Be Yourself and Let Other People Be Themselves

I’ve been reading Ayn Rand’s Atlas Shrugged: (Centennial Edition)Evidently Rand journaled extensively the characters, plot and messages she wanted to convey before she ever began writing a novel. At the beginning of this edition, they included several excerpts from Rand’s journal.

One passage stood out to me. At first I was taken aback.

It is proper for a creator to have an unlimited confidence in himself and his ability, to feel certain that he can get anything he wishes out of life, that he can accomplish anything he decides to accomplish, and that it’s up to him to do it. But here is what he must keep clearly in mind: it is true that a creator can accomplish anything he wishes — if he functions according to the nature of man, the universe and his own proper morality, that is, if he does not place his wish primarily within others and does not attempt or desire anything that is of a collective nature, anything that concerns others primarily or requires primarily the exercise of the will of others. (This would be an immoral desire or attempt, contrary to his nature as a creator.) If he attempts that, he is out of a creator’s province and in that of the collectivist and the second-hander.”

“Therefore he must never feel confident that he can do anything whatever to, by or through others. (He can’t — and he shouldn’t even wish to try it — and the mere attempt is improper.)”

What? But what about the power of synergy? Synergy may be one of the most central themes of my life, and thus I initially recoiled at her theory. Yet, as I continued reading, I began to better understand her reasoning and found myself agreeing:

He must not think that he can … somehow transfer his energy and his intelligence to them and make them fit for his purposes in that way. He must face other men as they are, recognizing them as essentially independent entities, by nature, and beyond his primary influence; he must deal with them only on his own, independent terms, deal with such as he judges can fit his purpose or live up to his standards (by themselves and of their own will, independently of him) and expect nothing from others…”

I’ve known many a creative (including myself) who were married to people of the opposite personality type who were not the least bit interested in their ideas and could not fully grasp the logic behind their dreams. In fact a friend wrote me within 12 hours after I read this passage to say that she’d finally given up on getting her husband to come around to “supporting her” in her mission. She felt she’d put her own dreams on hold waiting for him to catch up for far too long.

Her husband does love her and support her monetarily, but he’s not ecstatic about her ideas and doesn’t really “get” where she’s coming from. He doesn’t oppose her, but he’s not interested either. I think it’s important to look at our definitions of support. Does someone have to “get you” to be a support to you?

My own husband has only read one of my 21 books and that was a historical fiction novel. He doesn’t get excited about my ideas. He doesn’t get the core of what drives my passions. For a long time, I found this very frustrating. How could he even know me (or truly love me) if he doesn’t get excited about my core passion in life?

But then, I began to understand what Ayn Rand describes in that last paragraph — if we wish to be free to be ourselves, we must respect other people’s freedom to be themselves.

If I waited for my husband to get excited about my projects, read all my books, or advocate for my cause, I’d never do anything. You are responsible for your own life and your own message. Other people are responsible for theirs.

couple coming from different directionsYou can be with a spouse who doesn’t get excited about what excites you. I came to understand that the limitation was only in my mind. You are free to be you. You don’t need a specific person to get you. God will bring people to you (and is bringing people to you) who do get you. When I let go of expecting my husband to be who I wanted him to be, I was able to see how he DOES support me in a myriad of ways. One being, never complaining about me spreading my wings and doing my own thing.

Bottom line, I’m learning that if I want the freedom to be me, then I must allow others the freedom to be themselves … even if (in my view) they use their freedom to choose bondage.

7 Ways to Create a World-Changing Movement

Listen to this message:

 

Or read it below:

 

Do you consider yourself a thought leader or light bearer? If so, would you like to know the secret to creating a movement around your cause or message?

• Imagine 15-20% of the U.S. population loving your ideas. • People love them so much, they turn up by the thousands wherever you go, just to hear you share your message one more time. • When you need money to better educate the world, all you have to do is say the word and within a week or less, people have sent you millions of dollars to get it done. • You know you can’t spread your message alone, but no worries, your followers are advocates. They willingly volunteer their time, money and energy to spread your message to their friends. They even get online and make videos and create blogs to talk about you and your message. • They show up when you need them to. They volunteer because your message is so important to them, they can’t sit still. • When the world calls you crazy, your supporters go to bat for you, taking action in proactive ways. • You and your message aren’t a passing fad. People follow you year after year in ever-growing numbers.

How is this possible, you ask? It must be a stroke of luck. In my opinion there is no such thing as luck. Luck is when preparation meets opportunity. Much of it is about being at the right time at the right place with the right message. But there’s more to it than that, and there’s much we can learn about creating a movement by dissecting one in progress.

