stop growing and start atrophying.