Boldness has magic in it ⚡

Attributed to Goethe, the rest of the quote goes like this:

“Whatever you can do, or dream you can, begin it. Boldness has genius, power and magic in it. Only engage and the mind grows heated, begin it and the work can be completed.”

Although that quote reads like something I pulled from a trending personal development book, it's a common sentiment that's endured for a few centuries because it's true. Acting boldly on your dreams is damn magical. And it may not always equal success by "society's standards" (said like there's a definitive definition of that) but grabbing freedom by the nap of the neck and saying, "You're coming with me", means you also get to choose the color of success that suits you.

I recently heard a man named Gideon Tsang talk about what it's like to be a 7 on the Enneagram and as we share the number, I was ready to take notes. He said something that I'd heard before, but his articulation was like connecting stars in a constellation. He said that eventually he'd run out of ways to reframe his situation, he could no longer spin the narrative, he had to walk away. 

Oh boy, can I spin a narrative: It's not that bad. The thing I want is right here, I just need to do this first (dream adjacent). What if I (fill in the blank with verb du jour)? Meanwhile, I'm spinning so hard that it's only until my face is on concrete that I'll stop.

Steven Pressfield described this so astutely in a recent interview on the Rich Roll podcast. Some of us came off the assembly line with an insatiable hole and when it's empty, it's the most itchy, uncomfortable feeling that we grab for the quick and easy fills: food, alcohol, sex, shopping, Netflix, productivity, social media. They work but it's like they're made of disappearing ink, the minute they're written down, they're gone. It's until we feed the hole with the nutrition it's asking for, the dream unengaged if you will, will it stop writhing and screaming.

Satiety is success, for me. Not taking bold actions toward my dreams? Sure, it's not that bad. Drinking myself into oblivion every night wasn't that bad either. "Life isn't that bad" is a tale I could spin until the end of my time. But filling that hole with what it's asking to be filled with is so damn satisfying, it really does feel magical. I'm so happy and you know what? Happiness is not canceled, I don't care what you read. 

My purpose in writing this today is that I hope it's contagious. I hope that wafts of Spring air, trees sprouting green, poppies in bloom and a little more social freedom (re:vaccinations) on the horizon is inspiring you to find your life's most genius, powerful, magical lust too. Let me know if you do.

If you want to see what I've been up to, I've listed a few new items in my Marketplace and you can always catch glimpses of works-in-progress on Instagram.