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Thread started 02/04/17 11:01pm

TrivialPursuit

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No Guilt In Maneuvering In Your Gifts

Stay with me here.

I believe Prince really did set an example for others to follow.

Prince's call in life was to be music. He did nothing else, really. I think of videos of him rehearsing or working on a song - and I think, "He's not doing anything else, but that right now."

Prince wasn't worried about watching the Kardashian, or Chopped, or whatever. Sure he had down time and made funny tweets, and I would think Damaris (sp) helped him along with his Instagram posts (most are in the shape of his symbol, or a 9-square collage of one photo, etc). He didn't have the distractions. He just did what he did, all the time.

We hear about band members saying how he just played and played and played. It's all he did for hours at a time. He had no guilt in feeling like he had to be doing something else, or that he was spending too much time playing and now he had to get back to real life. It seems a lot of us do that (us being people in society in general).

People feel guilty about doing what they love. We're taught go to work, pay bills, raise children, be responsible. But how much more responsible can you be than to maneuver in the gifts you've been given? Why do folks feel like "Okay, I've had enough fun for now, back to the real world", then set their talents aside to do something mundane and out of pocket just so save face, or seem 'normal', or straight up feel guilty if they don't?

Now, gifts we've been given could be anything. It could be music, painting, drawing, writing, cooking, reading stories to kids, walking dogs, making wigs for cancer patients, repairing shoes for the poor, or creating a water filter. Whatever!

When we maneuver truthfully and fully in our gifts, everything can fall into place. Prince knew that. He always honored the gifts he'd been given, and often times we were lucky enough to share that with him. To him, the music always came first, in that when it came to him, he allowed himself to be the vessel that poured it out. He once said, "When you're brushing your teeth, and the toothbrush starts to vibrate, you gotta go grab a bass."

The meaning of life is to find your gifts. The purpose of life is to give them away. I think Prince did that. Shouldn't we all follow suit? Why is guilt often a part of not fulfilling our purpose in life?

"eye don’t really care so much what people say about me because it is a reflection of who they r."
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Reply #1 posted 02/04/17 11:31pm

MonsterZeroTwo

Thank you for this.
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Reply #2 posted 02/04/17 11:45pm

ACharmed1

TrivialPursuit said:

Stay with me here.

I believe Prince really did set an example for others to follow.

Prince's call in life was to be music. He did nothing else, really. I think of videos of him rehearsing or working on a song - and I think, "He's not doing anything else, but that right now."

Prince wasn't worried about watching the Kardashian, or Chopped, or whatever. Sure he had down time and made funny tweets, and I would think Damaris (sp) helped him along with his Instagram posts (most are in the shape of his symbol, or a 9-square collage of one photo, etc). He didn't have the distractions. He just did what he did, all the time.

We hear about band members saying how he just played and played and played. It's all he did for hours at a time. He had no guilt in feeling like he had to be doing something else, or that he was spending too much time playing and now he had to get back to real life. It seems a lot of us do that (us being people in society in general).

People feel guilty about doing what they love. We're taught go to work, pay bills, raise children, be responsible. But how much more responsible can you be than to maneuver in the gifts you've been given? Why do folks feel like "Okay, I've had enough fun for now, back to the real world", then set their talents aside to do something mundane and out of pocket just so save face, or seem 'normal', or straight up feel guilty if they don't?

Now, gifts we've been given could be anything. It could be music, painting, drawing, writing, cooking, reading stories to kids, walking dogs, making wigs for cancer patients, repairing shoes for the poor, or creating a water filter. Whatever!

When we maneuver truthfully and fully in our gifts, everything can fall into place. Prince knew that. He always honored the gifts he'd been given, and often times we were lucky enough to share that with him. To him, the music always came first, in that when it came to him, he allowed himself to be the vessel that poured it out. He once said, "When you're brushing your teeth, and the toothbrush starts to vibrate, you gotta go grab a bass."

The meaning of life is to find your gifts. The purpose of life is to give them away. I think Prince did that. Shouldn't we all follow suit? Why is guilt often a part of not fulfilling our purpose in life?



I agree with U, and U put it into words wonderfully.

I think the difference 4 most ppl not doing what they really love like P did is simply the root of all evil; money. 4 most of us we can't live off what we would make in doing what really makes us happy. Most ppl R stuck in dead-end jobs simply bcuz they have 2 eat and keep a roof over their heads and/or their families. And while a lot of ppl do what they love in their spare time they always wish they could do more but bcuz of having 2 keep a job that they may not like or even hate, it keeps them from doing what is their true gift.

P was very ambitious and like he said on Arsenio; when he looked in the phone book cuz he needed a job he couldn't think of 1 thing he wanted 2 do other than music so he decided 2 go 4 it full force. Between having an insane work ethic/drive and the genius musical talent he made his dream a reality and gave of his gifts everyday.

It's a shame we all can't take our God given talents/gifts and use them the way we really want bcuz the world would be a better, more beautiful place IMO.

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Reply #3 posted 02/05/17 4:53am

anangellooksdo
wn

False guilt comes from being over-responsible.
Legit guilt comes from being under-responsible.
We all have some of both.
It is great that you made the connection between guilt and responsibility.

I think Prince let himself be himself but he also had very high demands of himself and others in his own way.

