“If you chase two rabbits, you will not catch either one” ~ Russian Proverb.
What is your ONE thing?
I found myself asking this question recently after reading The ONE Thing by Gary Keller and Jay Papasan. The goal of this marvelous book is to help readers achieve extraordinary results by focusing on the few things (or the ONE thing) that matter most.
The theory sounds so simple, but it’s not how we live in our day to day lives. We’re often about many things. We chase multiple dreams and goals hoping that one will eventually lead us to success. The authors cite a well-known Russian proverb that shatters this myth:
“If you chase two rabbits, you will not catch either one.”
And you know what’s even more sad than chasing two rabbits? Chasing three, five, or ten.
This is how we live. We chase dozens of rabbits in order to hedge our bets. If you’re chasing multiple rabbits, you already know it doesn’t work. But if you’re like me, you still can’t help yourself.
So I began pondering the question:
What is my ONE thing?
As I pondered, I heard Bishop Robert Barron reflect on Jesus’ temptation in the desert. In his homily he said that the “sacrifice of the Cross was the one thing Jesus was about.” In citing the work of the late Bishop Fulton Sheen, he goes on to say that though Jesus was a great teacher and wonder worker, he was not primarily these things. His primary identity was “the Lamb of God who came to take away the sins of the world.” His primary mission was to die.
It turns out that the powerful idea of the ONE thing preceded Keller and Papasan by at least two thousand years.
My ONE Thing
After hearing the homily, I was inspired to ask again:
What is my ONE thing?
The answer finally came:
My ONE thing is to die to myself.
This made sense. In the Christian context, dying to self is how one embarks on the journey to God.
Almost all my suffering comes when I pursue many things and forget about my ONE thing. But when I remember my ONE thing, I remember that I am not primarily here to impress people. I’m not primarily here to “get ahead” in life. I’m not primarily here to have an easy, comfortable life.
I am here to die.
Because it is only in dying to myself that I find my true self. My true self can enjoy earthly goods without becoming attached to them. My true self can allow others to shine without feeling threatened. My true self can relinquish the ego, which is all about fear and self-preservation. My true self can love others authentically.
Are you suffering?
If you are, maybe it’s time to discover your ONE thing.
What, in the end, is your life about?
Don’t boil it down to a list of three or even two things.
Force yourself to discover the ONE thing.
Wonderful post, Cylon! ♥
Thank you Laurie 🙂
Thank you, Cylon,
I paused in my rabbit herding long enough to read your post.
Now, I must ensure my bunnies are somewhere safe while I have a good think but already I am moving, (however slowly) towards following your One Thing.
Thank you.
Lol…good to hear Zara!
As usual… thought provoking to the ONE degree! (versus nth degree) This sure is a question that demands a great deal of thought. But, to be “lazy” for a moment, I do like your “One Thing…” I think it should be the ultimate goal for all of us. We cannot progress and “live” at the same time. There’s no growth in that. Lots of thoughts jumbled up right now, but there’ve been many things I’ve read recently, along the lines of dying… they’re all tied into the fact that you can’t grow without “pain” or “loss” or some kind of hardship.
I’ve thought some more…My one thing, is to write… not just anything, but one thing! It’s hounded me since maybe my early 30s. What gets in the way, are all the other rabbits. My fear (of failure), My paralysis of how to start, and what to focus on. My busyness. My activities… My very own resistance to happiness (I’m currently reading Matthew Kelly’s, Resisting Happiness.). This one thing haunts me, but I make excuses every time I think about the book in me. I’m now resisting it by saying I’ll have more time when I retire. But, that’s no excuse because I see and know what you do, yet you don’t let it stop you. So, I thank you for your inspiration, to push me toward working on that “one thing” that I feel called to do.
Beautiful, Eva. Couldn’t agree more with your thoughts. Each of those rabbits represents fears of every kind. I’ve read your writing so I, for one, can’t wait to see you follow your ONE thing. A book you might like is The War of Art by Steven Pressfield. You talking about your resistance reminded me of his book. That really helped me learn to do battle with mine…but still learning for sure!
My guess is that you are an overachiever. Don’t know if you are into meditation, but it has been my helper forever. When I take just 5 minutes a day, to stop and look at everything God has provided for me, the beauty, my senses to enjoy it, and on and on, it centers me. I stop myself from trying to rush through the crowd to get to the other side, and mingle with folks along the way. Much more pleasant and I learn so much.
I think if the one thing you have chosen is what will keep you centered and help you maintain your faith with these trying times, then it is exactly the thing for you.
Best to you and yours always
Hmm…maybe. Think I’m more of a people pleaser tough. Funny you should mention meditation. I’ve been a longtime practitioner but have not practiced regularly in recent weeks. It’s definitely been a help for me too and I think what i have chosen as my ONE thing grew out of my meditative practice. Letting go of our mind chatter is certainly a kind of death…a happy one! Best to you as well 🙂