| If you are going to achieve what you have a passion | | | | people that we allow to run our lives. Years later, |
| for, you just may have to burn the boats. | | | | after we have spent our time doing things we did |
| Of course, this is a reference to explorer Hernan | | | | not enjoy, where are these people? Nowhere to be |
| Cortez. In the early 1500's he set sail for Mexico with | | | | found. And if we could find them and remind them |
| an army of 600 men. To keep the men from | | | | that they had encouraged us to do a certain thing I |
| retreating he gave the order to burn the boats. They | | | | guarantee you that they would not even remember |
| actually just beached the boats but the idea was | | | | having said any such thing. So what is the answer? |
| that they had to be successful or they would have | | | | Live your life doing the things that bring you |
| no way to get back to their homeland of Cuba. | | | | happiness and joy. Work at a job that you look |
| So like Cortez, we need to burn our boats in terms | | | | forward to doing. Forget about how much something |
| of situations that are not helping us achieve our goals. | | | | costs or something pays and live your life to the |
| Let me give some specific examples of how this can | | | | fullest. If you work towards joy the money will |
| work. | | | | follow. |
| You may be in a job that you no longer enjoy. Or it | | | | Observe small children and see how they understand |
| may be a relationship that has become unhealthy or | | | | this so well. They do not care about what others say |
| unloving. It might be that where you live is not in a | | | | and they do not judge others for what they do. |
| neighborhood or city that you want to live in forever. | | | | They live totally in the moment and enjoy each |
| How do you get from where you are to where you | | | | second. They breathe deeply, laugh heartily, and |
| want to be? The first step is to burn the boats? | | | | sleep soundly. It is only after we get older that we |
| But wait, you're thinking, do you mean that someone | | | | begin to worry about what they will think if we do |
| should quit their job, divorce their spouse, and put up | | | | not do something their way. |
| a for sale sign in the front yard of the family home? | | | | When you wake up in the morning see how you feel. |
| Not exactly...but close. Let me explain further. | | | | Your emotional guidance system will let you know if |
| Take your job, for example. Who says that you | | | | you are on the right path or not. If you feel good |
| must stay with a job that you have been in for | | | | you are moving towards a positive experience that |
| many years? If the job no longer brings you joy you | | | | will move you closer to where you want to be. If |
| must leave it behind. You are not doing anyone a | | | | you feel bad you are moving in the wrong direction. |
| favor by staying in a position that you do not want | | | | We call this intuition, but as we get older we tend to |
| to be working at anymore. Furthermore, there is | | | | discount these basic feelings that tell us what is right |
| someone else who would love to do your job. It is all | | | | for each of us as individuals. We are still concerned |
| in how you think about your life. | | | | with what other people will think. |
| We constantly worry about what "they" would think | | | | Forget them! Burn the boats and live each minute as |
| if we did or did not do a particular thing. Just who | | | | though it were your last. You will be happier and |
| exactly are they? They are the nameless, faceless | | | | others will be attracted to your natural joy and ease. |