By Mary Jaksch
If you want to be inspired how to live an extraordinary life – whatever your circumstances – listen to Apple CEO Steve Jobs:
What does this video inspire you to change in your life?
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I absolutely love that speech! Thank you for sharing this. I try to watch this whenever I see it, it is so beautiful.
Thanks so much for posting this, Mary. It really hits home because he is speaking from personal experience.
I especially liked when he said he looks in the mirror every morning and asks if what he plans to do is what he would want to do if this were his last day. Then he goes on to say if the answer is “no” several days in a row, something needs to shift. This is a wonderful barometer to live by.
Coincidence or synchronicity?
When I changed jobs some years ago I sent this video to my colleagues profoundly believing these words, two years later I was fired of my new job.
Then after quite some some unemployed, five minutes after seeing this video again, I received notice that I was accepted into graduate school, How fitting.
Thanks Mary!
Wonderful video clip. Thank you for posting it!
There is value in every experience. Life is a journey, and the best thing to do is to live fully with no fear in your heart. Every. Single. Day.
Jess @OpenlyBalanced´s last blog ..Frustrated Friday
This guy is brilliant. I didn’t watch the video but I’ve seen it before. He’s had such a colourful life.
Richard | RichardShelmerdine.com´s last blog ..Awareness Meditation
Jobs has three great stories in this speech. You did a great job to invite our reflecion by not adding a lot into your post! Thanks for sharing!
Françoise´s last blog ..Scuba TV
Thanks for sharing. I’ve not seen this before and I love the”Stay Hungry and Stay Foolish” slogan. Amazing!
Yes, stay foolish! Thank you Steve.
You might enjoy this short interview with Zen teacher Bon Soen, who talks a little bit about not knowing:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E0QQA99AcwU
His wisdom and courage warm my heart. The video reinforced for me a couple areas of life I feel really good about. I was just recently talking about how much faith I have in the unseen mystery that somehow seems to guide my path, sometimes in spite of my tenacious attempts to persist down a different path. As he stated so eloquently in the video, in retrospect one can’t help – at least I cannot – but notice the remarkable intelligence that unfolds this tremendous life experience. I participate in the dance, yet an unseen something, indefinable, is in the dance I dance. As the years have passed, I have relaxed into the knowing of the perfect unfolding.
Always always I have followed my own path and for that I am deeply appreciative. Although I care about what others think, it has never taken precedence of my pursuit of my own unique life. My commencement speech at my high school graduation was Henry David Thoreau’s A Different Drummer and was about following one’s own path. Within that space I have highly valued the insight, support, and love of my friends, colleagues, and others who have helped me along the way.
Work one loves. Again, how incredibly blessed to love all my work and to be filled with passion and the opportunity to have real moments of sitting with others and experiencing connection. And that work is as diverse as being a criminal psychologist working with inmates to starting a blog and developing products in the personal transformation and personal growth arena. I always remember the tremendous good fortune I have experienced and continue to experience. With that, I also acknowledge that I have cultivated and chosen that path, often through adversity, with my firm belief in this life process he addressed – the magic of how life evolves if we are willing to flow with it (and sometimes resist
).
Most thought provoking to me was his closing remarks to remain hungry and foolish. Just last night my dear friend told me about an interview she listened to between Bill Harris of Holosync and Genpo Roshi. Genpo Roshi asked Bill Harris “How does the universe function?” Bill Harris gave a lengthy and rather intellectual response. Genpo Roshi replied: “Now doubt that”. The implication is where you are certain, there you are stuck. I love serendipity. Here it is again…remain hungry and foolish. I will reflect upon it.
Thank you for the inspiration.