A Weird Dilemma

[rapidsnyc]

Count your blessings.....don't take for granted what you have.
A man who wants more is never happy....be satisfied with what you have.
Now, as with this philosophy in mind if I am gonna accept what I have then how I am supposed to improve? Einstein said that "Need is the mother of inventions" If I am gonna be satisfied with what I have, how I am gonna change it for better.

Please throw-in some analysis of this. Maybe I am thinking from a wrong perspective/attitude.

[agnostic]

I think the solution to this is that you don't have to suck to be able to improve. You can be good and become even better. To want more you don't have to hate what you already have.

[silicon toad2000]

I feel you can be satisfied with your circumstances, but still have drive to invent/improve things for the rest of society.

[Shamou]

Originally Posted by rapidsnyc

Now, as with this philosophy in mind if I am gonna accept what I have then how I am supposed to improve?

Great thread rapidsnyc...

Life is a journey... and you can be happy, grateful and satisfied that you are presently where you are... but that does not mean that the journey has to stop there... would can have an intense desire to keep on going, growing, being more and having more... which in no way diminishes your appreciation and gratitude for what you already have...

Personally, I am very happy with what I have... but I also have this fundamental belief that everything in life is either expanding and growing or withering and dying... and since I have an intense desire to keep on living... I also have an intense desire to become more and having more... that way... I can have my cake and eat it too...

.

[Old Soul]

I agree never take for granted the blessings you have
be content with what you have
at the same time , live in possibilitie's
be open to whatever life has to offer
with a thankful heart and open hand

[rapidsnyc]

Originally Posted by silicon toad2000

but still have drive to invent/improve things for the rest of society.

I honestly disagree with this. A real achievement never occurs when we work for someone else but for ourselves. Mother Teresa didn't serviced deceased to service the society but because doing so made her happy. Einstein didn't invented for the benefit of the society but because it really inspired him. A extraordinary achievement occurs when individual plays for the audience of one, that is -himself.

[rapidsnyc]

Originally Posted by Old Soul

live in possibilitie's
be open to whatever life has to offer
with a thankful heart and open hand

Old Soul, It has nothing to do with future prospects but about the current state of things in our life. The question is....Whether to Live with them or Try to change them.

[rapidsnyc]

Shamou your post quite clarifies things for me. It is a wonderful thing what a such a fragment of truth lightens things. But still it seem a little bit of mystery.

[rapidsnyc]

Originally Posted by agnostic

I think the solution to this is that you don't have to suck to be able to improve. You can be good and become even better. To want more you don't have to hate what you already have.

I really didn't quite understand what this really implies agnostic. Please provide a little bit more clarification.

[leshka]

Originally Posted by rapidsnyc

I honestly disagree with this. A real achievement never occurs when we work for someone else but for ourselves. Mother Teresa didn't serviced deceased to service the society but because doing so made her happy. Einstein didn't invented for the benefit of the society but because it really inspired him. A extraordinary achievement occurs when individual plays for the audience of one, that is -himself.

Super
You almost answered your own question. All self improvement is about finding what really makes you happy and this is the only criteria. If you are not happy search, search, search! If you are happy, stop and enjoy yourself.

[rapidsnyc]

Originally Posted by leshka

Super
You almost answered your own question. All self improvement is about finding what really makes you happy and this is the only criteria. If you are not happy search, search, search! If you are happy, stop and enjoy yourself.

Nice. That help a lot. But what about staying cutting edge for the survival in cutthroat competition. I fear I will left behind in my own closet. By the way Florida, that must be fun!

[Sam988]

Steve wrote this article on this issue... i hope it helps:


http://www.stevepavlina.com/blog/200...rsonal-growth/

[Dan.Linehan]

Complacency is a bane to positive minded growth.

[Dan.Linehan]

Originally Posted by Sam988

Steve wrote this article on this issue... i hope it helps:


http://www.stevepavlina.com/blog/200...rsonal-growth/

That is a great article by the way. Wow.

