Wealthy And Wise Today

"Aspen North of Mora NM" Photo by Linda ComptonThis past week friends were visiting from California. We went to the wonderful Salman Raspberry Ranch in historic La Cueva, NM then wound our way further north through Truchas and into Chimayo. The fall colors were breathtaking. The sky was a bright Robin's egg blue, the air crisp and the conversation delicious, as we shared memories and created new ones. 

Of the many aspects of life in New Mexico that I relish, one is that you can find just about anything you might want, being sold alongside the road: from green chili in season, to pinon, to firewood, to trees, to fruits and vegetables from local farms. This trip was no exception. High in the mountains, along the side of the road, just before the turn we were going to make onto Hwy 76, was a weathered man in a vintage pickup truck. The tailgate was down and the back was filled with shiny red apples piled high in wicker baskets. He smiled at us as we drove past. Something in me stirred. A few words were spoken between the front and back seats, a question posed, and a quick consensus reached. Just as we made our turn, we decided to turn around. Moments later we had exchanged warm greetings, and a $5.00 bill for a basket of juicy apples. When my friend asked where the apples were grown, that gentle, road-side entrepreneur smiled, raised his arm and pointed across the road to a weathered home and aged orchard. "Right there," he proudly exclaimed. "Seeds of Future Apples" Photo by Linda Compton

As I was enjoying one of those delicious apples on the beautiful drive toward home, I was reminded of a now favorite parable, which I first heard from John Jackson.  "Most people look at an apple and see its many seeds. A visionary leader looks at one seed and sees all the apples it holds." Now, that is an example of going beyond merely observing the obvious, to seeing that which is truly significant. 

This way of seeing is part gift and part skill, it seems to me. I don't think it comes easily if one is living a life that is harried, overly-full, or resembles being on a treadmill. Sometimes it is being in a rut or caught in a routine that saps all our energy. Given today's broken economy, and the many stresses assaulting people on a daily basis, I think this way of seeing can be quite rare. A lot of people seem caught in a kind of over-extended existence and can't see much beyond what is right in front of them. Just making it day to day, or paycheck to paycheck, takes most of their emotional strength.

In order to move beyond the obvious to the significant one needs a little breathing room, some psychic space, some space for creative seeing, expansive thinking. I believe this can occur when something captures our imagination, stirs our soul, or enlivens us. When something fresh is awakened in us we can begin to glimpse new options for our lives. It can happen when we catch a vision that something more is possible, something different just might be doable; and when - for a variety of reasons - business as usual finally becomes untenable. When we are jolted from our complacency in what is, to some, newfound conviction of what can be.

I have often said the most meaningful definition of despair is the feeling that nothing will ever change; that things will always be this way. Hope is believing the possibility that things might someday be different, that change is possible. 

This most recently happened in my professional life - when I realized that I no longer wanted to be "the boss" and I certainly didn't want to work for someone else, either. Even though I've had a very rewarding career in several leadership positions, I did not want to be confined to any type of traditional j-o-b again. And given the losses in my stock portfolio, this seriously limited my options. I had to do something - but what? It had to be meaningful, be helpful to others and offer new learning. Thankfully, I found what for me is the perfect solution at this stage of my life. And it confirmed once again my long-held belief that the Great Spirit utilizes every experience we have ever had to inform and empower our current work. I am utilizing all of my previous experiences and being stretched with learning new skill sets as well.

Sometimes our greatest spurts of growth can come from an experience that shakes the very foundation of our world. I have seen quite a bit of this recently, with friends and colleagues who have been "let go" - mostly through down-sizing or outsourcing. In Chinese, the word or "character" for crisis and opportunity is the same. What determines the meaning is the context. Robert Kiyosaki, in his new book, Rich Dad's Conspiracy of The Rich uses the famous Dickens quote, "It was the best of times, it was the worst of times; it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness" to describe the state of our economy right now. It is deeply troubled, even as it offers tremendous opportunities.

B"Early Snowstorm" Photo by Linda Comptoneyond being mere observers of the obvious to truly seeing that which is significant in our lives, our relationships, and our world. A particular crisis or opportunity might catch us unawares. How will we look at it? Will we see merely the seeds, or envision what each seed holds within it? 

I am reminded of a story that Barbara Stanny uses in her book, Prince Charming Isn't Coming - How Women Get Smart About Money. It is an endearing little tale about a snail who is climbing up a cherry tree in the midst of a snow storm. A squirrel peeks out of his shelter and sees the snail making his way up the tree. Curious, the squirrel asks, "Where are you going?" The snail replies, "To get some cherries." At this the squirrel exclaims, "But it's the middle of winter; there aren't any cherries up there!" As the little snail continues on, neither stopping nor slowing, he simply says, "There will be by the time I get there."

One of the surest ways to go beyond observing the obvious, to seeing that which is significant is to not be caught up in what is popular, but rather to always choose to embrace what is right. By looking beyond what catches the eye of the crowd, we can glimpse what is less apparent. More often than not the significant is more obscure rather than obvious, more subtle than blatant. We must look deeper, and imagine what is possible. Look for what isn't readily apparent on the surface, but is contained within.

By cutting out the extraneous minutia of our lives, letting go of things that are superficial rather than essential, not filling every moment with activity or stimulation, we are able to cultivate a deeper kind of consideration, develop a different way of seeing, and practice a truer appreciation for what surrounds us. What is obvious in your life and what is significant? Where do you really want to put your energies; how do you envision your future; what kind of lifestyle do you want to create? What kind of legacy do you want to have?

If you are feeling caught and can't seem to get unstuck, it might be time to move beyond merely doing the obvious, and make an effort to do that which is significant. Make a decision to do things differently, so that you can be different. It's not about doing more - it is about doing things differently. We have become human doings, yet we were created as human beings. As we begin to see and focus on that which is truly significant, we will not only see more, we will be more.