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November 2009 
Who do you want to be when you grow up?
Posted on May 13th, 2009
by 
tara
tara
This is in Response to the Questions and Reflections for May 13, 2009:
I don't want to grow up. ever.
I want to keep growing into the best version of me that I can possible be.
And I want that best version to keep changing & falling deeper in love
with the possibilities unfolding. I want to grow into a new day
with my heart & eyes wide open, exploring & pursuing
my potential & purpose with joy & a curious passion.
Tom Waits - I Don't Want To Grow Up
Access: Public
ditto!! :-)
What clarity and powerful exactness with words –
Has anyone ever put together stronger words than:
“pursuing my potential & purpose with joy & a curious passion” ?
I think I have a new affirmation to use every day.
Dawn, I was thinking of your womanifesto from a while back when reading this question. I recall the powerful energy in your statements & felt inspired. (I seem to have lost the link to that blog, please point me to it if you can find it easily ;-)
Jim, my words weren't excactly flowing in abundance yesterday, so I'm grateful that the few that did show up had an impact. Thank you so much for stopping by & giving me this great compliment. i'm surfing on the boost into a new day : )
What I see in Tara's first sentence:
“I want to keep growing into the best version of me that I can possible be.”
(Even the mis-type “possible” has significance)
“I want” – a great start to any response – wanting is an incredibly powerful engine for change. Someone said, “If we can want something enough, we can do anything.”
“to keep growing” – much better than “to continue to grow” – “to keep” is simple and like a promise. Also, “ing” words carry much more present-moment energy than any other form of a verb.
“into the best version of me” – the word “into” implies that it is already there and we grow “into” it.
“that I can possible be.” – “that I can” implies taking responsibliity, a second powerful engine for change (with wanting). It may be that the original version was “…the best version of me possible.” This would have left the responsibility vague and not personal. Adding the “I can..” for ”…the best version I can possibly be” again, clearly puts the responsibility on the “I can”.
The third powerful engine for change is confidence and optimism – I see those qualities in the phrase, “to keep growing” – implying that some growth (and, maybe, a lot of growth) has already happened.
wow! what an excellent breakdown of my statement Jim, thank you for taking the time to go deeper into my words. The word want is a powerful word indeed & adding to your thoughts, I think that when stating 'I want', it emphasises a notion that I deserve it, compared to fx 'I'd like to'. The present moment energy represented with using the ing form of a verb, yes, essential bc instigating change is movement that takes place in the now & not sometime in the illusive future. Saying 'to continue to grow' sounds more like a hopeful declaration to me, something I'd like to happen, but not necessarly fully commit to. And yes, very true, the 'I can' makes one own the statement, taking full responsibility of achieving the goal. Growing up implies to me that the process of growing stops at one point or another, where as growing into points to that the process is ongoing & something to be pursued throughout life. Often it is a matter of tapping into what is already there, shedding the layers of limiting beliefs & inhibiting conditions, to get to that shiny pearl of our highest selves. I think that is what uncovering potential is about, finding the way back to who we truly are instead of merely operating with what we (our ego's) think we are. That said, my ego def got a boost bc my words are danish in origin & being able to get my point across as clearly in english, is another something I really want : )
Tara, I think the words come from a deep, uncluttered clarity inside you.
In just three sentences, you included 6 powerful present-time concepts, “growing – changing – falling deeper in love – unfolding –exploring – pursuing”. And, you also included 16 inspiring words, “keep – best – can – be – possibilities – new – day – heart – eyes – wide – open – potential – purpose – joy – curious – passion” In just 3 sentences, you included 22 highly energizing, greatly inspiring words with grace and flow – that is amazing!