Attitude

In my experience of teaching people how to reach new heights, I’ve observed basically three types of people and they all take different approaches:

Passive Types tend to sit back and never leave life’s runway. Life happens to them; they do not actively pursue their own dreams and passions.

Active Types like to fly and can be motivated to leave the ground and take to the air. Some of them reach the clouds and go no higher. Others may reach the altitude of jets if they are strongly inspired and motivated.

Proactive Types take the controls and decide to soar higher and farther than anyone else. They are eager to ascend above the clouds, and even above the cruising altitude of jets. They seek the supersonic flight of the Concorde.

All of these types possess the same potential, but some are better at pushing past their FUD (fear, doubt and uncertainty) to create the lives they want. If you feel tentative, contemplating all the things that could go amiss as you embark on this new, values-based approach, ask yourself if worrying about “what ifs” is a good reason to ground your dreams? When I think about the energy we waste on worrying, I’m reminded of a story involving the famous Italian conductor Arturo Toscanini.

Once, shortly before a prestigious concert in front of a standing-room-only audience, a member of Toscanini’s orchestra approached the conductor in a state of heavy anxiety. “Maestro,” the musician said, “my instrument is not working properly. I can’t reach the note of E-flat. I’m beside myself with worry and the concert will begin in just a few minutes.”

Toscanini smiled and put his arm around the man’s shoulders. “My friend,” the maestro said, “do not worry about it. The note E-flat does not appear anywhere in the music you will be playing this evening.”

Excerpt from 'LifeManual' by Peter H. Thomas. www.lifemanual.com. Copyright 2005, 2006. All rights reserved.

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