Allowing Yourself To Be Led.

In American society, allowing one to be led instead of leading tends to be viewed as negative. At times, it is. However, there are times where the next step on one’s path in life requires allowing oneself to be led.

We all have our lists of what we’d like to accomplish in life, whether written or just in the ether of our minds. Our saving grace is that most people I’ve talked to, if not all (in my age group) are still working on their list. It’s part of what give us momentum. As it should be I suppose.

I used to think that once I had completed my written list that I was done with the driving and striving and could finally slow down and bask in the afterglow. Then, of course I could start worrying about what to do with the rest of my life.

After just about completing my list (I’ve got one more item to check off in the next week or so), and the time it has taken to completed the last item on it, I’ve come to realize that 1) there are two classifications of lists, and 2) Your life is the journey to fulfill your lists, whether or not you complete them. 3) Everybody has two lists, but not everyone is aware that he or she does.

There is a worldly list, and a spiritual list. The worldly list consists of things you can achieve yourself or through your solitary effort and of things which you are the single or main beneficiary. The spiritual list consists of things you can’t achieve by yourself or through your solitary efforts and of things of which you are not the beneficiary or main beneficiary.

These two lists apply regardless of your religious beliefs. If it helps you can substitute “worldly” with tangible, and "spiritual" with intangible.

For clear examples some things on my worldly list were getting a motorcycle, living in Florida, and being a parent. Examples on my spiritual list: finding a wife and Revitalizing Nigeria.

Now to be clear, one list isn’t necessary better than the other. In fact, I would say a worldly list is important in developing or realizing a spiritual list. There are also list item that can be argued for belonging to either worldly or spiritual list. In the end, I believe long term fulfillment in life comes from developing a worldly list and being led to realize a spiritual list.