Here is a little exercise that I like to do just like Walt Whitman. It drove teachers, pastors and parents nuts. I question everything. Even my doctor. When he tells me, “Neil, you have ____. Just take ____ and it will get better.” That is not good enough for me. I ask how I got it, what can I do to help heal it and how can I prevent getting it in the future. Lately, he seems a bit too annoyed with these questions. It may be time for a new doctor.
We often accept things we were told as children without questioning them as adults. Things our parents, teachers, the government and even doctors have told us years, sometimes decades ago. That’s not to say all of this is wrong, but I think most things are with a second look.
It reminds me of the story of the circus elephant tied to the small stake. Looking at this, you may wonder, “Why would the elephant not pull the stake out of the ground and walk to freedom?” He tried that and he was young and they first tied him up to the stake. He was small and weak and was unable to pull the stake out of the ground. Now that he is large and strong, he never decides to question whether or not the situation has changed.
Reading this, you may come to the conclusion that elephants are dumb,or at least intellectually inferior to us. Before you quickly judge, ask yourself one thing. Is this not what humans do when they allow themselves to be chained by opinions and beliefs from their past?
We are constantly learning new things and having new experiences. Does it not make sense to take a fresh look at old beliefs with a new perspective? You may find some no longer hold true for you. You may also find you are even more passionate about others. How about you? Are there some things you might want to question in your life?
SECRET 2 AN AMAZING LIFE 