A wise old man spent each
morning walking along the river’s edge. Every few feet, he would stoop down, scoop up some water, and then
softly pour the contents of his hand onto a rock near the shore. Curious at the old man’s odd behavior, a youth rowed
over to the man one day and asked what he was doing.
“I’m saving lives,”
the old man answered. “The wind blows many living things into the river and unless they can dry their wings they will
die."
“This river goes on forever,”
the young man laughed. “There must be a thousand insects falling into it every time you catch a breath. You can’t
think that you’re making a difference.”
In answer, the old man simply stooped
down and scooped a small honeybee into his hand. Gently, he placed the honeybee on a warm, dry stone. “I just made a
difference to that life, didn’t I?”
The only significant differences
that humans have ever made on this planet have always begun with the small, consistent efforts of an individual who is willing
to work as long as it takes to make that difference.
If you don’t believe me, then
ask any overnight success how long they worked at becoming successful. Ask anyone who has a fulfilling relationship, how much
energy and time went into building that relationship. Ask anyone who has come to terms with who they are, exactly how long
it took them to cultivate their sense of self-worth. Or ask anyone who has achieved their dream, how long they worked at accomplishing
that dream.
We all know that success takes time.
We all know that success isn’t easy. But if that is true, then why do so many people give up before they’ve even
begun? Why do so many people look at a challenge, begin to feel overwhelmed, and immediately say that the challenge is too
hard?
Perhaps, people have forgotten the
power of process…
The power of process is explained
and examined further in A River Worth Riding: Fourteen Rules for Navigating Life. You'll find links to Amazon.com
in our Galley should you wish to purchase a copy. If you would like to read the rest of this chapter without purchasing a copy of
the book, click here.
What's the bottom line on
process? Your life is built of nothing but moments. Millions of moments, exactly like the moment you’re experiencing
now. You can use those moments to move mountains. You just need the courage to begin, so don’t give up before you start.
Learn to honor the power of process.