That’s what I intend to do here. You don’t have to agree with the person I use as the example. You don’t have to support him, his movement, or believe in his cause in order to dissect what is working.

The person I speak of has very little charisma or ability to speak eloquently, yet he has made quite a stir with an avid following. It’s true. You don’t have to be a savvy speaker oozing charisma to create a movement! Isn’t that a relief?

Movements are compelling and newsworthy and any compelling story addresses 6 main elements — who, what, why, when, where, and how. I’ll add one more as a bonus. So let’s look at these 7 characteristics of a movement. As we do, think about your own message and your own character traits. How many of these do you possess? In which areas do you need a little work?

integrity, congruityWho: Do You Have Integrity and Engender Trust?

The Who is Dr. Ron Paul, OBGYN, Congressman from Texas, and presidential candidate. This is a man who has preached the same message for over thirty years. He’s in his 70′s. He stammers around delivering his message. He stumbles over his words. He preaches his message in a way many might say sounds like a broken record. He’s accused of being dangerous, an idealist and a dreamer.

But there is an important take-away here. Ron Paul lives in complete alignment, in utter congruity with his message. You know what you’re getting. He practices what he preaches even when it’s not popular. He says the same thing to every crowd — even when they boo him. His message never wavers and his voting record never varies.

There is a sense there will be no surprises with this man. You know what you’re getting and you can take his integrity to the bank.

Ask yourself, “How congruent am I with my message?” Are you consistently dependable in word and action? Is your name and reputation synonymous with your message? Do you live it vertically, horizontally and diagonally?

What: Is Your Name Synonymous with One Compelling Message?

What is Dr. Paul’s message? In one word “Liberty.” Specifically, liberty in strictly following the U.S. Constitution. His is a clarion call to return to a 224-year-old document. This is a document with a track-record for creating the greatest free nation in history. When it was followed strictly, it fostered freedom. When the nation veered from it, freedom diminished.

That is Ron Paul’s message. It doesn’t matter if he personally believes in a social agenda, if the U.S. Constitution does not give the Federal government the right to rule upon or make laws about it, then Ron Paul votes against it. He’ll tell you it needs to be handled at an individual, state or local level. It’s not a federal matter.

What is your message? Can you relay it as succinctly as “Liberty” or “Go back to the U.S. Constitution?” Or does it take 5-10 minutes to explain? Do you stand by your message no matter what the personal cost?

Why Do You Do What You Do?

On more than one occasion Ron Paul’s declared, “I don’t want to run your life. I don’t know how to run your life. I don’t have the authority to run your life. And the Constitution doesn’t permit me to run your life.” Another time I’ve heard him say concerning the oval office, “I just don’t sit around daydreaming about it, but I’m in the race and I’m in a good race.”

You get the feeling this man cares nothing for power or gain. He lives in a modest rancher-style home that looks like the one my parents purchased in the late 60′s.

So why does Ron Paul do what he does? He could be retired, puttering around in his garden or playing with his grandchildren. Why does he extend himself in what many feel is a hopeless cause? Because he cares about his country and the people in it. He loves liberty, and he wants every American to bask in it. He feels compelled to educate.

How self-serving is your message? Is it all about you and you making money? Or is it about making the world a better place and leaving a legacy? Dig down deep. What are your motives? Are they power and gain? If they are, you might be able to fool yourself, but you won’t fool others for long.

When Should People Act On Your Message?

Timing is everything. And in this instance, the time is now. There is a sense of urgency to Ron Paul’s message. The country is on the brink of another war, impending monetary collapse. Unemployment is rising and people are looking outside the box for a solution that hasn’t been provided by politicians in recent history.

There’s also a sense that this isn’t about a single election. This is a man who sees himself as a teacher, developing a movement. The youth find him enthralling. College campuses overflow when he arrives. Military personnel donate more to his campaign than they do to all the other candidates combined.

Ron Paul is encouraged by this youthful exuberance because it means that even if the adults who embrace the status quo will not accept the message, the rising generation is embracing it and are avid supporters. If the adults let America collapse, the rising generation will know what document to return to when it’s time to rebuild.

Are you creating a sense of urgency around your message? Are you helping people see what will happen if they don’t take action? Are you in this for the long-haul, and do you have a long-term vision?

Where Is Your Message Applied?

