On My Mind
The other day I had lunch with a client, who is also my friend, along with one of his associates. We were talking about the things that mentally block each of us, as individuals. I shared with them that I have trouble accepting success and at times it’s an inhibitor for me. We talked about how this is common for many people.
This has been on my mind lately because the success of canvas with readers has been overwhelming and beyond anything we would have imagined at this stage. Although I relish the feedback we’ve gotten and occasionally mist up when people tell me the positive impact the magazine is making, I still struggle to deal with our success. As we become more established and well-known, the demands on us are increasing and we’re faced with the daily challenge of accomplishing everything ‘re already committed to while meeting these new demands in order to be even more successful.
In my previous corporate life it was easier; I basically sacrificed my personal balance for the good of the company–and detriment of my family. Despite my sacrifices, I still rarely accepted my success. I was always said I’m was just doing my job.
Today I’m trying to balance both success and family, even declining invites to events that I’m sure might have furthered the goals of canvas sooner. Often they also happen to be events I’d enjoy attending. But I’ve committed not to repeat my past behavior.
I guess I’m old enough now to realize the ability to live a balanced might actually further our success rather than hinder it.
Still I wonder what blocks many of us from getting to this realization. In my last blog post I talked about the labels we get early in life, perhaps these labels are part of the problem.,. Or is it something else? I once worked for a guy who talked about a lobster pot and the lobsters trying to crawl out being pulled back in by the others to die along side them. Maybe that’s an analogy for us all. Are we all afraid that if we try to climb out someone will pull us back in?
I don’t know the answer right now, but I know we’d all be better off just accepting life as it comes, not worrying about how we’re labeled or whether we’ll get pulled under,. It would be far better to just try and live in the moment and enjoy the ride. One of my associates tells me when I learn to just accept, whatever it is life hands me, life will be that much easier.
I’m trying–and along the way hope to enjoy our success.
2 comments
Interesting thoughts, but to borrow a line from Bob Dylan, “there’s no success like failure, and failure’s no success at all.”
I too am pleased with the progress of canvas magazine, and even more so because my piece was run in the Arts&Letters section this month. Like you, I walked away from the corporate life last year to fully devote my energy to making a living by writing. Since then, an original poem was published in an anthology, I landed a freelance assignment writing research papers for an academic publisher, and most recently canvas has given me some more exposure.
Ultimately being successful means working hard, setting goals, and yes, striving for a balance, but there’s a Zen saying that’s appropros:
“when you get to the top of the mountain, keep climbing.” here’s wishing canvas and its staff cool runnings.
Kyle Colona
Island Park, NY.
Kyle
Congratulations to your for following your life’s passion and thanks your post. We will continue to climb and it’s people we’re meeting along the way, like you, that continue to motivate us to do so.
Tom Pellicane - Publisher
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