[dnadadur]

When you are satisfied with what you have "now," you will have the clarity for the creativity within you to come forth. That means, you are *not* worried or complaining, but living your life to the fullest being in the "Now." Life (the creative nature within and around you) is always active and it does not stop; it is always creating. Our human mind, by its nature has the need to label things as good or bad, so we say, "something is living and the other is dying." In fact, one form of matter/energy is just transforming into another. So, it is always active. Even our purpose on this planet, I believe, is to experience and be the creators that we truly are.

If I may quote Bhagavad Gita, Krishna gives highest priority to the "Yoga of Action." This is "action with detachment to the result." He says, "In the manifest form even maintenance of this body is not possible without action. If you just sit around and do nothing, even the body will atrophy." However, the key is the "Detachment to the result." It does not mean that you are not planning or working towards a goal you have set. It just means that once you set up a goal and have a plan in place to achieve that goal, you forget about the end result and focus intensely on the step you are taking at the present moment. Worrying about the end result is going to only mess up the work you are doing now. In yoga of action, there is no room for complacency or laziness. There is actually intense focused activity, but you are doing that activity with detachment to the end result. Also, your activity should be in alignment with your inner need for experience and growth, and your nature. Only then it will result in the most creative result.

As creators of reality it is for each individual to create and experience his/her own reality in order for a deep and permanent personal growth to occur, and to unleash the creative potential within each of us.

Sorry for rambling on.

Thanks for listening.

-Desika

[silicon toad2000]

Originally Posted by rapidsnyc

A real achievement never occurs when we work for someone else but for ourselves. Mother Teresa didn't serviced deceased to service the society but because doing so made her happy. Einstein didn't invented for the benefit of the society but because it really inspired him. A extraordinary achievement occurs when individual plays for the audience of one, that is -himself.

That's exactly the drives I was talking about, the happiness to see society better off due to your own effort and the pride in solving a problem or building a better mousetrap. You've expanded it beautifully.

[agnostic]

Originally Posted by rapidsnyc

I really didn't quite understand what this really implies agnostic. Please provide a little bit more clarification.

Well, the thing is that you believe that you have to hate your current state or to believe it to be deficient to get the motivation to strive for something better.

This doesn't have to be the case. You can think of your current state as pretty good, but of your next step as even better.

You don't have think you're bad to come up with ideas to become better.

In fact, I've found that if you feel good about your current state, you have more energy left to achieve something even better.

[Andrew Brunelle]

You perfectly accept yourself for who you are. You are fine without improving, but improving yourself will improve your life, taking it from good to great, to the best. It all depends how far you want to go on this sliding scale. It goes the other way, too.

[rapidsnyc]

Originally Posted by agnostic

In fact, I've found that if you feel good about your current state, you have more energy left to achieve something even better.

Yes, this also happens with me, sometimes I am get so happy with current state of affairs, I say to myself "Great! let's take this to another level."

[Jenny]

I agree with what is being said here. Life is beautiful when you accept your current circumstances and actively work within them. I don't mean you become complacent instead I suggest that by embracing your current situation you have much more energy free to follow those things you feel passionate about.

Also you are in better position to distinguish just what brings you passion and joy as your focus isn't on primarily on what you don't enjoy about life leaving you free to focus on what you do.

[Liara Covert]

This discussion reminds each of us how conditioned we may have become to think in terms of 'black and white' or linear thinking. Dan Linehan referred to a great article by Steve Pavlina about debate concerning self-acceptance or personal growth. I don't think these ideas have to be mutually-exclusive.

Imagine yourself as being made up of many components of energy and emotions. Parts of you could be growing while others may be stagnating. Parts of you may be stretching while others are content to stay as they are. You may sense you know a lot about certain emotions and be glad about it, but you may still be able to expand on that, and be happy with growth too.