Friday, August 13, 2010

Brushing the cliché dust off Thoreau


I am reminded by a friend on Facebook of a quote from Henry David Thoreau: ‎”Go confidently in the direction of your dreams. Live the life you have imagined.”

This quote is hardly obscure; there’s a whole industry devoted to reproducing it on T-shirts, aprons, posters, bangles and fridge magnets. Maybe you have it on a coffee mug, as I do.

Thoreau’s words are brilliant practical advice for conscious living, but only if we can brush off the cliché dust that settles when something is quoted so often that it loses its punch.

So try this, right now, with the words in front of you. Say them out loud. Now make them your own, by saying something like, “I go confidently in the direction of my dreams. I am living the life I’ve imagined.”

Are you feeling some forward movement? It requires a next step. You now want to decide on one thing you’ll do today (or tonight) to act on what is now your living, personal affirmation that you are following your dreams (present tense) and you are living the life you've imagined. Don't be vague and for goodness sake, don't try to be spiritually correct. You'll do one thing to get a great life plan working. Could be as simple as filling that Thorea mug with another jolt of java to make sure you're wired for some fabulous problem-solving or creative effort - or some chamomile tea to make you sweet and mellow.

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