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Don’t Die With Your Music Still In You
By Rita Rizzo
It seems we know a lot of folks who are waiting. Waiting for their lives to start. Some are waiting for their ship to come in, others until their children are grown, or their house is paid off, or their time comes to retire. Basically, they are waiting to do the things they really want to do with their lives until the time is right and the conditions are perfect. Isn't it sad to consider that the desired time may never come?
Brian Tracy speaks to this delaying tactic common to many of us when he states that "most people die with their music still in them". We get so busy attending to bringing the music out in others that we never tune in to our own song. We care for our children, spouses, friends and extended families, those at work and those in the community without taking the time to develop ourselves to full potential. We control our vague stirrings of dissatisfaction with our own lives by rationalizing that others need our attention more than we need to attend to ourselves.
Lou likes to compare life to a shopping trip to illustrate this point. Imagine that the whole of your life consists of one trip to the grocery market and then a meal to consume what you buy. At the close of the meal, your time on earth ends. You are in the market now filling your basket with everything you want for your big meal. Maybe you have selected steaks, russet potatoes, sour cream, butter, salad, your favorite dressing, a bottle of bubbly, a chocolate fudge cake and gourmet coffee. Just as you are about to check out you see one of your friends walking toward you. Quickly they talk you out of your selections siting cholesterol levels, sugar content, empty calories and tooth decay as reasons to rethink your purchases.
This conversation prompts a second trip through the store that results in the return of all your favorite items to the shelves to be replaced with the selections your friend feels are better for you. How do you feel as you cook your tofu turkey, spout salad with low-fat dressing, plain brown rice, near-beer and sugar-free Jello? Are you satisfied with the result of a life lived for others? Did you make your best choices while focused on winning the approval of others? Have you entertained the world with your song or are you just dancing to the tunes others put forth? Try these five tips to tap into your own music.
1. Make a list of 25 things you want to do before you die. Pick one thing off the list and make plans to do it within the next 30 days. Repeat this process quarterly throughout the year until all 25 items have been accomplished. Then make a new list.
2. Learn to say "no" when you would rather not help others or accept their invitations. Don't give an excuse, simply say, "Not this time, but thanks for thinking of me".
3. Think of one "good behavior" to reward yourself for every week, then exhibit the behavior and graciously accept your reward. You deserve it.
4. Do one thing you are afraid to do every month. Often fears keep us from tapping our potential. Fears are dissolved by success, so start tackling those scary things that keep you from being all you can be.
5. Strive to grow by 10% every single day by learning one new thing or trying one new behavior or activity that you have never attempted before. Put some adventure back in your life.
These five tips will work, but only if you actually use them. Remember that most tunes sound a little off key the first time you sing them, so don't give up too soon. With a little practice your music will come out right and provide the perfect melody for you to dance to throughout your life.
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© Rizzo & Associates LLC 2006
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