The Pilgrimage favorite quote
In the same way, a disciple such as you can never imitate his guide’s steps. You have your own way of living your life, of dealing with problems, and of winning. Teaching is only demonstrating that it is possible. Learning is making it possible for yourself. – The Pilgrimage – Page 163
Lessons Learned from The Pilgrimage
1. The why behind what we want is more important than the reward.
All of my efforts had been bent on reward; I had not understood that when we want something, we have to have a clear purpose in mind for the thing that we want. The only reason for seeking a reward is to know what to do with that reward. And this was the secret of my reward. – The Pilgrimage – Page 248
I have found that so often when we want something in life we honestly don’t ask the question why do I want this? I would argue that usually it is because someone else has it and we want to be like that person. However, too often when we get the thing we didn’t really want it.
I used to work with an auction company and when we would go into someone’s house after they passed to set it up for a sale there was always unopened items with a lot of dust on them. We want things, we get them, but we don’t have a why so they sit. In this book he is on a search for a sword but he has to go through the journey of first finding in himself why he wants it.
Do yourself a favor next time you want something ask yourself why you want it? Ask yourself what am I really going to do with this? 9 times out of 10 you will be bored with it in a few weeks because you didn’t really want it.
2. What are your dreams?
We must never stop dreaming. Dreams provide nourishment for the soul, just as a meal does for the body. – The Pilgrimage – Page 56
What are you dreaming about right now. After reading this book I have started asking people what are their dreams. Most people are taken a back and don’t even know how to answer it. As we age we lose the ability to dream. Dreams are essential to our souls.
Take a few minutes today and start to dream. Write some things down in a journal. Make a 101 in 1,001 list. You will feel your soul growing.
3. It is not about copying it is about hope.
In the same way, a disciple such as you can never imitate his guide’s steps. You have your own way of living your life, of dealing with problems, and of winning. Teaching is only demonstrating that it is possible. Learning is making it possible for yourself. – The Pilgrimage – Page 163
I have found myself in mentoring roles often in my life and inevitable people just want a list of “ten” things to do to succeed. However, we are all individuals so what works for someone else might not work for you. The key is to be an example that it is possible.
If you do any studying of successful people if you dig deep enough you will a lot of contradictions. Some say wake up early, others say sleep in work late, some say fake it until you make it, others say that is stupid. The truth is you are unique you need to learn what works for you by experimenting.
That doesn’t mean we don’t study other successful people and try their ways. However, some may work and some may not. What’s most important is that it is possible. You can do it.
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