Ambition vs. Laziness
I’ve had the wonderful privileged in my life, to be both surrounded by people who were very ambitious and considered go-getters. I also have had the wonderful privilege of being around lazy and very indulgent people.
The reason I say both being around very ambitious and lazy people has been a wonderful experience is because I develop appreciation for both sides. From what I understand this world is based on contrast. For example, without really experiencing any pain in life, we wouldn’t know what pleasure feels like. Without experiencing struggle, we wouldn’t know what ease feels like. Without knowing dark, we wouldn’t know light. Without experiencing failure, we wouldn’t know success etc.
So, being around both the perceived ambitious and lazy in society, I develop this awareness surrounding this issue. Which always brings me back to balance. If I were too ambitious with what I did, I would burn out. If I were too lazy with what I did, nothing would ever get done.
That is why I am so big on personal development. Working on our own personal development allows us to experience both worlds. As we see the contrast in life constantly, we begin to see the value of understanding this whole concept of being self aware.
As we tune back inside to what are true nature is, and tune into that higher self, we come to a place of self awareness. This self awareness gives the individual to be able to clearly decipher for the individual him/herself, if in fact they are trying too hard, or are taking it too easy.
I have come to a stage in my own development where I can clearly begin to decipher when I’m either pushing too hard or taking things too easily.
The point of this article is not to promote either side. Obviously, everyone is different in their own temperaments and approaching life.
What I do want to say is that having a balanced attitude is what works out best for me. The more I can access this balance state, the more smooth things begin to emerge.
There is nothing wrong with laying out in the sun and having a relaxing time, or ambitiously seeing a project to completion. The only time it becomes wrong is when we continue to label it accordingly. It becomes “wrong” when we other people either way as the only way, when in fact everyone in their lifetime will experience both ambition and laziness in some form in their life.
The beauty about life is that everyone has freewill. Everyone also has an inner voice that speaks to them, and this inner voice guides the individual to where they need to be. That is probably why I really don’t like complainers very much. If a person that complains a lot really knew their own power of free will there wouldn’t be much to complain about.
Think of this as an example, if someone continues to complain lets say, about a job they dislike over and again for a long length of time. Doesn’t that person have the freewill to eventually choose if that what he/she should be doing at all?
But, then they complain some more and say that “Well I have to do it because of “xyz.”
If the individual in this example, were to fully grasp the idea of freewill, although it would be challenging at first to change, the person would probably begin making choices based on what was true for him/herself.
From a freewill perspective, that person has in their hands the power to make choices that either continue to serve them if they choose or not serve them. It is always up to the choice of the individual. Gradually, the person begins to see that these choices the person makes would hopefully feel more in alignment with that person, thus coming to the realization that life can be one big struggle, or one big exciting journey depending on his/her own freewill and choice.
Once again, I am not promoting either ambition or laziness. I am simply stating, that freewill is where we get to choose individually for ourselves what we want to experience. Obviously, being both ambitious and lazy both bring about certain outcomes. I will leave that up to you to decipher from your own experience what both ways of being entail.
Many of you know that I’ve been seeing a fair amount of success through this blog. What I do know is that from my personal experience, and the success that I’ve experienced in writing this blog thus far, didn’t necessarily come from either being “ambitious” or “lazy.”
Do I put a lot of time, effort and energy to creating this blog? Yes. Do I sometimes lay out at the park and just meditate in a relaxed state to allow ideas to flow to me? Yes.
However, the success came from just being consistent with my alignment with who I am. Who I choose to be at this moment is a person that is creatively expressing his thoughts and ideas in the form of writing on this blog, to inspire and empower others.
As I tap into this inner space of who I am at the moment, I tap into a creative part of my being that allows the words to come out in a flowing manner. So, a more appropriate word to describe my success in this blog for example, would be alignment.
This alignment allows me to create from a space that isn’t concerned with how it appears to the outside world, or external things. Being in alignment is an inside-out approach based on service. Where I first, look within me and ask, “What value can I offer people today?” From that question emerges answers that produces this quality of value being sent out. Remember, what you send out comes back. So as I focus on providing value to my readers, the rewards come to me at its own pace.