The where is America. Ron Paul’s clarion call is to concentrate on our own problems and stop fighting other people’s wars or meddling in other country’s affairs. His message is to focus on protecting our own borders, build our own nation, fix our own economic problems, support our own liberty and let other countries do the same for theirs. As Washington and Jefferson suggested, “peace, commerce, and honest friendship with all nations, entangling alliances with none.”

What’s your “where?” Is your message applicable on a regional, national or global level?

How Will You Execute Your Plan?

The “how” is the U.S. Constitution. Return to it, strictly follow it. Dr. Paul also has a plan to cut 1 trillion dollars from the budget in the first year in office. This plan as well as the short U.S. Constitution are downloadable on-line for anyone’s review.

Do you have a plan? Is it documented? How easy is it for people to find it, study and learn about it?

Notice how simple the message is — “liberty.” Notice how simple the method is – “strictly follow the U.S. Constitution and the Founder’s interpretation of it.” The message is simple. Applying it seems complex, primarily because there is so much re-education required. That complexity is what makes many say he’s crazy, a dreamer or downright dangerous.

All of this plays into the success of his movement. When a large segment of the population (or the media) calls you crazy, dangerous or a dreamer, there is another segment of the population who will rally to your cause — especially if you’re conveying a message that strikes at the heart of the deepest craving of their hearts.

Who doesn’t want to be free? Who wants to have someone telling them every move to make? The quest for freedom is older than time itself.

How compelling and relevant is your message? Does it address a primary need of every human heart?

The freedom message strikes at the heart of every enlightened being. When that message is delivered in congruity and opposed by forces that seem bigger and stronger, there are always those who rally around to defend and support.

That brings us to bonus characteristic number 7.

Bonus: Is There Opposition?

The opposition is as important as the hero. Who would Harry Potter be without Voldemort? Who would Dorothy be without the wicked witch? Who would Superman be without Lex Luthor? Who would Colonel Doolittle and his fly-boys be without Japan? A hero is only as strong as his adversary. In our example, you have Ron Paul on one side and the establishment, the media and the status quo on the other. That’s some heavy hitting opposition which lends itself to the creation of a heavy-hitter hero.

Is there opposition to your message? Are there those who would say you’re crazy or that your plan is impossible? Sometimes the opposition is within ourselves or our own families. It can even be nature itself. If you’re not bumping up against some form of opposition, you’re not being bold enough. How can you make your message clearer, bolder, stronger and more consistent? You don’t need to intentionally seek to offend, but if there is no opposition, most likely there’s nothing rallying about your message.

In summary, ask yourself how you can live in 100% congruity with your message. Until you do and have a good start on these other characteristics, your quest to change the world and create a movement will most likely remain elusive.

Leverage Your Creative Cycle to Work for You

leverage your creative cycleHave you ever felt disgusted with yourself when you didn’t run with a big idea fast enough and a few months later saw someone else turn the same idea into a screaming success?

Have you experienced the exhilaration of a new idea only to have your zest for it wane when it came time to implement all the details to make it happen?

It doesn’t have to be this way. You can take your brilliant ideas to income when you’re able to understand your creative cycle and work with it instead of fighting against it.

I’m passionate about helping inspired creatives like you impact the world. That’s why I’ve put together a resource especially for inspired creatives called “Leverage Your Creative Cycle to Make More Money, Get More Done and Follow Your Bliss.”

If you’re ready to take your ideas to income and tap into the potential lying within your creative genius, this is for you.

Break Through to Financial Freedom

You’re ready to make a difference, to leave a legacy, but what if finances are getting in the way? Frankly, it does take money to make things happen in this world. Even Mother Theresa had access to money through those who believed in what she was doing.

You’re probably familiar with the Law of Attraction by now. Perhaps you saw “The Secret.” The idea behind the Law of Attraction is that whatever you firmly believe in your subconscious mind affects your energy and the choices you make. The frequency at which your energy is vibrating and the actions you take in consequence determine your outcomes and draw to you things, people and circumstances that resonate.

Most of us have things going on at a subconscious level that we don’t even realize. For example, if we grew up in homes where our parents were in debt, we may have a subconscious belief that debt is a part of life. Because we resonate with this belief, we act in ways that support that and draw to us the circumstances that affirm it as “truth.” It isn’t ultimate truth, but it may as well be truth for us.

With traditional Law of Attraction, you change your outcomes by reprogramming your subconscious mind. You feed it tons of positive affirmations and visualizations until it sinks down and starts adjusting your beliefs (and your energetic vibration).

In our financial example, we might repeat affirmations like:

  • I am financially free.
  • I pay cash for everything I buy.

