Most of the peoples of the world are followers. I’m not saying this as a criticism nor a judgement, it’s just an observable fact.
I think a lot of people live in fantasy worlds of their own making, wanting to build something, propping up the status quo by believing they’re oh so virtuous and original, day dreaming about a life they will probably never live.
Harsh, Martin! Harsh. Okay.
You may want to build but are you captain of your own ship, creating a culture and a fresh vision of how the world, even in a small way, could be better?
It’s really important to dig deep in yourself and ask what truly motivates you.
I’ve been through peaks and troughs, highs and lows, periods of great productivity and times I’ve needed to cocoon myself and get crazy amounts of sleep – I sometimes laugh at myself because I am turning 43 in a matter of days and I still feel like a teenager. I think it’s quite a common thing to feel lesser than your years. Ask most and they’ll tell you they still think and feel like they’re young.
I believe being captain of your own ship means a couple of things.
One, that you’re the one in control, responsible for making the decisions, whether minor or major.
Two, that you embrace the adventure – and certainly this, for me, means that you learn to have fun with it, no matter what’s happening. Seeing everything as a gift that propels you forward and a sign that you’re resilient as fuck. Unstoppable. This is a word that echoes in my head frequently. I try to be as determined as I can be, as much of the time as possible. Not always easy and it’s not 100% of the time.
In one way or another, we’re always navigating through some kind of uncertainty, stormy waters, feeling directionless, lacking purpose. But it passes. The realities of life are never quite as bad as you contemplate them in your mind’s eye.
Laugh your way through, find the joy wherever and whenever you are. Keep on keeping on.