The focus isn’t so much on the rewards, but more so of the process and being in the moment as I deliver the value and go about my daily life, and then receive the rewards accordingly.
So although the title of this post is ambition vs. laziness, it really does come back down to having a nice balance for yourself, and this balance comes from being in alignment with who you are. Not the you, that others want you to be, or what society wants from you, but the you that you know yourself to be. What you will begin to see is that being in alignment with who you are, you begin to really operate from a much more honest and secure place. A place of light and love.
So regardless if you are feeling very ambitious or lazy at the moment. The real question is how aligned are you with your true self at the moment? What space are you choosing to operate from?
Being,
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( Baker’s Recent Updates: 5/11/10)
1. Last weekend one of the winners of fellow personal development blogger Ayo’s Life Skills Challenge from: discoveringpurpose.co.uk I truly enjoy reading his blog, and I hope you make sure to visit his blog as well for great life tips on personal development. The prize I won was a personal development book sent to me! 
2. I also have a new amazon.com banner on the top right hand side of my homepage blog. Make sure to purchase your future books and products through the new Amazon square banner that is included on the upper right hand portion of my homepage blog. Right now there is a special that all the books you purchase over $25 you get 34% off. Proceeds purchased through the amazon.com go to helping me keep this site updated and fresh with new valuable content for all of you.
3. Lastly, I am working on a new special section on my blog where I write and explain very directly and honestly about my opinons on certain books that I’ve personally ready myself and highly recommend. I will not be recomending books that are filled with fluff or b.s. I will be carefully selecting books from my personal library that I’ve read up on in the past, that have helped me in my own personal development and success, that can also be very beneficial for you as well. So be in the look out for that on my blog. I will call this section: “Baker Approved: Books I Highly Recomend.”
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Hey Baker, I like your message here. It’s about finding the right balance in ourselves. Sometimes we can get caught up in what others think of us or comparing us with others that it becomes a problem with aligning ourselves to who we are. I think if we clear that out and stay more conscious, aligning ourselves to who we are becomes easier. Your posts are always so peaceful and enlightening. Thanks for another great read man.
Hey Hulbert,
Yes, when we step outside of compare mode, and back into who we are inside, we can open up a much more peaceful and honest place. Thank you for the feedback, I appreciate it.
Hi Baker, I love the look of the redesigned blog. Very sleek! Your post is spot on as usual. I don’t think we can be the energizer bunny 24/7 – we have to listen to our inner clocks too. Frankly, I think moving at a steady pace always works best for me.
Angela Artemis´s last blog ..A Thank You Note And a Letter To My Readers -
Hello Angela,
Yes moving at a steady pace, is something that works well for me, I admit that my high energy doesn’t always approve of this, but learning to be more balaned and steady seems to always be the best fit for me to at the moment. Hope all is well on your end!
Baker -
Great stuff as always – and loving the new website layout – congratulations.
I know myself well enough to say that sometimes I can be super ambitious and goal driven and sometimes i just like to be lazy. Your point is good that learning to be ourself is key and accepting these states of mind really helps me to enjoy life more.
Good post!
Phil
Phil – Less Ordinary Living´s last blog ..Secrets to your Successful Career – Part 2
THanks Phil for the feedback. Yes it really is about finding that balance that works out best for the indvidual. Have a wonderful rest of the week!
Hi Baker,
It’s exciting to watch your growth and evolution — great work! Your sidebar is especially eye catching
We can never go wrong by going within and following what most resonates with our hearts. If we need to cut ourselves some slack to rejuvenate and rev up for an ambitious streak, then so be it.
Cheers to BEing present
Hi Kim,
Thanks for the feedback. Hope you are having a great week.
Hey there! Appreciation for the nice blog. Keep writing!
Hey Nita! Thanks for your feedback, it is much appreciated. I will continue to write. =)