Because I'm Happy

Recently, Pharrell Williams was interviewed on one of my favorite TV shows, CBS Sunday Morning. You know who Pharrell is, right? The "Happy Man," as he has been called; singer/songwriter of a snappy melody and some of the best-known lyrics worldwide: "Clap along if you feel like a room without a roof.... Cuz I'm happy...."

The interviewer was asking Pharrell to talk about his gifts, talent, and skills as a musician and he wouldn't do it. Steadfastly, he attributed his success to opportunities and blessings in his life, such as great music teachers in high school. After Pharrell named all these teachers, the interviewer said, "It sounds like you're attributing your success to them." "Well," Williams replied, "who am I without them? Really...think about it...."

Pharrell's adamant refusal to brag about himself

or his gifts, his unremitting gratitude for everyone who has supported him and for opportunities life has brought him, seemed to frustrate or confuse this interviewer. Brow furrowed, he said, "Well, surely you've spent some time thinking about what you're good at, the things at which you excel," Pharrell replied, "I think that's when you start to fail."

BRILLIANT! Williams' words rang in my head, and echoed in my heart and soul. It's true. When I focus on what I'm good at, particularly what I can do that is better than what others can, and what that can "get" me, I fail every time. What works is when I focus on "the song"--whatever creative process describes my current collaboration with the Universe.

When life works it's because, instead of pushing others to be aware of my gifts, talents, skills, or ideas, I simply open my mind and heart in gratitude for the gorgeous synergy. I give thanks for the intersections, parallels, and bridges created by being in the flow, focused on increasing good for all. When I contribute whatever I have to give, releasing it for that greater good, detached from any specific impact, that's when the song of the moment soars.

I Try. I Cry. I Try Again.

I love Facebook. I love my FBriends. They bring me laughter, tears of gratitude and tenderness, world news, quirky POVs, and vast piles of information at varying levels of believability and evidence. Most importantly, they inspire me when they share the words and images that have touched their spirits with wonder.

One of my FBriends from here in the St. Louis area just posted a little video, which you can watch at www.fungifilm.com ... and I recommend that you do.  It's a beautiful piece of art and also a cogent, compelling, spiritual case for understanding our planet and taking better care of her. The gentleman on screen said something that inspired me and launched me into some work on my Childhood Treasure of Faith.

As I listened to the bearded fungi-lover, I immediately edited his words in my mind, to, "If I die [working on it] and I'm inadequate to the task [of changing the way we treat children in America], okay, I tried. Fact is, I tried."

What he calls a "task," I see as a  Big Dream.

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A Big Dream is a lifelong quest to make the world a little better, to change it in a way that will have big and positive consequences for many. His Big Dream is planet-healing, mine is human-healing. We both were hard-wired from birth, as were you, for the capacity to dream big dreams--to birth visionary, world-changing, lifelong missions of passion, and to strive for their achievement.

And in our third year of life, when the window to develop the Childhood Treasure of Faith opened for each of us, the adults in our lives either helped us believe in our ability to change the world or they damaged that belief--a little or a lot. The latter probably not on purpose; parents usually do the best they can with what they know. Your parents either fostered hope and affirmed the power of applying energy and intellect to a cause, or they quashed aspiration with cynicism, and taught you that your personal, individual power is not capable of significant impact.

What did you learn? When your little self said you wanted to fly to the moon, grow up to be president, invent a cure for the common cold, build a talking robot, or whatever was your Big Dream as a young preschooler, what did you hear from those you loved and looked to for leadership and support? Did you hear:

• You can do anything to which you put your mind. (Yes, I am a grammarian, as was my mother!)
• That will never happen.
• What can I do to help you achieve that?
• You can't do that!
• Oh, that's a FABulous idea! You go, girl!!
• Oh, honey, you're too [NAME FORM OF LIMITATION] to do that.