THE RICHES THAT WE SEEK

Being my first post of 2009, I thought that I'd take some time to redirect our thoughts to what each one of us has inside of us - possibly as a "launch pad" to what is possible for each of us, this year. I am convinced that for many of us, if we took our personal potential seriously (and did something with it) we would improve our lives dramatically. My view is that every person has greatness inside of them and it is our individual challenge to recognise our greatness, to allow it to emerge and then to develop it to maturity. Sadly, it is my observation that most people ignore what they have and who they are and spend a lifetime trying to emulate others or to have what others have. I believe in Creation and I believe that we each have been created with our own uniqueness.

There is a fascinating story first told by Dr. Russell H. Conwell in the late 1800's just after the American Civil War. The story (a true story), is called "Acres of Diamonds" and it tells of the struggles of a farmer who settled in Africa. In summary, the story goes like this:

"The farmer worked really hard to produce a good crop out of ground that was rocky and very difficult to work. His frustration with his lot lead him to take to heart the stories that he'd heard of men who had searched for and found diamonds in the countryside. Of course, he too wanted to be rich and in an attempt to walk away from his hardships, he sold his land cheaply and spent the rest of his life searching the continent of Africa for these much spoken about precious stones and a personal fortune. Regretably he was never to make his big discovery and on a fateful day, in absolute despair, this broken man threw himself into a river and drowned.
One day the man who had bought the farm found a large and most unusual looking stone in a stream running through the farm property. On investigation, this stone was found to be a diamond of enormous value. Further exploration uncovered diamonds all over the farm land, and later this property was to become one of the world's richest diamond mines.
Yes, of course, the previous owner had no idea of his hidden riches. He unknowingly owned acres of diamonds. He'd probably seen some of them but had never taken the time to learn what a diamond in its rough state actually looked like. I guess had he just explored his land a bit he would have uncovered his wealth."

The moral of this little story is that EACH ONE OF US IS STANDING RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF HIS / HER OWN DIAMOND FIELD. THERE ARE ACRES OF DIAMONDS RIGHT WHERE YOU ARE.

Let me issue you with a challenge to stop and to look carefully at your circumstances, environment, personality, character, et al. Are you looking elsewhere for what you want in life? Do you think that the grass is greener on the other side? Is it possible that others are looking at where you are and saying that your lot is better than theirs? Is there "wealth" where you are?

There are opportunities all around you. Search them out. March to your own drumbeat. You have power to accomplish your dream. You have unexplored greatness and untapped potential just waiting to be discovered.

Make 2009 your year of discovery. Look deep into who you are, what you have, where you are at, before going out to explore the world for diamonds. Those diamonds that you so desperately want may well be right under your feet. There is wealth inside of you.

Let me take the opportunity to wish you a year of personal discovery that results in 2009 yielding an abundant crop for you in all areas of your life.

"The individual must control his deepest perception of himself, lest he be overwhelmed by the forces of negativism and defeat in those around him" - Napolean Hill.