Once there was a squirrel named Monty.
While Monty loved to climb trees and hunt for nuts like the other squirrels, something about his everyday squirrel life just wasn’t satisfying.
Monty wanted more out of life.
He asked the forest animals what he should do to get more out of life.
“Fly higher,” the eagle told him.
“Hide until trouble passes,” said the possum.
“Let your light shine!” blinked the lightning bug.
Every animal had a different bit of advice, but Monty still didn’t know what to do.
Monty watched Snake slither across the forest floor with disarming confidence. She seemed to know exactly where she was going.
Monty thought Snake must have the answers, so he asked if she knew how to get more out of life.
“Of course, I know,” Snake hissed. “You need GOALSSSSS.”
Monty had never heard of goals before, but he immediately wanted some.
Snake explained that GOALS give you a sense of purpose. They make wonderful things happen and you feel really good about yourself for getting them.
“That’s exactly what I’ve been looking for!” the squirrel exclaimed. “Tell me, Snake, where can I get some goals?”
“Just make them up, little squirrel.”
Monty had no idea how to make up goals. “What are your goals?” he asked.
Snake lifted herself up and stared Monty in the eyes. “My goal is the besssst. I shall become King of the forest and have everyone pay tribute by bringing me the juiciest rodents.”
Monty felt a bit queasy. “Thanks for the tip!” he said, backing away.
As Snake slithered off under a rock wall, Monty thought about Snake’s goal. If she had a goal to be King of the forest, maybe he should do that, too.
So Monty borrowed Snake’s goal. He went to all forest animals, and told them about his goal to be King of the forest.
Most of the animals just laughed. Possum and Beetle warned him not to make himself so visible.
No one seemed to like his goal very much.
Monty did feel purposeful campaigning to be King of the forest, but the good feeling didn’t last very long. Soon, he was back to longing for something more again.
The squirrel explained his problem to Snake, because she seemed to have all the answers.
“You need to have your own goalsssss,” Snake hissed. “A goal has to be something YOU want. Besides, there can only be one King.”
Monty scampered up a tree to his favorite branch overlooking the meadow to have a think. He was feeling very hungry and really wanted some nuts.
“I’ve got it! My goal is to have the biggest nut collection in the forest.”
Monty leaped down the tree and set off on a mission. He dug a deep hole, and for the next several days, gathered all the acorns, chestnuts, walnuts and hickory nuts he could find.
Soon Monty had filled the hole with nuts of all shapes and sizes. He stood over the hole in triumph.
“I have achieved my goal!” he announced to the forest.
Nothing happened.
Monty had expected the sky to light up in rainbow colors in recognition of his accomplishment, or at least for some applause, but no one seemed to notice.
Even after getting his goal, nothing was different. Monty still had a longing to get more out of life.
If he couldn’t find it in a goal, where could he find something MORE?
Monty felt hopeless. He tried thinking of all the things he loved, but nothing made him feel better.
The little squirrel cried himself to sleep.
In the morning when Monty awoke, he felt strangely empty. He thought, “If I want more out of life, maybe I need to know where the feeling of ‘more’ comes from.”
The squirrel sat quietly in the question. He heard the sparrows chirping, the wind through the leaves, and field mice scuffling through the grass. It was so peaceful.
“What you’re looking for is right here.”
Monty looked around, startled, but there was no one there. The voice seemed to come from within, but he wasn’t doing it. Where did it come from?
“Isn’t this what you were looking for?”
The voice was like a gentle breeze.
Monty noticed the sunlight playing through the trees and the shadows dancing across the ground. He felt warm and happy.
This was the “more” he’d been looking for, and it was even better, because he didn’t need goals or purpose to get it.
Enjoyment was right here.
Whatever your goals may be, they will never create the feeling you’re looking for.
You can chase them across the world, conquer your goals, and then make up new ones to keep chasing.
But if what you’re after is a nice feeling (security, peace, fulfillment, love) – Here and Now is the only place that will ever appear, and you don’t have to do anything to get it.
Now, in case you’re wondering what happened to Monty after his discovery, he didn’t put on squirrel monk robes and disappear into a cave.
Monty went on to have even more amazing squirrel adventures. He started a rock climbing club and performed a puppet show with King Snake.
Contrary to popular belief, spending more time feeling calm and peaceful doesn’t suck the ambition out of you. It makes your actions more effective because you can throw yourself into creating without fear.
You’re invited to join us for REFLECT: Rediscover Joyful Direction, Focus and Ease to create your life and business from within.
This program is designed to help you rediscover joy now, along with the gifts of direction, clarity and focus that have always been yours, and then use them for the joyful creation of whatever you desire.
It’s a four week container for reflection, celebration, rediscovery and awakening a new vision for your life. Right now you can get it included with the IMPACT membership: