When I was in college, I had a vinyl recording of the London Philharmonic performing “The Planets” by Gustav Holst. On the back of the album cover notes were written on each movement of the music, each named after one of the planets the world knew then and each with a few words of poetic wisdom. Of all of them, I remember only one sentence that has stayed with me for decades now. It was with the movement called “Neptune.” The sentence read:
What the mind yearns for most is not to know, but to believe.
For years I considered it forward and backward. I wondered about it and applied to situations in my life.I asked myself whether knowing or believing was the core of everything. Which defined me? Which moved me forward? In the last few years, I’ve come to see it as it was written and understand this way …
I can know what are my strengths and talents. I can understand with my mind what values and value I bring to the table. But if I don’t believe what I know, I undermine them. If I choose not to see what I see right in front me, if I choose not to know what I know, and instead listen to other voices around me, I’ll never be a work of art, I’ll simple be a mirror — at best a reflection. No matter how perfect a mirror, it’s can be replicated by silvering some glass and placing where I stand. What’s in the room decides what’s in the mirror.
A mirror brings nothing new. A mirror is all give back and no give.
But if I believe in my own ability to see what I see — to look for and find my own world view and experience — then I learn how to believe in what I know. And other people begin to take interest in my thinking despite the curved lines and the flaws.
Art brings a new view. It gives and can give back too.
All true leadership and influence starts with a compelling core belief based in knowledge.
Competence and commitment are the fuel that ignites a call to action.
Stop right now. Ask yourself, what do you know?
What would it take for you to believe that?
Then act on what you believe and know.
You will have your true north direction.
And knowing where you’re is irresistibly attractive.
Be irresistible.
–ME “Liz” Strauss
Work with Liz on your business!!
