09/30/24
I’ve seen nearly every Disney movie over the past 10 years.
Why?
Because I have a 12-year-old daughter and that’s just what happens lol.
One of the movies I really enjoy is “Soul”.
Have you seen it?
There’s a scene towards the end where Joe Gardner, the main character, is speaking with his idol, musician Dorotohea Williams.
After finally being able to perform with his idol, Joe didn’t feel as good as he thought he would.
Dorothea looks at Joe and tells him this story.
“I heard this story about a fish.
He swims up to this older fish and says,
‘I’m trying to find this thing they call the ocean.’
‘The ocean?’, says the older fish, ‘that’s what you’re in right now.’
‘This?’, says the younger fish, ‘This is water. What I want is the ocean.’”
I looked into this story and its origins, and I was not surprised to find out that many credit this story to Anthony De Mello, one of my favorite authors, speakers, and philosophers.
The message is to stop chasing the next thing with the false belief that when you get THIS or THAT you’ll find true happiness.
Stop believing that your current experience is just “plain ol’ water”.
You’re in the ocean right now.
Your happiness, joy, and fulfillment are not something to get in the future.
You’re surrounded by it.
It’s everywhere.
Stop chasing the next thing.
Stop telling yourself that you need X to make you happy.
Remind yourself, by affirming…
I’m not looking for the ocean.
I’m in the ocean right now.
Rooting for you,
Jay (encouraging you to stop looking for the ocean)