Life’s work never ends

I recently read in Think and Grow Rich, in the chapter about persistence, the following sentence

"Poverty consciousness will voluntarily seize the mind that is not occupied with money consciousness.”

Just because I think it’s fun that whole sentence is written in caps as if Napoleon Hill is screaming it at the reader. I think it’s a good enough sentence and important enough that it is worth screaming.

This particular sentence stuck out to me, not only because it rang true for me personally, but also how this idea shows up in so many other areas of life. To me, it feels like almost like a natural law.

If you don’t stretch on a regular basis your body will tighten up. If you don’t exercise you get out of shape. If you don’t nurture plants they will die. If you don’t call that friend on a regular basis the friendship may end. If you don’t practice your jump shot… well don’t expect to win any games of horse any time soon.

Once you reach a certain level is that where you stay for the rest of your life, though? I don’t think so. Challenges always arise. There are always problems to solve. When I am working towards a goal and an obstacle gets in the way that challenge is merely a bump on the path. When the destination is achieved and that same challenge arises, will I meet it with the same gusto as before or will I simply avoid it? If it is avoided, am I standing at the same level or falling back? Entitlement and stubbornness don’t exactly sound like features of someone at the top of their game.

There is always more work to be done. There is always an opportunity to rise to a new level. Rising allows more doors to open and opportunity to come. Expectation that my time has come closes me off to the world. Leaving me to what I know and the box to slowly shrink in around me. If you have a large enough box - you may not even know that it’s shrinking, until it’s too late.

There are so many different aspects to life. This idea of the poverty consciousness taking over where a money consciousness is absent is true in every arena. I am sure that I am growing in some while lacking in others. Simply put, make the effort. Whether it seems that it’s necessary or not. If you’re not moving forward, then you’re going the other direction. Which is less than ideal.