MY ALEXANDRIAR

By: Alexandria Riedinger

Jun 06 2011

Tags: #trust30, be bold, day 7 prompt, matt, ralph waldo emerson, the domino project

Category: Life & Happenings

1 Comment

It is easy in the world to live after the world’s opinion; it is easy in solitude to live after our own; but the great man is he who in the midst of the crowd keeps with perfect sweetness the independence of solitude. – Ralph Waldo Emerson

Ralph Waldo Emerson has been a great inspiration to my life since I gave in to my passions and followed my dreams of being a writer. His words have stopped my world from spinning many, many times and their truths have always led me from darkness to light.

So, in honor of such a great soul, I am participating in the #Trust30 writing challenge this month that encourages writers to look within and trust themselves. For the rest of June, I will be answering thought-provoking prompts stemming from Emerson’s own words, as a way to dive deeper into my soul and reflect on my now.

I encourage you to join me. To take your own journey, make the pledge and sign up.

I came into this on Day 7. Here is the prompt:

Our arts, our occupations, our marriages, our religion, we have not chosen, but society has chosen for us. We are parlour soldiers. We shun the rugged battle of fate, where strength is born. – Ralph Waldo Emerson

“Next to Resistance, rational thought is the artist or entrepreneurs worst enemy. Bad things happen when we employ rational thought, because rational thought comes from the ego. Instead, we want to work from the Self, that is, from instinct and intuition, from the unconscious.

A child has no trouble believing the unbelievable, nor does the genius or the madman. Its only you and I, with our big brains and our tiny hearts, who doubt and overthink and hesitate.” – Steven Pressfield, Do the Work

The idea of “being realistic” holds all of us back. From starting a business or quitting a job to dating someone who may not be our type or moving to a new place – getting “real” often means putting your dreams on hold.

Today, let’s take a step away from rational thought and dare to be bold. What’s one thing you’ve always wanted to accomplish but have been afraid to pursue? Write it down. Also write down the obstacles in your way of reaching your goal. Finally, write down a tangible plan to overcome each obstacle.

The only thing left is to, you know, actually go make it happen. What are you waiting for?
(Author: Matt Cheuvront)

My answer…

There is a life out there that I’ve always wanted. It’s more than just doing or not doing one thing. It’s a collection of experiences, of who I want to be, of who I want to share this life with on earth. It’s a life of travel, of new experiences, of rare experiences. I’ve been afraid to pursue this up until now, because I was afraid of the unknown. I was afraid to step out of my world of comfort because I didn’t know how to get to what I wanted. I didn’t know how to get to the life I wanted.

But, I realized, I still don’t quite know how. And in letting go of trying to control my life, in just doing things, I am making steps every day towards the life that I’ve always dreamed about. I’m not afraid to pursue it anymore. And I’m less worried about how I’m going to get there. I just know I will one day.

I would say the biggest obstacle in getting there, the only obstacle in getting there is myself. I am the only one responsible for my life and how it turns out. I am the only one that can get myself there and the only one that can stop myself from getting there. My plan to overcome this obstacle – myself – is to not think about it. To not use my mind, but to use my intuition. To use my heart. And just go for it.