Open Your Mind and Thrive Fable

A story about the benefits of an open mind

Melvin Marsh Wren argued against new ideas until his friends found great success by embracing a satisfying new adventure while he just went hungry

Bonnie and Benny, Blue Herons, liked to explore new things and places. They recently heard about how cattail plants were growing in Mellow Marsh. They decided to invite their friends, Molly and Melvin—both Marsh Wrens—to accompany them to the Marsh.

Molly squealed, “I’d love to go, especially when cattails are in bloom!”

Melvin looked suspiciously at his friends. “It’s great right here at Paradise Pond. Why go all the way over to the Marsh? We’ve got plenty of mosquitos to eat in our own backyard.”

“It’ll be fun and I want to enjoy the weather and chat along the way. I’m sure we’ll find something to eat at the Marsh,” explained Molly encouragingly.

“I agree,” Benny replied. “Who knows what we’ll find on such an adventure?”

Molly said, “Come on, Melvin. It’ll be fantastic!”

Melvin harrumphed. “No thanks, I’m staying here where the water’s nice and lunch is nearby.” Bonnie, Benny, and Molly headed for Mellow Marsh. Upon arrival, they couldn’t believe their eyes! The mosquitoes swarmed everywhere and marsh grasses clumped perfectly for perching. They stuffed themselves and then perched to watch the world go by. They made several new friends, too. It was heavenly!

When they got home, Melvin asked, “What took so long?”

“Oh, Melvin, Mellow Marsh was wonderful!” Molly gasped. “We ate and watched the Marsh activity and then we ate again. Millions of tender mosquitos surrounded us! We made new friends, too!”

Melvin sighed. “I only caught 3 mosquitoes the whole time! I’m going on the next adventure,” Melvin said as his stomach growled.

Reflection

Melvin the Marsh Wren wasn’t open to new places and things. He wasn’t interested in visiting Mellow Marsh. But his friends, Bonnie and Bennie, the Blue Herons, loved to explore. Melvin’s friend, Molly the Marsh Wren was excited to experience an adventure to Mellow Marsh.

Bonnie, Benny, and Molly delighted in the unknown possibilities of a trip to the Marsh. They were open-minded and looked forward excitedly to the prospects the Marsh might offer. As expected, they found an adventure that lived up to its possibilities.

Even when his friends encouraged him, Melvin refused to accompany them. Melvin believed that what he had at home was better than what he would find at Mellow Marsh. He thought it was a hassle to travel to the Marsh. Melvin’s mind was closed to new adventures.

Melvin was quite disappointed when he heard Molly’s stories of plentiful food at the Marsh. He saw their full bellies and heard interesting tales about their adventure.

Maybe you’re like Melvin and aren’t comfortable with new situations. You may typically choose not to venture out of your comfort zone. However, such a closed mind drastically limits your possibilities!

Perhaps you’re more like Molly, and easily embrace the opportunities in life that come along. You have an open mind. And because you’re willing to try new things, you find that your life is thriving. When your mind is open to novel experiences, you’re more likely to enjoy a thriving, fascinating life full of adventure!

Self-Reflection Questions:

1. Do you have an open mind?

2. How do you feel when a new opportunity comes along?

3. What more can you do to take full advantage of all that life offers?

Developing a Vision for Your Life

Do you struggle to design and carry out a vision for your life? Do you find yourself living day to day without a plan and feeling like you’ve lost your focus?

Read on to discover some inspiring tips on how to develop a vision for your future:

1. Allow some time in your schedule to do nothing but reflect on your life. Having time to ponder how far you’ve come and where you’re headed is integral to proceeding to develop your life vision.
   

2. Open your mind. Surveying your life so far might be a rather daunting process. You have to acknowledge fully what’s happened to you and determine whether you’re on the track you want to be on at this time.

3. This process might be a challenge, but the end result could produce one amazing life that’s tailor-made for you.

4. Feel free to jot down some notes. Think about what you’ve accomplished thus far in your journey. What goals have you established? Write them out. Doing so will cultivate more thoughts of what you’ve experienced in life and why. Are you still working toward those goals? Why or why not?

5. Be honest with yourself about any choices you’ve made that were diversions. When did you make a choice that prevented you from continuing with your plans at the time?

