Don't Play The All or Nothing Game

A few nights ago, while surfing the late-night television
offerings, I found myself entranced by a rather astute
looking, young man giving all he had as he delivered an
incredibly passionate speech. The topic of his speech was
civil rights, and it was being televised by C-SPAN.

In the bottom, right-hand corner of the television, the
name of the speaker was displayed as "Jesse Jackson, Jr.,
Rep. Illinois." I quickly realized I was listening to the
36 year-old son of civil rights activist, Reverend Jesse
Jackson. It caught my attention because I didn't even know
Rev. Jackson had a son, let alone that his son was a U.S.
Congressman for the state of Illinois.

The young Congressman Jackson spoke eloquently,
authoritatively and passionately. With the television
camera focused only on him, I couldn't see his audience,
but I imagined him to be speaking to hundreds or maybe
thousands of people.

He spoke without notes, and his words flowed smoothly.
His thoughts were clear, concise and respectful. He
confidently addressed questions from the press as
passionately as he delivered his speech.

As Congressman Jackson completed his remarks, and the
host thanked him for his time, the C-SPAN camera began
to "pan out" and take in a wider view of the room in
which Mr. Jackson gave his speech.

Within seconds, the camera showed the entire room. As
it turned out, the audience I imagined to number in the
hundreds or thousands was actually about 4 people, as
well as about a half dozen members of the press.

A total of only 10 people sat before Congressman Jackson
as he passionately poured out his heart and soul to them!

At first, I was amazed that Congressman Jackson could get
himself so "in the zone" for such a small audience. It
made me think how discouraged I might feel if I were to
give a speech and only 10 people showed up to hear me.

Then it hit me . . .

I was guilty . . .

Caught red-handed . . .

I caught myself playing the "all or nothing" game. Maybe
you know this game. It's when I tell myself there are only
certain times I can put myself "out there" completely,
passionately and authentically.

Usually, it's only when the stakes are high and the game
is big. Or I can only be totally who I am in certain
situations or with certain people. I'm a master at the
game. I know exactly where, when and with whom I can
totally be who I really am and speak my truth with the
same passion, authority and eloquence as did Congressman
Jackson.

I know the game well.

I also know - and too often forget - the "all or nothing"
game is one big illusion. The reality is as author Richard
Bach writes:

"Your only obligation in any lifetime is to be true to
yourself. Being true to anyone else or anything else is
not only impossible, but the mark of a fake messiah."

Further, the words of Ralph Waldo Emerson suggest:

"No matter what your work, let it be your own. No matter
what your occupation, let what you are doing be organic.
Let it be in your bones. In this way you will open the
door by which the affluence of heaven and earth shall
stream into you."

To me, the message is clear. Be myself. Completely. Always.

Speak my truth. Passionately. Authoritatively.

We get to the "big game" only by giving our all in the
"little games." If we don't play "all out" when the stakes
are low, can we really believe we will when the stakes are
high?

General Electric CEO Jack Welch was recently asked by a
Fairfield University Business School student what advice he
could give regarding a successful business career in today's
world. His reply, which he repeated 3 times, was simply:
"be yourself."

Do you play? The "all or nothing" game - do you ever play
it? Take a good, hard look at your life.

If so, these words - again from Richard Bach - are cause
for contemplation:

"Every person, all the events of your life, are there
because you have drawn them there. What you choose to do
with them is up to you."

See, what I believe is that each moment presents us with an
opportunity. It's the opportunity to authentically and
passionately express the totality of all that's within us.
All that we've been created to be.

The Creator yearns for it. Begs for it. Waits for us to be
all (s)he's created us to be. That's the real game. The
biggest game. Those are the highest stakes. That's when
we're most fulfilled. Most complete. Most abundant.

The world waits for it. Just as the world waited for other
great leaders. Leaders like Jesus Christ, The Buddha,
Gandhi, Martin Luther King, Jr., Mother Theresa and
Winston Churchill to name a few.

The world is waiting for YOU. So, don't play the "all or
nothing" game. Be yourself. Always. Speak your truth.
Passionately. Authoritatively.

Give all of who you are. In each moment.

It's Your Life! Make it Great.