Coronation Day

It’s not often that I find myself quoting Popes - but there is one line attributed to Pope John XXIII that sticks in my brain a lot.
 
“It often happens that I wake up at night and begin to think about a serious problem and decide I must tell the Pope about it. Then I wake up completely and remember that I am the Pope.”
 
You and me both padre.
 
We spend a good part of our early life directed by others - parents, siblings, teachers, and friends. This direction can become so ingrained within us that we actually come to rely on it. Having others tell us what to do might feel oppressive at times. But it’s also comforting to have the hard decisions in life made for us.
 
Until one day, we wake up fully and realize we‘re the Pope!
 
Ok, maybe you’re not the actual Pope - but you get the idea.
 
You are in control of your world. You’re responsible for your life, your actions, your thoughts, your words, and your future. I’ve always felt that the idea of the “suffering artist” implies an oppressor. But If YOU’RE in charge that means the primary oppressor is likely the person in the mirror. I’ve met so many in our field who forget that. They wander discouraged and rudderless looking for direction – not knowing that THEY have to provide it.
 
It can be overwhelming to make that realization - but it’s also liberating. It’s freedom.
 
Wake up.
Plan.
Do the work.
Enjoy the results.
Assess.
Repeat.