6. Looking back now, what do you see as your biggest mistakes?

7. Did some of those choices turn out to be wise? Why? Did they lead you down a path that you now see as more in tune with what you really want?

8. Set goals now. Make a new list of your current goals and wishes for the future.

9. Maybe you want a promotion at work. What has to happen in order for it to occur? Create the mini-goals necessary to help you meet your main goal of getting that promotion. Leave nothing out. For example, if you need to complete two college classes, include those as goals.

10. Check off each smaller goal you accomplish as you work toward the larger, overall goal. It will feel great when you do.

11. Post your life aspirations where you can see them. Put them on your mirror, refrigerator, Smartphone, electronic pad, and bulletin board. Put a copy by your favorite chair in the living room where you can re-read them often. In short, ensure your vision is right in front of you much of the time.
    

12. Create a vision board. Use photos from magazines and write inspiring words related to the photos you choose to place on your board. Your vision board is a graphic reminder of what you’re working toward every day.

13. Decide whether you’re living in “the right place.” Does your current home location meet your employment, personal, and financial needs? Is it possible to achieve your goals there? If not, consider your options.

14. Are you willing to move away? If so, include on your goal list everything you must do to get ready to move.

15. Make your life vision a priority. In order to live out the vision you’ve developed, you must keep your vision at the top of your priorities. When making decisions in the future, consider options that will support your life vision.

Developing your life vision will take time, reflection, and work, but the rewards will be great. Your life will be filled with passion and optimism once you develop your vision. Why wait? Start creating your vision today!

Want to be Wealthy? Stop Swapping Your Time for Money

Many of us were taught to do well in school, get a great job, work hard, and you’ll eventually make a lot of money. This may be true, but there is a great limitation to working for someone else. Time. There are only so many hours in a week. No one can buy or create more.

Even doctors suffer from this limitation. The average physician makes a large salary, but there aren’t many that make a million dollars a year. Even a physician is swapping his time for money. He only gets paid while he’s seeing patients. He can’t see more than one at a time and he can’t see them while he’s asleep. The clock ultimately limits his income.

This is also true for consultants, dentists, lawyers, and CEOs.

If you want the opportunity to make a tremendous amount of money, it’s important to find ways to earn without your presence being necessary. Free yourself from the clock and your ability to earn is unlimited.

There are better ways:

1. Get paid more than once for the same work. Think about artists, authors, and musicians. In their respective businesses, they’re able to get paid repeatedly for the same work.

2. An author can write a book and then sell a million copies over the next 10 years. During that time, she may have written 20 more books. What could be better than getting paid multiple times for the same work?

3. What are some other businesses that can utilize this same strategy?

4. Do something that allows you to receive recurring payments. Leasing office space or other real estate to others keeps money coming in while you do other things. Building a website and leasing it is a similar strategy.
   

5. Be an investor. The great thing about stocks, bonds, mutual funds, and similar investments is the ability to make money with little work on your part. You’re essentially making money while you sleep. You could also loan money to others.
   

6. Outsource / arbitrage. Many people set up businesses and then outsource all the work. This is especially true online. For example, there are people that sell website building services. These same people then hire someone else at a reduced rate to do all the work.

7. Ghostwriters write many of the e-books sold on sites like Amazon.com. The listed author paid someone else to write the book. If you can successfully buy something for $X and sell it for $X+Y, you can potentially make money with little work.

8. Can you think of ways to make money from the work of others?

9. Create passive income. A website that sells an affiliate product can make money while you sleep and is a form of passive income. It’s not difficult to build a website that makes a mere $5/day, but keep in mind that’s over $1,800/yr.

10. Make a list of other ways you can make money passively.

Time is limitation for all of us. So far, no one has lived forever. But time doesn’t have to limit your income.Doctors, lawyers, and CEOs are paid well, but you have even great financial potential if you can break free from swapping your time for money.

Uncertainty stops many people. If you write a book or create a website, you’re not guaranteed to make any money at all. If you go to your job, you can expect to get paid on a regular basis. Courage and persistence are required.

Get started today and build an income stream that isn’t dependent on your time or presence. You’ll enjoy getting paid while you’re not at work!