Surge through the Urge

As a new year begins, with it comes the opportunity to realize our full potential.  While many people will look to reinvent themselves, you might be far better off to simply settle into who you really are.

The world around us offers many lessons on life that we can all learn much from.  Nature offers us a bounty of examples on how to thrive, how to survive and how to flourish.  The answers are usually right in front of us; one simply needs to learn where to look.

One observation that I have always had of nature, animals in particular, is that I have often felt that in many ways they are the superior beings. They are never distracted with trying to decide what is good or bad for themselves.  They don’t waste time and effort in comparing themselves to others.

It is often said that animals do not have the capacity to reason, as such they simply follow their instincts and do what the universe tells them to do. Herein lies a great secret that many of us never truly take advantage of.

Benjamin Franklin was arguably one of the greatest statesmen our country ever produced.  He was an extremely accomplished man and was by all meaningful standards a very learned man. His wife had no formal education whatsoever. Absolutely nothing in terms of teaching, schooling or structured learning.

And yet, in his autobiography, Mr. Franklin states that throughout his life whenever he was presented with the most difficult decisions that would affect the greatest number of people, he always asked his wife’s opinion. More importantly, he often heeded her advice. His reasoning and logic for doing so was that as his wife had no formal education, so by default she had only her instincts to rely on. He goes on to explain that experience had taught him many times over that instinct tends to be the far better judge than does reasoning.

How many times in our personal and professional lives do we have a natural impulse to do something — and then for some unknown reason we withdraw into ourselves and not take that step?  Not reach out to that person we could easily help? Not make that connection with a person who could be incredibly helpful to us? Or not step up and present our thoughts and ideas in an open and compelling manner?

What is holding us back?

I am sure there are as many answers to that question as there are people on the planet. Two people in particular, who have found ways to “surge through the urge,” offer some worthwhile advice.

Mel Robbins is an American television host, author and motivational speaker. In her , How to Stop Screwing Yourself Over,^[4] she talks about how we often have natural impulses to take that next step, but our inclination is to retreat back into ourselves and not take that step.

She has developed her five-second rule, which simply states if you don’t turn that impulse into some type of action within five seconds, you will lose the opportunity.

One of my favorite people to follow on social media is Sir Richard Branson.  He, more than anyone else I can think of, lives this philosophy day in and day out and it has turned him into one of the richest and most successful people in history. He has a philosophy of sharing his knowledge and beliefs with the world for all to use.  The link below will provide access to his process of making and keeping resolutions.

As we venture forth into the new year, and yes into the unknown, let us not pull in the reins on our own success, but rather let’s give our horse his head, charge forward and let our talents improve the universe in which we live.  Winston Churchill was once quoted as saying something to the effect that somewhere around the age of 40, we stop caring so much about what other people think, and somewhere around the age of 60 we realize no one was paying any attention to us anyhow!

So, what are we waiting for? The day is ours for the taking; go for it!

Thoughts from Sir Richard Branson:

https://www.virgin.com/richard-branson/new-years-resolutions-making-lists