Forever Young
“Juan Ponce de Leon, never found the Fountain of Youth. He did however, discover Florida. But this insatiable thirst to get a sip of the magic water more than five hundred years ago pushed de Leon to drive his men through the Florida heat only to discover millions of insects, alligators, snakes, sinkholes, and natives.
It didn’t end well for Ponce de Leon. In 1521, on Florida’s Gulf Coast, he was shot in the thigh with an arrowhead carved out of fish bone. The wound from the arrowhead got infected and eventually caused his death. All of this happened due to his quest for eternal life. Ponce de Leon is a cautionary tale of zeal taken too far. The quest for eternal youth is timeless, but you too can capture that state of mind without blazing through the swamps of Florida – or any other place – for a sip of magic water.
Heed the advice of Samuel Ullman, an American poet and humanitarian:
”Youth is not a time of life, it is a state of mind. It is not a matter of rosy cheeks, red lips, and supple knees; it is a matter of a will, a quality of the imagination, and a vigor of the emotions. It is the freshness of the deep springs of life.”Whether sixty or sixteen, there is in every human being’s heart the lure of wonder, the unfailing childlike appetite of what’s next, and the joy of the game of living. In the center of your heart and mine, there is a wireless station; so long as it receives messages of beauty, hope, cheer, courage, and power from men and from God, so long are you young.” — Nido R Qubein
The drive behind de Leon’s quest for the Fountain of Youth is the type of drive needed if one is to become successful at anything in life. This was proven by Napoleon Hill who after 25 years of study found one must have a burning desire to achieve and or obtain that which they want brought into reality in their life. So what is wrong with zeal or drive? There is nothing wrong with either. There is nothing wrong with the passion to achieve. What is wrong is our focus and belief that that which is outside of us holds the answer or help we need. Focusing ones energies on developing what they have within will bring to pass what they desire.
Too often we look outside of ourselves for what we believe will be the key, the tool, or the break we need when in fact, the key, tool, and break we need is already inside us. What we need is within, not without. We don’t need to go anywhere to seek something outside of us. We only need to go within. We need to meditate on what is within us to bring forth that which was placed in us at conception. We are like a seed able to attract anything we need to help make us all we desire, but again sadly, we too often go outside ourselves to find what is already in our possession and it is that misguided zeal that will lead us astray.
None the less, the question remains, is your passion on something for which your energies are spent and used up never to be brought into reality such as that of de Leon. He was looking for something outside of himself to bring into reality that which he wanted. He didn’t realize there is nothing on the outside that can change you, it only comes from within. This is what Samuel Ullman was saying in his statement on youth; “for youth truly is a state of mind.” One might say that zeal and passion in a properly focused mind/heart is our garden of Eden.
How many friends or acquaintances do we all have or know that are thirty or forty and act like they are fifty or sixty. Same with those that are fifty or sixty and act like they are seventy or eighty or older. How one ages is definitely affected by how one thinks. This is what James Allen believed and wrote about in his book, “As a Man Thinketh.” It points out you will become and have what you think. He discusses the power of thought as well as the use and application of thought and how through the proper use and application one can become happy and beautiful. He knew true beauty was a product of that which was in the heart. If you think yourself to be talented, you will become talented. If you think yourself to be attractive and beautiful, you will be attractive and beautiful. Why? People see you as you see yourself. If you believe yourself to be something, the vast majority of those around you will see you as such.
Of course there will always be the naysayers. There are always those who, seeing your confidence, will attack you simply for the reason of bringing you down to their level. They wouldn’t cut you down if they didn’t see you higher or above their status. There would be no need. But, the fact you are confident and they are not motivates them to attack in order to lessen your status in their own eyes. Don’t fall for it. Stay your course and keep on your track. Do not be swayed or pulled off by these little fires for they will burn themselves out while you continue on your track for success.
There is nothing wrong with seeking to remain young, it is all a matter of what you think. It is in you.
Best of LUCK as you
Labor Under Correct Knowledge…
Respectfully,
Rick Cox