We might visualize ourselves paying cash for a car or a house.

It takes a great deal of determination, will-power and thought-control to keep re-affirming and visualizing these things — especially if we have debt collectors calling.

What if you could bypass the subconscious mind and get right down to the frequency of the energy you’re vibrating? What if you could flip a switch and resonate at the frequency of financial abundance? What if you could instantly release false beliefs about money that have been hanging you up for years? It makes sense that positive results would show up faster – right?

What if I told you this is possible? Does that pique your curiosity? I know it did mine! Your scarcity beliefs can be removed and you can resonate at the frequency of abundance without spending months or even years repeating affirmations and visualizations. They can be transformed in less than an hour!

Imagine it! All the old generational programs passed down through cellular memories could also be removed. Find out how at Raise Your Abundance Quotient here.

Creativity and Inspiration from the Desert Rose Labyrinth in Kayenta, UT

Desert Rose Labyrinth in Kayenta UT

Desert Rose Labyrinth in Kayenta UT

Back in 2009, I had the opportunity to visit Kayenta, Utah and go through the Desert Rose Labyrinth. My friend Judy Hansen took me there and it was a wonderful, enlightening experience. The Desert Rose Labyrinth is a replica of the one in Chartres, France.

Each of us took a turn going through the labyrinth and then we sat down and discussed our insights. Since we were working on a project together at the time, it was very intriguing to see how the labyrinth opened up our creativity in different ways, yet our insights dovetailed together perfectly.

If you ever get a chance to go through a labyrinth, do it! It will expand your creativity and your capacity for inspiration.

Here are a few photos from our trip.

Desert Rose Labyrinth, Kayenta, UT

Desert Rose Labyrinth, Kayenta, UT

Opening Those Doors of Opportunity

Helen, Georgia German Mountain VillageMy husband and I were walking down the street in Helen, Georgia at about 10am on a Saturday in February. We noticed a lot of the shops were closed. Evidently they don’t open until eleven in the winter. After seeing a few closed shops, my husband stopped checking the doors. He began to assume that everything was closed. I, on the other hand, knew that some of them were open, so I tried every door handle. Several of the shops that he assumed were closed were actually open once I tried the knob. As we strolled along, me checking doors, we ended up passing the hour in some interesting shops instead of sitting somewhere “killing time,” waiting for things to open.

It struck me that many of us run our businesses like we’re strolling through Helen at 10am. We make lots of assumptions, many of which are false. We assume that no one wants to hear what we have to say. We assume it’s going to be hard to get business. We assume that doors of opportunity are locked to us. While some may be, there are many that are open. Simply reaching out and trying the knob could be all it takes to walk into a treasure trove of possibilities for you and your business.

But if you keep working off assumptions that things are difficult, impossible or closed to you, you’ll never find the treasure in your business. Rewards go to those who go the distance. Are you willing to go the distance? Are you willing to do whatever it takes to succeed? Or do you simply go through the gyrations of pretending to “shop for success” when you aren’t willing to walk over, lift your arm and turn the knob?

Sometimes it’s just that simple…

National Survey Reveals Genders DRASTICALLY Clash Over How They Would Spend More Free Time

I got a chuckle out of this press release that was sent to me today…

Men head to the bedroom for fun, women for sleep!

(February 22, 2012) – The bedroom is the first place both men and women would go if they had more free time in a day. The catch – men go there for sex, women for sleep!

In a survey, Great Clips, the first ever hair salon brand to introduce time saving online check-in, asked 316 Americans how they would spend 15 minutes of more time in a day. (15 minutes is important to Great Clips because Online Check-in has trimmed average haircut wait times by 15 minutes to five minutes or less, giving customers 15 more minutes of time in a day.)

1.  Survey recipients were given a list of options and asked to choose what they would do with 15 minutes of extra time in a day.

THE #1 CHOICE FOR MOST WOMEN IS SLEEP (Ranked #1 by nearly 1 in 4 women, 24%)

 

  • Most Often Ranked in The Top 5 were Sleep, Clean (organizing closets, dust baseboards, mop floors), Read, Watch TV and Exercise.
  • Have Sex was lower on the list after Sit There and Do Nothing with No Disturbances and Cook.

