Accomplish Great Things by Using The Daffodil Principle
"Never worry about numbers. Help one person at a time, and always start with the person nearest you." - Mother Teresa
Does it ever seem daunting standing at the foot of a 'mountain' - exhausting when facing a long road ahead - overwhelming envisioning what 'could be' or disheartening when considering all the necessary good that must be done? The Daffodil Principle story has been going around the internet for years and came around to me again recently. I pass on the inspiration to keep pressing towards your passions, goals and desires - one step at time.
"50,000 bulbs, one at a time, by one woman, 2 hands, 2 feet and very little brain. Began in 1958." This is the sign that answers the questions you might ask when encountering five acres of gorgeous daffodils planted by Gene Bauer over 40 years that burst into bloom each spring in the San Bernardino high mountain range of Southern California. How can this vision of beauty inspire us?
1. Take it one at a time
"If you can't feed a hundred people, then feed just one." - Mother Teresa
How did Mother Teresa reach out to meet the needs of so many hurting people in the world around her? One act of kindness, one person at a time. How did Anne Grizzle climb Mt. Kilimanjaro with her son? Pole, pole - that's Swahili for - slowly, slowly. One step at a time. I think of how I got through years of graduate schooling with two small children. One page at a time. One day at a time.
What are you facing that you need to take it - 'one at a time'?
2. Don't wait until ...
"How wonderful it is that nobody need wait a single moment before starting to improve the world." Anne Frank
Doesn't it make you a little sad to think of what you might have accomplished and achieved if you had thought of such a great goal many years ago and worked away at it 'one bulb at a time'? I would love a hillside of daffodils! But, as the original story goes, it's so pointless to think of our lost hours of yesterdays. Instead, ask "How can I put this to use today?"
Don't wait until ... whatever it may be. Usually it's enough time, enough money, things settle down, or you've got it all figured out.
It's never too late to begin to seed and cultivate for the rest of your life.
3. What's your 'one thing'?
"Vocation is where our greatest passion meets the world's greatest need." Frederick Buechner
Where can your passion and a need connect? What have you always wanted to have, to do? There is a Japanese concept known as ikigai - which means having something worth living for - meaning and purpose. Dr. Martin Seligman reports that there are three prospective Japanese studies of ikigai that all point to high levels of ikigai reducing the risk of death from cardiovascular disease, even when controlling for traditional risk factors and perceived stress. When we have a vision, a passion, meaning and purpose, and we cultivate it each day, we have something worthwhile to live for and it extends our health, well-being and longevity.
4. Use the accumulation of time
"The most powerful force in the universe is compound interest."Albert Einstein
Use the accumulation of tiny pieces of time, multiplying it with small increments of daily effort and small gestures of love and kindness to accomplish magnificent things. This is how we make a difference, reach our goals and change the world.
As a little boy in Germany, Volker Kraft had always dreamed of an Easter Tree. In 1965 he started with 18 colored plastic eggs. It became a family tradition in their home town of Saalfeld, Germany and by 2010 the tree reached an incredible 9,500 eggs.
My financial advisor calls this principle 'compounding interest'. Invest a little money frequently and wisely, and over time, it builds up and multiplies.
God calls us to 'bear much fruit that will last', using our one heart, one mind, two hands, two feet and every minute of each day. There is no way of getting around that process.
No comments:
Post a Comment