building block

i love this quote; the passion described in it speaks to me.

it's an idea that i'd love to build on.

i was in chapters yesterday and found two more fascinating books to add to my to-read list. in particular, one was entitled "Dear Future Me"; sort of a takeoff on the PostSecret idea, but where people write emails to themselves that are delivered to them at a date in the future selected by them.

there have been studies that show how writing down one's goal's can affect the likelihood of coming true, which lead me to think about where i'd like to be one ... five ... ten years from now. hm. interesting. where would i like to be in five years? i'll be thirty. whoa. will i have any kids? where will i be working? will i have the job i'd like to have, in the are i'd like to be?

what's your plan? do you have one? in his book smart women finish rich, david bach outlines the benefits of writing down your goals; he'd demonstrated this point with an example from harvard alumni. three percent of the graduating student class from harvard wrote down very specific goals that they'd set for themselves for the next few years, and when they'd followed up with them years later, that same three percent had accomplished a good part of what they'd hoped to.

now, i'm completely aware of the potential for inaccuracy in that example since (as far as i know) the findings weren't the result of academic research, but the idea is there... expressly communicating your goals - even if to yourself - in a medium aside from your own thoughts puts them out there into the world. you might even say that it breathes them into existence. there's a greek word, nomos, that is used by sociologists and psychoanalysts to describe the socially constructed orderly world on either an individual or social level. i have heard a slight variation on nomos as, loosely translated, the process of naming, giving a semblance of order and organization.

in the same vein, physically naming goals and aspirations gives rise to their reality and existence. even if it's just writing them down in a journal.. even the ones that seem incredibly silly or unrealistic. i don't mean to wax poetic about reaching for the stars, but think about it; plans usually don't just tumble into place on their own. i'd much rather give them a jump start by taking that first step and creating a game plan for it.

mad to live, mad to talk, mad to be saved, desirous of everything at the same time. burn. burn. burn.

{those are the people who get things done.}