Archives for January 2015
Fly Closer to The Sun
In his book The Icarus Deception, author Seth Godin sheds new light on the ancient Greek myth of Icarus and Daedalus.
The story goes that Daedalus created wings for himself and his son Icarus that were attached with wax. Daedalus warned Icarus not to fly too close to the sun, or the wax would melt.
Icarus became euphoric with the sensation of flying and did indeed fly too close to the sun. Sure enough, the wax melted, he tumbled into the Icarian Sea and died.
But what has been lost over the eons is that Daedalus also warned his son not to fly too low, or the sea water would ruin the lift of the fragile wings.
The admonition of not flying too high and not flying too low aligns with the Buddhist idea of “The Middle Way,” which is the path to liberation.
Although The Middle Way and balance are wise, mindful approaches life, I tend to believe that Icarus did the right thing by flying high.
If you fly too low, you are squandering life’s blessing.
If you fly in the middle, you may have a comfortable life, but you may also miss the adventure.
When you fly closer to the sun, while you risk melting the wax of your wings, you are also breathing rarified air.
You just might get a glimpse and a taste of Heaven.
Isn’t that worth the risk?
And shifting from Greek Mythology to Seventies Rock and Roll, this from Manfred Mann’s Blinded By The Light…
“Mama always told me not to look into the eyes of the sun… but Mama, that’s where the fun is.“
Your New Year’s Resolutions Will Fail
Your New Year’s Resolutions will fail.
Count on it.
Either today or tomorrow or in a few days, you’re toast.
At least if you are like vast majority of people who make resolutions.
Change isn’t easy.
Old habits die hard.
For some reason we’re wired to believe that Day One of the New Year is the ideal time to make a change.
And when we revert to our old ways we stay there for a long time.
But remember this…
The calendar doesn’t determine the new moment, the new day.
You do.
This is your life, this is your dance, this is your movie.
And every moment is the new moment.
Every moment is your opportunity to become the best version of you.
Your quest is heroic.
The epic battle is you versus you.
Will your higher self or your lower self prevail?
A lifetime of trends can be vanquished with your will, your heart, your faith and your refusal to play small.
So when your New Year’s Resolutions fail…
Forgive yourself.
Trust yourself.
Remember the Japanese proverb: “Fall down seven times, stand up eight.”
Stand up.
Dust yourself off.
And begin again.
This is the sacred moment.