Tag: advice

What is the most difficult question to answer?

Posted on by philipdodson

The most difficult question to answer is one that we all seek to get the answer to in life. 

Will this work? Will it be successful? Will I……? Essentially, any question that involves anything beyond now.

The reason for that, is that ‘now’ exists, as the only time we know anything, as it is the only time we are alive and the only time we experience anything. When the future comes, it is now, always. But until it comes it is not real and therefore there can not be an answer. There is no future beyond our minds.

The lack of an answer is the challenge as it creates a psychological fear in us that we can not deal with. This leads to emotions such as worry, anxiety, apprehension, nervousness and so on, which in turn creates turbulence in the physical body and suffering in the mind.

The human mind thrives on black and white, it needs certainty and answers to save its poor little friend the ego from any risk to its existence.

We can not answer the question about the future and that is why it is the most difficult question and best left to never be asked.

A better question that we can answer and act on removing any fears is ‘What can I do now?’.

What can I do to make a difference?

Posted on by philipdodson

We all think that we are too small to make a difference and there is a brilliant quote by the Dalia Lama that sums it up nicely “if you think you are too small to make a difference, try spending a night in a room with a mosquito”.

There are countless examples of where one person has done a small step, every single day and created an amazing change, one that springs to mind of Jadav Payeng who on a sandbank planted some seedlings and over the course of a lifetime created an entire forest that bristles with life. He created Molai Forest which is now home to tigers, elephants and a whole diversity of animals and nature that had disappeared in the area.

And while we are on trees how about the bravery of the Kenyan Wangari Maathai who through her dedication, in a time when it was unheard of for women in a country like Kenya to stand up and make a difference, she created the Green Belt Movement and with the involvement of the UN they were responsible for 51 million trees being planted.

Look at the unbelievable bravery of Malala Yousafzai, who stood up to the Taliban and campaigned for women’s education and ended up being shot in the face. The Malala fund helps to improve access to education for women worldwide.

These are just three examples and none of them was born any different to you and me, they just choose to make their difference and against incredible odds, they showed up for us.

We can all choose to be the example to inspire others and that means taking the first step, as Brene Brown says we have to brave the wilderness. If we want different leaders it is no good waiting for them, we can become the leader we want to see, and we can become the change that we want to see. 

What can I do? Make my difference by showing up. We all have to get off the bus and stand up for what we want to see not stay on there and wait for someone else to do it first.