Time. Accomplishments. Decisions. Relationships. Future job opportunities. Past memories. Life.
The way my mind works it can be very easy for me to delve off into an abyss of varying thoughts. Which is one of the reasons why I have to be very disciplined when it comes to life, in general. It’s easier for me to dream about doing something than actually doing it. When I was younger I thought of myself as a “daydreamer”. Who knows what society would call me today 🙂 . What do they call kids who are introspective, lovers of the imaginary, creators of new realities, dreamers? Hopefully, creative thinkers.
A few days ago I watched a recorded interview of Mike Tyson speaking about discipline. Mike said, “Discipline is doing what you hate to do, but doing it like you love it.”
Mike Tyson is such a revered man. He speaks with so much clarity of thought… even when he’s high on marijuana. He was feared as a boxing champion. Hated for various crimes he committed. Now he is loved and embraced as an older man who was broken by his failure to successfully manage life, because everyone knows being a rich famous young black man in the 1980s and 90s was crazy hard.
When I initially heard the statement I felt the power of it. However, sometimes we can be so caught up in the moment to the point we can’t fully discern or understand the purpose of the moment (essentially, placing Tyson’s statement in context). Because every moment we experience & everything we hear has a purpose.
Immediately after Mike made that statement, he also said something which I believe is equally as powerful. He said, “…without disciple, you’re nothing. Without discipline, when you experience the slightest struggle, you will give in.”
Do not give in when you experience struggles.
Currently, I’m sitting at my desk at work. During the day, sometimes I take time to pause. For no other reason other than pausing to think about life. Maybe I even allow my imagination to supersede my rational mind… I don’t know.
I believe when we respect the time we have we use it differently. So, sometimes when my spirit gives me the inclination, I stop whatever it is I’m doing… and take a little time simply to embrace the energy in all of my surroundings at that moment in time.
I have on a set of headphones. Images of geographic information data maps of Louisiana taped on the wall just above my computer monitors for easy viewing. The monitor on my left is constantly updated with emails, while my middle monitor is on an internet browser (as I’m about to begin an Adobe webinar), and I take glances every so often at my right monitor because I programmed it to show various images (picture gallery screensaver) of my son.
Last thoughts. I recognized two aspects of a successful relationship this morning on my drive to work. Compatibility and the ability to troubleshoot problems.
I was raised in a very disciplined household & lifestyle. I had chores. I remember spending hours… even days doing work for others which had no real tangible benefit to me. Because my parents, or someone else told me to do it. NO, I wasn’t a slave and YES I did enjoy many freedoms I had in my childhood. Nevertheless, I cannot ignore who I am and where I came from.
So, how can I partner with someone who is undisciplined? How can I engage in a real relationship with someone who doesn’t have similar convictions? Compatibility is more than attraction. Compatibility, for me, also stems off into my ability to relate with my partner’s discipline on life in general. As well as their convictions on their faith, lifestyle, goals, needs, wants, etc… and vice versa.
I also recognized the benefits of being with someone who can troubleshoot problems. I’ve never had a relationship with a woman who could solve any problems. I’ve always been the problem solver for problems I did and didn’t create. When looking at one of my friend’s relationships, I saw the benefits of having a wife/girlfriend who I could work together with as a team.
It boggles my mind to see how common it is for single adults to ignore the tangible benefits of being a committed relationship. Especially when it’s the same reason so many single professionals buy dogs and companion animals (even though I feel a lot of women buy these small dogs because they want something to control). I realized a truth after I recently went on a date… which I will not say publicly.
Humans are created with a natural need for intimacy, love and companionship. For some reason I always felt one of my failures in life is that I wasn’t able to make the transition to marriage & family earlier in my adulthood like many of my friends. I’m honestly just beginning to let those feelings go… and just live my life.
Still, I’m tired of dating around. Dating around sometimes feels like I’m interviewing for a job…. nevertheless, I would rather be married to a woman I trust, than dating Instagram models with 30K followers 😉 … but can I possibly have both?? Lol