Learning To Live Through Learning

"If you do follow your bliss you put yourself on a kind of track that has been there all the while, waiting for you, and the life that you ought to be living is the one you are living. When you can see that, you begin to meet people who are in your field of bliss, and they open doors to you. I say, follow your bliss and don't be afraid, and doors will open where you didn't know they were going to be." - Joseph Campbell

"Let us then, be up and doing. With a heart for any fate; Still achieving, still pursuing, Learn to labor and to wait." - Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

Before the first of the year I had no direction for my life. I didn't have any hopes for the future, and my dreams were stuffed into the back of my mind. I went to work, came home and went to sleep a few hours later. That was my life and I existed based on what life handed me and to this point I had nothing. A very uninspired life.

On the first of this year, that all began to change and little did I know that my decisions would take on a life of their own; and I'd get mine back. You see, I was approached by some friends about starting my own business through a network marketing company. At first I kinda laughed it off not wanting to get involved because I had spoken to others about these kinds of opportunities and they didn't feel right. Not that they are bad, it just wasn't for me. Or so I thought.

After about a week of being persued I agreed to talk to Tom Long, the representative in the company who signed them up. He would be the one that would tell me all about the business and would also be training me. I remember the conversation very well and its not often that I felt completely at ease with someone I didn't know on the phone (a hurdle that I would eventually work my way through) but talking to Tom was as if we were best of friends for years. I immediately had the feeling that something was different this time and before days end I decided that I was going to give it a shot. I took a leap of faith, and started a business.

A month passed, and then came the realization that this thing was far bigger than me. I didn't know what I was doing and I felt as if I was sinking--the experience begins.

I was ready to throw in the towel but Tom was there for me consistently. He talked me through many things and helped me to bounce back during the times that I was ready to give up. After about 3 months of investing more time in building myself up than my business Tom told me one day that I should be blogging. He said that all the emails that I had been sending him were proof positive that I was a passionate writer and that I should put it to use. With that advice Live Your Best Life was born.

In the beginning I didn't know what I was doing but as I began writing more and more I got a feel for the thoughts and ideas that I was passionate about. And because of the previous months, as well as the fact that I was going through some emotional growth spurts I began to write about my thoughts pertaining to personal growth.

I didn't recognize it at the time but as a result of my writing and the passion it brought me I was beginning to view life differently. I felt much more postitive about myself and I began seeking the experiences that once caused me to pull back. Tom often described me as 'Tim reborn' and would tell me about how he used my story when he talked to new people about the business.

Many phenominal experiences have happened in the past 8 months and now I am eager for new experiences. Writing this article made me recall the early years when I was young and so full of life. I wanted to try everything because I wanted to experience it all. It made me feel so alive and those years are hard to beat. Now I am happy to say, I want to experience life again, achieve my goals and the feeling of being alive thrills me.

We learn by doing but I also want to include the wonderful words of Longfellow "With a heart for any fate; Still achieving, still pursuing, Learn to labor and to wait" and Campbell "Follow your bliss."

As the days of our lives tick by we are conditioned to live a certain way and we tend to forget about discovering our passions. Following our bliss means persuing those experiences and lessons for which we are passionate and to do so with a heart that is glad for them. Prepared for the experiences that can also be harsh.

This is what I have learned--to once again live a passionate life and I thank God every day for that lesson. My bliss is in helping others to realize their own potential and so is my intent and dream.

Follow your bliss and do the things that bring you joy. Learn from them as you would from anything else becaue this is what joyful learning is all about. You only have one life; live it.

Related Articles:

How To Find Your Personally Relevant 'Why'
Passion For Signifigance
Are You Ready For A Journey?
George Leonard, Samurai And To Many Mind

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Tim Draayer is author of Live Your Best Life.

Comments

[Debra Estep]

Tom Long could see the diamond
in the rough and he refused
to give up until you could
see your own facets of brilliance !

I have to admit my eyes watered
and I had chill bumps reading
your post !!

Thank you for your inspirational
thoughts.

[Tim Draayer]

Debra - Tom is a great guy and everyone should have the kind of support that he's always afforded me. It put me in a place to be the lifelong learner that I now have become.

I'm glad that you enjoyed it.

[Call Cruncher]

Very inspirational post. I thank you for your hard work.

[Starbucker]

Tim, awesome and inspirational post. It's so critical to get a mentor like Tom to help you through those days of doubt. I too have gotten so much out of blogging - it's created a whole new world for me. I'm so glad you found your voice - it's indeed a pleasure to hear it and the passion now behind it. Keep the faith!

[toni]

Mahalo Tim for sharing your story of finding your Ho'ohana. Your words were inspirational for showing your courage to follow your passions and also a great tribute to your teacher/guide - Tom Long.

Being new to blogging myself, I appreciate knowing that there are others who are learning as I am. I look forward to seeing more of your postings.

[Tim Draayer]

Call Crusher, Starbucker and toni - Thanks to all of you and you're right, Terry. It really is critical to have a mentor. They can teach you many things and hold you up when the times are rough but as great as they might be, you still have to make the decision to either live and learn OR be swept away by life. I chose to walk a path of my choice and to assimilate the learning experiences into my life, that are of my choice. Not random. This is why so many people feel so low. They have not yet come the the realization that we create our own experiences. Learning new things is essential to remaining active and not settling into a sedontary existence. Its that activity that keeps us invigorated.

[Rosa Say]

Tim, I do believe that it is the combination of learning with an ever-positive outlook which proves to be our golden ticket to growth, and I would dare to guess that is what Tom Long’s encouragement helped do for you. When you think about it, it is possible to channel one’s learning into only the dark side of things, pulling people into smaller places. Luckily, not so in this, our Ho‘ohana Community! For in blessed contrast, there is something transformational about being an optimist which leads to growing our abundance and fueling our energies. Tim, optimism is a part of your character I’ve repeatedly sensed since getting to know you. It’s quite a strength and mark of self-discipline, grooming yourself to have that ever-forward thinking pervade your spirit and fortify your confidence and self-assurance.

And Tim, your writing gets better and better with each post you blog for us! Mentors are so important, and you are becoming one. I would venture to guess that you couldn’t say thank you to Mr. Long in any better way than that.