 

THE #1 CHOICE FOR MOST MEN IS HAVE SEX (Ranked #1 by 28% of men)

 

  • Most Often Ranked in the Top 5 were Have Sex, Sleep, Listen to Music, Exercise, Sit There and Do Nothing with No Disturbances

 

2.    When survey recipients were given a list and asked to rank the 3 most annoying time wasters of their spouses/significant others:

 

THE #1 CHOICE FOR WOMEN as the most annoying time waster of their spouse/significant other is PLAY VIDEO GAMES

 

Most often Ranked as the Top Choice is Play Video Games, Work Too Much and Do Nothing (Tie) and Zone in front of the TV

 

THE #1 CHOICE FOR MEN as the most annoying time waster of their spouse/significant other is PRIMP AND GET READY   

 

Most often Ranked as the Top Choice is Primp and Get Ready, Complain/Whine/Stress, and Stare at a Closet Full of Clothes and Whine “I have nothing to wear.”

 

3.  When Both Men and Women were asked to rank the Most Annoying Time Waster in Your Own Life?

 

Most often ranked as the Top Choices:

#1) Being Placed on Hold #2) Waiting In Line #3) Traffic

 

4.  When both men and women were asked What Do You Want More of? and asked to pick one from Time, Money, Sleep, Exercise and Sex:

 

Respondents Chose:

#1) Money (70%) #2) Time (13%) #3) Sleep (9%) #4) Exercise (8%) #5) Sex (0%) NONE CHOSE SEX (0%)

“In all our research, in focus group after focus group, we heard that today’s busy families are stressed out, exhausted and short on time – and today time is money,” says Rhoda Olsen, CEO of Great Clips. “We had to figure out a way to cut wait times and give our customers more free time to have fun and do the things they love to do. Online check-in allows people to check in from their desks or from their smart phones so when they get to the salon they have little or no wait and have more time.”

Other survey findings:

  • 87% of respondents say they would use a technology that kept them from waiting in lines at retail stores if it saved them 15 minutes waiting for an appointment.
  • When a retail business makes them wait more than 15 minutes:
  • 63% say it shows bad customer service and a lack of respect for their time
  • 52% of respondents say they don’t go back and take their business elsewhere
  • 48% say they assume the business is poorly managed
  • Only 19% say they get annoyed with the people in line with them.
  • 9 out of 10 respondents (93%) said a reasonable amount of time to wait at a retail business is 5 – 10 minutes or less.
  • 2 out of 3 respondents say they would use a check-in or download app that saved their place in line at a retail business.

 

*This online survey was done by a third party, commissioned by Great Clips Online Check- In. *The survey included 316 respondents, 172 female and 144 male (ages 30 -55). Full survey data available upon request.

 

About Great Clips’ Online Check-In Great Clips’ Online Check-In feature is powered by ICS Net Check In™, a patent-pending, internet-based technology platform developed by Innovative Computer Software. Online Check-in allows customers to remotely log in from a computer or smart phone and view the estimated wait time at surrounding salons. Consumers can click the “check in” icon to add their name to the list at the Great Clips salon of their choice, and by the time they arrive they are likely next or almost next in line – saving precious time they might have spent waiting in the lobby for their haircut.

Great Clips, Inc. was established in 1982 in Minneapolis.  Today, Great Clips has nearly 3,000 salons throughout the United States and Canada, making it the world’s largest salon brand. Great Clips salons employ nearly 25,000 stylists who receive ongoing training to learn advanced skills and the latest trends. Make Great Clips your choice for value-priced, high-quality hair care for men, women and children. No appointments needed, and salons are open nights and weekends. For more information about Great Clips, Inc. or to find a location near you, visit www.greatclips.com.

What You See in Others Lies Within You

Over the weekend, I created a list of the people who have made an impact on my life. These are people that I resonate with, who have taught me valuable truths, who have inspired me, and taught me to love. I came up with a list of 20 individuals, six of whom are my own children.

Then, I wrote down next to each person what I love about them, what inspires me about them. As I did this, I began to see a pattern. Right off the bat, I saw a common theme of liberty. Each has taught me about some aspect of freedom:

- Freedom to Create - Freedom to Change/break free of bondage - Owning Your Own Power and Respecting Other People’s Right to Own Theirs - Freedom of Expression - Freedom to Love without Limits

Over the course of four days I studied the common characteristics and threads in these people even more and discovered what they symbolize to me.

As I did this, I received

- A deeper understanding of who I am and what my own message is. What we see and admire in others, is what exists in ourselves.

- A clearer description of the typical person I’m passionate about serving.

light bearersHere’s what I uncovered about both who I am and who I serve. I call it being a Light Bearer.

Who We Are

• Courageous creatives who choose to be conduits of charity (aka pure love). • Leaders who stand for life, liberty, learning, love and beauty.

