Rock Bottom Rewards

 How high can we go, how far can we reach? When the creativity of mankind is unleashed our ability to go farther, to scale greater heights is immeasurable. What limits us then; where are the boundaries and who placed them in our path? We did. Boundaries are established by an old enemy... fear. It's those things we love and the fear of losing them that is the barrier preventing us from reaching our highest potential or discovering all the great unknowns. Power, prestige, money, the loss of affection or respect from someone we care about and applause; the resounding applause of those who approve of us all have their name stamped on that which stops us in our tracks.

Like the proverbial flea in a jar that can only jump as high as the lid we systematically determine the size and height of our jar. The more we imagine we have to lose the smaller and shorter the jar. The greater our attachment to those 'things' the more deeply embedded is our fear of losing them. Somehow we imagine that our own value is determined by what and who we have accumulated or whom we have attracted in our life. We seldom forget how hard we worked for these achievements. We remember the pain for the gain as we lose sight of our ability to create or to dream. And so we stop and carefully guard that which we have in hand.

The humble beginnings of dreams that meshed with creativity unleashed are evident from barn of the Wright brothers where aviation sprang into life, to a kite in the sky that proved we could create and harness electricity to the basement of Bill Gates where computers for all were born. These all exemplify the wonder of what could be and a dream that became a hope as the world watched in wonder. And it was good. We were created to live life in a constant state of wonder; it is the father of creativity.

Does this mean we must give up all those things we love in order to go forward? Hardly; it means we must give up the fear of losing them and choose to believe that what is truly important in our lives cannot be lost. That which is lost is always replaced with someone or something of far greater value to us. The universe asks only that we go boldly and without fear. When we do, we are richly rewarded in ways we never dreamed of. The rewards are not the goal. they are the result of realizing the dream.

It turns out that rock bottom really is good solid ground to stand on. Our creativity is unharnessed there. When you have nothing to lose you have everything to gain!