Do You Live Your Life on Your Ideas or Your Ideal?

Do you allow your ideas or ideals to lead your life?  You may be asking “who cares?” or “what’s the difference?”  Let’s differentiate the two first of all.  An idea is a concept that exists in the mind.  For example, you may have an idea of buying a car or starting a new business.  An ideal is a concept of something in its perfection.  An example would be to live a life of freedom and independence on your own terms.   It may be of serving others by uplifting and empowering them.

The main difference is that an idea can be reached or satisfied, such as a owning a home, a particular car, a certain amount of money in your bank account, getting married or having a certain job.  They all have limitations because once you obtain it then it’s on to the next thing.  When does it stop?  Don’t get me wrong, all these events are great and why wouldn’t you want to achieve them?

Ideals on the other hand are a source of constant drive.  The ideal of empowering others resides deep within that individual and can’t be measured by anything tangible.  It’s what drives them to be inspired and passionate.

For example, the ideal of being a creative individual is much more powerful than the idea of designing something creative.  The idea of designing something creative will be fulfilled once it’s created but the ideal of being creative will live within you forever and that will carry over to everything you do.

Too many times we think of ideas that require us to think in terms of doing as opposed to ideals which consist of us just being.  It is much easier to be than to do, isn’t it?   It takes less effort and we are willing to put up with more road blocks and failures which eventually lead to our desired success.  That’s because your ideal is part of you, it’s who you are deep inside where an idea is just temporary.

So instead of having ideas of money, being a certain weight, relationships, think about what you really mean.  What you really mean is you have an ideal of living in financial freedom, complete health and well being and happiness and love.  Live your life from this perspective and you will probably find it more enriching.