“You enter the forest at the darkest point, where there is no path. Where there is a way or a path, it is someone else’s path. You are not on your own path. If you follow someone else’s way, you are not going to realize your potential.”
~ Joseph Campbell
What path should you follow? How many of us have been stifled or made miserable because we followed a path to someone else’s dreams? The beauty of our world is the infinite possibilities that are out there. A child born into the world today can become whoever they want to be. Whoever they want to be. That is the key. If you are a parent, don’t stifle your child’s dreams. If you are young, don’t be afraid to dream. Your dreams might change, indeed they probably will, but your happiness is directly proportional to you doing what you want to do, rather than what other’s wish of you.
“When the soul of a man is
born in this country there
are nets flung at it to hold
it back from flight. You
talk to me of nationality,
language, religion. I shall try
to fly by those nets.”
~ James Joyce
Joyce speaks of the societal conventions that are thrust upon us at the time of out conception. Of course our parents want us to be a doctor, a lawyer, or some other professional. They want us to be happy and they equate happiness to money. The family becomes a dynastic line. Doctor begets doctor, lawyer begets lawyer, captain of industry… You get the picture. How many times have we heard of tragedy in this scenario, when junior doesn’t live up to senior’s expectations or talents? Better to throw whatever resources you have into helping junior achieve her dreams rather that trying to force her into yours.
“Follow your bliss.”
~ Joseph Campbell
Nothing is more important than love and happiness. Have you notice that happy, fulfilled people attract other happy people? It doesn’t matter what your profession is, it’s the joy that you take from it. As a parent, it is essential that you try now to guide too much. You child’s talents will reveal themselves in good time. If junior has a dream, make sure that he attacks it to the fullest. It is okay to fail, but it is not okay to give up without really trying. That will just result in a lazy child. The faux talents will fall by the wayside. If junior can’t play guitar, he’ll figure it out. He’ll find another dream and attack it to the fullest. The important thing is that he is chasing his happiness, and not the dreams that someone else has for him.
Until next time, brother t
The Tao Of Brother T 