It Costs to Change Direction!

The question is: are you willing to pay? But it costs. Sometimes you might have to pay in money, at other times in time, and still at other times in effort. Then, of course, there are times when it takes some combination of all of them. Again, the question is: are you willing to pay. Now, this might mean taking on more debt; for some, a tremendous amount of debt. Yes, we value a debt free life, but does freedom from debt always mean happiness? And note that there is no implied advocacy here of financial irresponsibility or economic relcalcitrance. Those, I agree, should we recognize a distinction between them, are non-values. The point is that a debt free life does not always mean a happy life. It could mean happiness in poverty. Let's take for instance, business people who must invest in order to see growth in their businesses. They have creditors; they have debt. If they refuse to, say, borrow money from banks to do business, their businesses would fail. The risk of investing in their businesses for survival and continued growth in the marketplace is directly tied to their happiness. Businesses do not necessarily look for freedom from debt. What they look for is economic gain and propsperity. If it means being in debt, they accept it for as long as it lasts. After gains are made and they achieve their objectives, they return to the path of repaying their debts.

The individual who needs to pay to change his/her direction may be called to accept a debt-burden for some time. Bear in mind, the burden will not outweigh the happiness. You can be in debt and be happy; be happy that you are back on track headed in the right direction. If you are passionate about that direction, you can find a way to make that new path produce substantial amounts of income. Thus, you will be able to pay back your debts. The message here is: don't be afraid to pay the cost of changing from an old direction to a new one that culminates in a path to your destiny.

Hang in there. Keep the faith. You will succeed!

MOTIVATE WHAT?

The answer I always give is the obvious one, PEOPLE, collectively and individually. Why? Well, legions live beneath their potentials and capabilities. When you say, "Come up higher!" they ask, "What kind of game are you running?" Cynicism and suspicion are part of the modern consciousness. Why bother?

In a market culture where nothing is given freely, people have a hard time believing someone could come by their doorstep, and meaningfully share his or experiences, and understanding, of life, and try to get them to come up a little higher from where they are; indeed, it strains credulity.

If you are a cynic, chew this little bit of thought. Even in this vast marketplace where the profit-motive is god, where people work hard to make huge gains in their businesses and transactions, a few people are sitting on the mountain of daily life watching the city, watching the marketplace. The profit-motive is great, and economic rewards gained from one's talents are important. Yet, that motive is "thing-based." The watchman of the city, the man or woman who seeks to take the hand of any man, woman, or child, and say, "Come up a little higher!" is driven fundamentally by a motive that's person-based.

Believe it or not there are still watchmen of the city of daily existence who, even if they wanted to, could not extricate themselves from a deep concern with the plight of individuals and society.

Thank you for stopping by. Help us watch the city of life.