I recently found this blog titled: "The art of non conformity" some of the principles were listed here, in blue are my thoughts
1. You don’t have to live your life the way other people expect you to
I wish I could break this mold, I have desires to live this way, but have never been able to eliminate my fears to realize this goal!
2. If you don’t decide for yourself what you want to get out of life, someone else will probably end up deciding for you.
This is a tough one, I am pretty sure I have decided what I want to get out of life, but I don’t think I have done what I can do to get what I want out of life. In a way we are always tied to someone else’s life goals, weather is be a spouse, a boss, or our children. But, these (paradoxically) are things that we want and also desires in life. I think the key is finding a balance here.
3. There is usually more than one way to accomplish something.
My Problem: there is only one way to accomplish something: The perfect way!
4. You can do good things for yourself and help other people at the same time.
This is an oxymoron, because when we do good things for others this builds are self esteem, our feelings of goodness and self worth. The question is what constitutes good things? Where do we draw the line? Where do we cross the threshold of acceptable human suffering versus our own personal well being? These are questions we should all ask ourselves. They key here: Just go out and help people, and stop sitting around contemplating these types of questions.
You struck the right idea with number two. Jake's Dad, in my book, A Warrior's Son, writes Jake a letter and tells him to have balance in his life. See your dad had that wisdom all along and you just didn't know it. Of course it one thing to have it and another to give it at the time it's most needed.
Item #3 is there is more than one way to accomplish something. Sometimes it's better to do something than nothing, even if it's wrong. We always learn from our mistakes, so don't fear mistakes. Relish them as opportunities for learning and growth. Nine out of 10 times you'll be right.
#1: We shouldn't live life the way others expect us to, but it's hard to find the balance you talk about. It's always a fight between what we should do, need to do, and have to do against what we want to do or think is best for us. Again it all comes down to balance.
Love your blogs.