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re you leading your life or is your life leading you? Oh, you thought you were leading your life? Don't feel bad. The majority of people think they are leading their life and they are in control of their destiny. However, in truth, "Life is what happens to you while we are trying to make your life happen!"
Most people believe that they are in control. They've emulated the famous line in Napoleon Hill's book, "Think and Grow Rich!" first published in 1937: "What the mind can conceive and believe, the mind can achieve." I once produced an audio learning album based on the Napoleon Hill concept that you can strategically identify and build the life you want to have.
In retrospect, I believe only part of this concept has any value. I have come to believe that you can achieve it, but that does not insure that the life your mind conceived will bring you meaning, fulfillment, joy and purpose. Just last week I was having lunch with a person who did achieve what he believed and has become very financially successful. He confirmed however, that there were many things missing in his life; things that he had given up to achieve what his mind conceived. Today, I am willing to admit that life leads us; we do not lead life! If we follow the pattern of what comes into our life and engage it at the deepest level, we will progressively achieve more of our full potential.
So where is life leading you? Thirty-six years ago I met my wife as the result of an employment ad I ran in the paper. I met Lynne at a time when I was not looking for a relationship. Now, after all of these years, I often think, "What if I had not run that ad?" We have had these wonderful years with four children and two new grandchildren; a world of experiences and a good life. So what about you? "What if?" Is there something that has come into your life that is leading you in its direction? Is it the direction you have planned? If you question this truth, take a blank piece of paper and draw a line down the center. On the left, make a list of all the things that came your way without your determination. Then on the right, list those that resulted from your own self-determination. Which list is longer? Which list has brought you more fulfillment?
It is important to realize that on each side of the page the items you listed do take some level of determination and a level of engagement. What in your life is leading you to your purpose, fulfillment, meaning and joy? Embrace it!
