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Imagine Who You Could Be And Then Aim Single-mindedly At That
Rules for Life: Imagine Who You Could Be, And Then Aim Single-mindedly At That
By: Taylor Manes
‘How do you know who you are? After all, you are complex beyond your own understanding; more complex than anything else that exists, excepting other people; complex beyond belief. And your ignorance is further complicated by the intermingling of who you are with who you could be. You are not only something that is. You are something that is becoming – and the potential extent of that becoming also transcends your understanding. Everyone has the sense, I believe, that there is more to them than they have yet allowed to be realized. That potential is often obscured by poor health, misfortune, and the general tragedies and mishaps of life. But it can also be hidden by an unwillingness to take full advantage of the opportunities that life offers – abetted by regrettable errors of all sorts, including failures of discipline, faith, imagination, and commitment. Who are you? And, more importantly, who could you be, if you were everything you could conceivably be?
Each of us, when fortunate, is compelled forward by something that grips our attention – love of a person; a sport; a political, sociological, or economic problem, or a scientific question; a passion for art, literature, or drama – something that calls to us for reasons we can neither control nor understand (try to make yourself interested in something you just do not are about and see how well that works). The phenomena that grip us (phenomena: from the Greek word phainesthai, “to appear, or to be brought to light”) are like lamps along a dark path; they are part of the unconscious processes devoted to integrating and furthering the development of our spirits, the furtherance of our psychological development. You do not choose what interests you. It chooses you. Something manifests itself out of the darkness as compelling, as worth living for; following that, something moves us further down the road, to the next meaningful manifestation – and so it goes, as we continue to seek; develop, grow, and thrive. It is a perilous journey, but it is also the adventure of our lives. Think of pursuing someone you love; catch them or not, you change in the process. Think, as well, of the traveling you have done, or of the work you have undertaken, whether for pleasure or necessity. In all these cases you experience what is new. Sometimes that is painful; sometimes it is better than anything else that has ever happened to you. Either way, it is deeply informative. It is all part of the potential of the world, calling you into being, changing you forever – for better or worse – in consequence of your pursuit.’
What do you want to be when you grow up? A question posed to our young at least once per year, often more times as they encounter school subjects and progress through their education. Even in college, or worse a graduate degree, that question is often posed. What do I want to be/do when I grow up? It’s an important question. Your career will give you access to a professional network, it will pay your bills, it will allow you to move to new locations, it will give meaning to your life to some extent. But often times the reality is that your career is not something that makes you happy. So, the better question is, how do I become happy? Well, that’s not really a great question at all…happiness is subjective and often misplaced. The more eloquent and deeply cutting question is; how do I become content?
for we aim at what is honorable not only in the Lord’s sight but also in the sight of man. (2 Corinthians 8:21)
Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. I can do all things through him who strengthens me. (Philippians 4:11-13)
What is honorable? What deserves being labeled distinguished or illustrious, and what bears that description but also gives sense of purpose into one’s life? How do we attain a position so that we can say to ourselves, I have learned in whatever state I am in to be content?
That my friends is part of the aim we must have. Part of the aim Dr Peterson talks about above. We do not choose what interests us, it chooses us. God chose us first, and His word is a lamp unto our feet, a light to our path, a comfort in times of trouble, a shelter in the storm. ‘Each of us when fortunate is compelled forward by something that grips our attention’. Dr Peterson hits the nail on the head. What are we compelled by? Is it God’s will or our own? When we have aimed at the things we are interested in, what good has that done us? I’m sure in a lot of ways it has done great good and has put you in a position to be who you are today. But what would happen if you compel yourself to aim at what God wants for you? To strive to be in every way content. To live for Him and not for yourself. Should we aim at that goal and look to be more Christ-like; we will find meaning in life, we will find progression in our personal paths, we will find contentment that fills the void so often found in the soul.
Imagine who you could be, and then aim single-mindedly at that.
