I went hiking in the Himalayan Mountains once. It was amazing! The views were gorgeous and at the peak of each mountain, I could see for miles. I recall the grass seemed greener than I had ever seen it. The blue sky above was expansive and unlimited. And the mountains reflected amazing warmth of red and orange hues as the sunset in the distance. With each breath, I felt the crisp clean air fill my lungs and I immediately felt refreshed, free, and perfectly as peace.
As if an alarm sounded in my head, I looked down at my watch and realized with a rush of adrenaline that I was a late to a very important meeting in a town several mountain peaks away. As the sun began to set, I could see the expansive and bright lights radiating in the far distance where I needed to be. I threw my turbo-booster shoes on. They had springs in the heels which easily propelled me forward with each jump. Jump. Jump. Jump. With the wind in my hair, each leap got me closer toward my goal which captured 100% of my focus. Jump.....
Only this time I jumped and there was nothing under me. As I concentrated so hard on getting to my goal, I failed to look around me. That jump was in the direction where no land existed for hundreds of feet. I felt the sick feeling of falling towards certain doom. The air that once gently brushed my face became the only force keeping me from falling faster. There was something I had to do. What would MacGyver do? Perhaps my jacket was large enough to capture the wind and act as a canopy. But, no. Perhaps I had some imaginary 007 tool in my pocket that could save me. No. It was just me. Then I remembered....
My eyes opened and I saw it. I stared at the ceiling above me. The feeling of peace, followed by adrenaline, followed by feverish searching for an answer were all exceedingly fresh in my mind. Every step of my exciting and colorful dream felt SO real. I lay in bed remembering every moment of my dream all the way to the end when I realized....
I have all the resources I need. There is no tool separate or external to me that will save me when I fall. It is what I have inside. Me. Just me. I just needed to open my eyes and see it.
As I look at my career, I notice how often that dream seems to permeate reality. There are times of peace, times of clear progress towards a goal, and times of falling. Each brings a glimpse of a different view of the world and reminders of who you are in its reflection. Take time to enjoy each view. Revel in the peace. Take flight in the progress. And when you fall, remember you have all the resources you need. You just have to open your eyes and see them.
Williamvads