The Trouble With Popular Quotations
Do the following popular quotations do more harm than good?
“I’ll follow the sun.”
“Follow your bliss.”
“Live in the moment.”
“Live your dreams.”
The trouble with popular quotations like these is that they don’t carry true meaning. While we might agree with them on some level, they don’t represent a cohesive strategy for winning life, which ultimately represent the meaning we bring to life. Popular quotations don’t represent a balanced approach to handling the many situations we encounter in life. They don’t represent a well-thought out approach to achieving our goals. They don’t have our destination in mind. They simply represent small moments that feel good temporarily.
Although life is temporary, we don’t get to a destination without planning. Planning is the detail forgotten in popular culture with the emphasis on a quick fix and immediate gratification. Advertisements aim to convince of the need for items that allegedly promise happiness and success. However, successful people don’t achieve without planning, dedication, and targeted effort.
Planning, dedication, and effort require focus. In order to have focus, you must first know where you are going. Hanging one’s intentions on popular quotations like following bliss, the sun or living in the moment doesn’t incorporate a destination other than happiness which is short-lived, temporary, and sets an individual up for a roller coaster of highs and lows as this person rides the current of the wind searching for the next updraft. A laser-like focus does not rely on feelings or opinions. Being focused is a product of commitment.
Determine what you are committed to and then you will develop the focus needed to achieve your goals.
What do YOU think? Do you agree that SOME quotations do more harm than good?