Today is Halloween, a day for crazy costumes and inviting tooth decay. It is also the beginning of the time in the liturgical year dedicated to remembering the dead; so I thought this only fitting.
The following article is one that I wrote two years ago this month, just after Steve Jobs died. It was to be published on a local website at the time, but like Mr. Jobs, was buried too soon.
“Remembering that I’ll be dead soon is the most important tool I’ve ever encountered to help me make the big choices in life… Remembering that you are going to die is the best way I know to avoid the trap of thinking you have something to lose. You are already naked. There is no reason not to follow your heart. … Stay hungry. Stay foolish.” Steve Jobs
Steve Jobs was not only an entrepreneur and inventor, but also a philosopher as well. In fact, his poignant quotes have had as lasting an impression as his inventions and controversial business methods.
“Don’t let the noise of other’s opinions drown out your own inner voice. And most important, have the courage to follow your heart and intuition. They somehow already know what you truly want to become.” – Steve Jobs
Have you been ignoring your heart’s desire? What untried passion has been simmering inside you waiting to blow the lid off your life as you know it? And what are you waiting for?
So often we try to deny or ignore a passion for fear of failing, succeeding, or because of what people will think. Every day, in some way, we are reminded of how short life is. Why should we be so concerned about the outcome? Wouldn’t it be worse to never try at all??
Steve Jobs was a perfect example of someone who listened to his inner voice regardless of what everyone else did or thought. He dropped out of college, dropped LSD, and dropped into Buddhism. All of this was part of his journey in becoming, as his obituary said, a ‘visionary, creative genius, and amazing human being.’ As a young man, Jobs didn’t know that he would end up changing people’s lives as they knew it. He had no idea what an impact he would have on the world. But it wasn’t the end result that mattered to him. He merely followed his passion and his intuition.
“You can’t connect the dots looking forward, you can only connect them looking backwards, so you have to trust that the dots will somehow connect in your future.” Steve Jobs
It’s easy to get caught up in trying to connect the dots looking forward…trying to control every step of our path in order to get to the big dot, that big prize at the end. I am guilty of this myself. However, I have discovered that the big dot keeps moving, so the actual payoff is being brave enough to jump on the ride, and hold on through the speed bumps, twists and turns. While these are scary, irritating and slow us down, they generally serve a purpose we may not realize at the time.
“Your time is limited, so don’t waste it living someone else’s life.” Steve Jobs
Whether or not the prospect of death works for you as a motivator, figure out what does. Our time is indeed limited and goes by quickly regardless, so find a way to spend time doing what you love. While there are realities in life like bills and taxes often requiring us to do things we don’t want to do, there are ways to incorporate what motivates our soul, into our lives.
“You’ve got to find what you love. The only way to do great work is to love what you do. If you haven’t found it yet keep looking, and don’t settle. As with all matters of the heart, you’ll know when you find it. And like any great relationship it just gets better and better as the years roll on. So keep looking, don’t settle.” Steve Jobs
