I firmly believe that there are 2 ways to live. That could be an oversimplification, but let’s just follow this train of thought for a moment.
I could be an opportunist or I could live a purposeful life. The latter being a more defined life and the former a more all over the place life.
My question to you is are you an opportunist?
To explain my position, let’s say you want to play music full time. You go hang around musicians or chat to them and stand and hope you get in with the right people. And let’s for argument sake say you do get in with a band. So you play for a while and you meet some other people and they seem more interesting and you decide to leave because that is really what you wanted to do. YOU ARE AN OPPORTUNIST. You have no defined goal and you simply drift in the general direction that you want to end up in.
Also you end up using people to get where you think you need to go.
In short your life is open to the better deal always.
Now on the other side for a moment….
You sit down and decide where you want to go and plan it out (even a rough guide line). You still do the same as before by hanging out with musicians, but the difference is that you know where you want to go. It defines your choices. You can say no to some opportunities because you it does not fit into your over arching goal.
It does not mean you do not take opportunities, it just means your purpose defines which opportunity you take.
Every opportunity does not send you into a decision fit. Should I should I not, should I should I not……
Then you are a purpist (a person who lives with purpose)
Which one are you?
thehonestone
definitely a purpist! I know alot of the other kind lol. . . . . 🙂
I know of a few extra too Ha ha ha
I live purposefully, but that doesn’t negate the occasional decision fit. Life is organic and subject to change, and sometimes that means one’s purpose changes, too.
I agree that life is organic and we need to be able to change and roll with the punches. But I meant more that we at least have a game plan and not be hit around purely by what’s out there.
I am an opportunist-thanks for pointing it out so clearly. It takes time to figure out a goal and purpose. Once a goal is clear and defined every opportunity should be seized to reach the goal – otherwise, what’s the purpose?
Opportunities are like waves to surf, there is always another one on the horizon.
The key is to make sure you spot it in time, are prepared and fit enough to catch it, if you see it is forming to your advantage of course.
Keep fit , keep looking and creating instead of waiting for a purpose.
I think we are both saying the same thing just using different routes to get there.
What i mean by having a purpose is to have intent and direction before I go out seeking opportunities. And if a curve ball is thrown and we find something different to what we expected well, then roll with it. Its not to be rigid and only do what I planned. I agree one must be open to opportunity.
Its when we are defined by the opportunities that it becomes a problem. When every opportunity shifts our direction simply because it sounds better than where we are. Having a direction in that case will make us work through some things that are difficult for the greater good, rather than just jumping ship at every “Opportunity”