Definition of Light Bearers

Wise, intuitive, synergistic Inspired Creatives who are grounded in truth. They courageously lead the rising generation and lifelong learners. With love, beauty and respect for others, they light the way for people who are ready to break free of bondage into ultimate freedom (whether the bondage is of their own making, generational, or imposed upon them by others).

Going forward I will be focusing more on being a courageous light bearer and working synergistically with my fellow light bearers.

My Challenge to You

Try this exercise for yourself. Write down the names of the people you admire most, who have impacted your life. You don’t even have to know them personally. Then write next to their names what you love most about them, what you admire.

Then look for the common threads and themes. I put my people’s photos in columns and rows and rearranged them until I started to see commonalities. For example, my matrix has five rows.

- Row 1: Courageous advocates of truth. - Row 2: Inspired creatives who think outside the box. - Row 3: These people have taught me about respecting other people’s freedom to choose and how to help people without encroaching upon their agency. - Row 4: Lifelong learners who express themselves in beautiful, creative ways, particularly through music. - Row 5: I fondly call these folks, “glowing balls of love.” Their love seems to have no limits and others are drawn to them because of it.

There are other common threads going down the columns or even across the rows. The more I look at my matrix, the more insights I gain about the people I love to serve and who I long to be. Using the words and attributes I discovered from the matrix, I composed my definition of Light Bearers.

Give it a try! It’s a fun, enlightening experience. Please share with me what you discover about yourself!

Exploring Life with Childlike Wonder

I’m sitting on the balcony in an Orlando resort, overlooking the golf course. The sun is shining, the sky is blue, and the temperature is perfect. Three men are putting on the green and then move on to the next hole. Entering the course behind them are two small boys. They run across the golf course and explore the terrain. They tumble to the ground and roll, eager to experience a great big world. They run to a sand trap and skip across it to the other side.

Uninhibited they explore the course as fast as their little legs can carry them. One minute they’re racing a golf cart and the next they’re picking their way through the rough. Full of energy and life, their arms swing as they climb a hill, then plop to the ground rolling. Free, limitless.

In and out of sand traps that hold no meaning for them, but fun sand boxes. The golfers would see these traps as negative, a deterrent, something to keep them from winning the game. But the boys don’t interpret them that way. Quite the reverse. The boys are outside the game. Beyond the confines and limits of the man-made rules. For them, the green isn’t reverenced. The traps aren’t pitfalls and the rough is a fun place to explore.

Perspective is everything, isn’t it? What if all the rules and limits I place on myself meant no more to me than rough and traps to a 10-year-old boy oblivious to the game of golf? What joy, elation and energy might burst forth for me if I set aside my inhibitions and preconceived notions about the man-made rules of life and business?

From this perspective might I see challenges not as adversity, but as fun places to explore?

These boys simply are. There’s no grand objective, no pressing goal. Happiness and exploration are their objectives. They do no harm to others in this pursuit, but with childlike wonder and innocence, they embrace the world. Grateful, giddy to be alive.

Is this why Jesus admonished us to be like little children? Inquisitive, open, teachable, unburdened by men’s perceptions?

Are Humans Any Smarter than Monkeys?

I ran across this story in an article by Spencer W. Kimball and thought it compelling:

“I am reminded of an article I read some years ago about a group of men who had gone to the jungles to capture monkeys. They tried a number of different things to catch the monkeys, including nets. But finding that the nets could injure such small creatures, they finally came upon an ingenious solution. They built a large number of small boxes, and in the top of each, they bored a hole just large enough for a monkey to get his hand into. They then set these boxes out under the trees and in each one they put a nut that the monkeys were particularly fond of.

When the men left, the monkeys began to come down from the trees and examine the boxes. Finding that there were nuts to be had, they reached into the boxes to get them. But when a monkey would try to withdraw his hand with the nut, he could not get his hand out of the box because his little fist, with the nut inside, was now too large.

At about this time, the men would come out of the underbrush and converge on the monkeys. And here is the curious thing: When the monkeys saw the men coming, they would shriek and scramble about with the thought of escaping; but as easy as it would have been, they would not let go of the nut so that they could withdraw their hands from the boxes and thus escape. The men captured them easily.”

It made me think. What objects, old beliefs, habit patterns, or aspirations am I holding onto that I should release in order to maintain my freedom? What do I focus on so much I put my freedom in jeopardy? Ever thought about that?

* Spencer W. Kimball, “The False Gods We Worship,” August 1977 Enisgn

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