The path of least hurdles

Wednesday, February 28, 2007
By Walt F.J. Goodridge
Special to the Saipan Tribune


The only way to take control of your life, raise your standard of living and move beyond merely surviving is to create your own unique product or service that you offer to increasing numbers of people in exchange for the things of value that you desire. This simple formula applies to countries as well as people. A self-sufficient economy has its own products or services of value to export to the world. Similarly, a self-sufficient individual has something of value to exchange in the global marketplace. That thing of value is based on your natural talent, skill, or interest—in other words, your passion!

How often have you heard some advice prefaced by the statement:

"There are only two types of people..."? Well today, I’d like you to consider that there really are only two types of people: Those who are here for the service of self, and those who are here for the service of others.

The path towards one or the other of these ideal states of being is a gradient so there are no absolutely self-serving individuals, just as there are no absolutely selfless individuals. However, everyone here is striving towards one ideal or the other.

In understanding how the world works, and why things happen the way they do, therefore, it might be more productive to assess the reality you observe and people’s responses not in terms of good or bad in a moral or ethical sense, but in terms of how these responses manifest one’s orientation, and move a person closer to the ideal of service to self, or closer to the ideal of service to others.

Now while we’ll agree that an orientation towards service to others is the more noble and positive path, don’t naively expect that everyone chooses equally, or that everyone is on the same path.

Now having said that, the next question is, how does an individual make the choices that put one on the path of service to others? It is instructive to adopt the following belief: Everything is a catalyst.

In other words, every desire, every pain, every deceit, every judgment, every fear, every happy event is a potential catalyst to push you in one direction or the other. Limitations, adversity, scarcity, chaos and all life’s experiences are here to give you the opportunity to interpret them and then exercise your free will to use the situation as a catalyst to act 1. in the service of self, or 2. in the service of "other selves." Your choices, given all that life throws at you, define you and are essentially what life here is all about.

To make the best use of all of life’s catalysts, therefore, and to optimize your spiritual growth, you may wish to ponder the following question:


What is the affirmative use of this apparent limitation?

For example, if you are sick, in your quest for health, ask yourself, what is the affirmative use of this apparent limitation? How can I respond to this in such a way that I can provide some benefit to others?

If you are judged or underestimated, ask yourself, “what is the affirmative use of this apparent limitation? How can I respond in such a way that I can provide some benefit to others?

If you are experiencing lack, scarcity, or deprivation of any kind, again, the question is the same: what is the affirmative use of this apparent limitation?

The decision to pursue your passion, aligned with your purpose, along with any fears of failure that go along with it, can provide the means to move towards your ideal: How can I interpret this apparent limitation, this yearning, this calling of mine, to provide a service to other selves?

Sometimes, simply by overcoming your fears and having the courage to become who you feel called to be, you can be a beacon for others, raise the level of planetary vibration and thus move yourself and others towards

You are more powerful than you realize. You are more capable than you’ve been led to believe. But this is as it should be. For it is only in one’s unawareness of his/her perfection and power that the desire for perfection and power can exist and motivate one to succeed and manifest his/her greatness.

Some time ago, I was in Washington, D.C. participating in an event called “The Emerging Business Leaders Summit,” which encourages students to consider entrepreneurship as a career option. I moderated a panel discussion on Leadership and Communication for the 75 undergraduate and graduate student attendees. Afterwards, a young woman came up to me and asked me a very significant question:

"What fields in the music industry should a woman pursue so that she’ll be taken seriously?" she asked.

Here’s my answer, slightly modified by rhyme, that everyone, including myself can use as a reminder.

The Path of Least Hurdles

To answer your question
the way that it’s posed
leaves too much unchallenged and unsaid
So, I’d much rather address
your underlying assumption
so my advice helps you really move ahead

First, it’s not in your interest
to seek the path of least hurdles
for in truth no such pathway exists
For every game has its challenges
barriers and foes
and you grow stronger by the force you resist

Everyone will be challenged
for the world sees through lenses
of beliefs, body, gender and hue
But don’t let others determine
the race that you’ll run
or paint your world based on how they see you

Do the thing that excites you
Don’t let others derail you
Your results prove their perceptions are flawed
For there’s no other way
to rise above limitation
and ensure that the masses are awed

So it really doesn’t matter
what the naysayers say
how you’re seen or even how you’re defined
For the freedom to dream
and respect and esteem
is won first, Maria, deep within your own mind


Don’t give away your power simply to fit in, or fly under the radar for fear of being judged. What’s more important than the WORLD taking you seriously, is you doing it first. You’ll never know just how high you can jump if you take the path of smallest hurdles. Embrace life’s apparent limitations as catalysts for your development and use your accomplishments and creations to show others the way.

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WeLoveSaipan Blogger Meetup #2!

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SPECIAL EVENT: The WeLoveSaipan Network is having its second Blogger Meetup today at 7pm at JAVA JOE’S! If you have a blog, or want to start one, bring your laptop and we’ll see you there!

And for those of you who follow such things: WeLoveSaipan.com is now coming in at position #23 on a google search for "saipan!" And special congrats to Angelo Villagomez whose blog (www.thesaipanblogger.com) hit the first page of search listings for “saipan” at position #9 earlier this week!

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Until next week, remember, success is a journey, not a destination!—Walt

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