When we let society dictate what "responsibility" is, that's when we will find we cannot reach these illusory goals.
[Edited 2/5/17 4:54am]
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Reply #4 posted 02/05/17 5:03am

rednblue

Wow...lots of wisdom all over this topic. Thank you, OP and commenters!

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Reply #5 posted 02/05/17 9:22am

TrivialPursuit

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ACharmed1 said:

I think the difference 4 most ppl not doing what they really love like P did is simply the root of all evil; money.


A correction: Money is not the root of evil. The bible never said that. In fact, God always promoted being paid and compensating people appropriately.

I Timothy 6:10 says, "For the love of money is the root of all evil". Not money, but the love of it. Loving money changes one's focus. Jesus dealt with money and used it. The dude had some surplus for him and his twelve friends. Jesus also said you can't serve two masters - God and money. In short, don't be a slave to money.

"eye don’t really care so much what people say about me because it is a reflection of who they r."
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Reply #6 posted 02/05/17 9:58am

ACharmed1

TrivialPursuit said:



ACharmed1 said:



I think the difference 4 most ppl not doing what they really love like P did is simply the root of all evil; money.




A correction: Money is not the root of evil. The bible never said that. In fact, God always promoted being paid and compensating people appropriately.

I Timothy 6:10 says, "For the love of money is the root of all evil". Not money, but the love of it. Loving money changes one's focus. Jesus dealt with money and used it. The dude had some surplus for him and his twelve friends. Jesus also said you can't serve two masters - God and money. In short, don't be a slave to money.



I didn't say the Bible said money was the root of all evil. I know it's Sunday on the org when I'm being sermonized 2. No disrespect, I'm just not going down the religion road, I was speaking in general terms.

And unfortunately most ppl R slaves 2 money, that was my point. heart
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Reply #7 posted 02/05/17 10:06am

bonatoc

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TrivialPursuit said:

ACharmed1 said:

I think the difference 4 most ppl not doing what they really love like P did is simply the root of all evil; money.


A correction: Money is not the root of evil. The bible never said that. In fact, God always promoted being paid and compensating people appropriately.

I Timothy 6:10 says, "For the love of money is the root of all evil". Not money, but the love of it. Loving money changes one's focus. Jesus dealt with money and used it. The dude had some surplus for him and his twelve friends. Jesus also said you can't serve two masters - God and money. In short, don't be a slave to money.


Who would have guessed the Galilee Tour ’33 raked in so much cash?

The Colors R brighter, the Bond is much tighter
No Child's a failure
Until the Blue Sailboat sails him away from his dreams
Don't Ever Lose, Don't Ever Lose
Don't Ever Lose Your Dreams
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Reply #8 posted 02/05/17 10:28am

ACharmed1

bonatoc said:



Who would have guessed the Galilee Tour ’33 raked in so much cash?



falloff
The Resurrection tour was bigger. Free fish and wine 2 boot.
[Edited 2/5/17 10:31am]
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Reply #9 posted 02/05/17 4:21pm

TrivialPursuit

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ACharmed1 said:


I didn't say the Bible said money was the root of all evil. I know it's Sunday on the org when I'm being sermonized 2. No disrespect, I'm just not going down the religion road, I was speaking in general terms. And unfortunately most ppl R slaves 2 money, that was my point. heart


I actually wasn't sermonizing. Since Prince followed the bible, that's why I addressed it that way. And we do agree, because I did make the point that folks are almost perpetual bondage to the almighty dollar. I actually hate the idea of money, and having to survive by having it. I work just enough and still be able to live as I wish.

I remember something Diane Sawyer said that her father told her. Do what you love, do it in the most unusual place you can, and eventually someone will pay you to do it. I think Prince would probably agree with that.

"eye don’t really care so much what people say about me because it is a reflection of who they r."
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Reply #10 posted 02/05/17 5:05pm

ACharmed1

TrivialPursuit said:

ACharmed1 said:


I didn't say the Bible said money was the root of all evil. I know it's Sunday on the org when I'm being sermonized 2. No disrespect, I'm just not going down the religion road, I was speaking in general terms. And unfortunately most ppl R slaves 2 money, that was my point. heart


I actually wasn't sermonizing. Since Prince followed the bible, that's why I addressed it that way. And we do agree, because I did make the point that folks are almost perpetual bondage to the almighty dollar. I actually hate the idea of money, and having to survive by having it. I work just enough and still be able to live as I wish.

I remember something Diane Sawyer said that her father told her. Do what you love, do it in the most unusual place you can, and eventually someone will pay you to do it. I think Prince would probably agree with that.

Gotcha.

U know in saying that Diane Sawyer thing, U have me re-hashing a question that's been rolling in my mind about P and that is; I wonder how he would get his music out 2 us if he were just starting now or, if the technology we have now was available back in the day, I wonder how P would fair in the music industry?

The state of music is in such a decline and the net is so over saturated with music, I wonder if he'd of had a shot at making it in these conditions, despite the supreme God given talent. I know a lot of musicians -good 1s that's it's incredibly hard 2 do what they love even tho they're great at it. Kinda depressing.

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Reply #11 posted 02/06/17 5:09am

MonsterZeroTwo

ACharmed1 said: U know in saying that Diane Sawyer thing, U have me re-hashing a question that's been rolling in my mind about P and that is; I wonder how he would get his music out 2 us if he were just starting now or, if the technology we have now was available back in the day, I wonder how P would fair in the music industry?

The state of music is in such a decline and the net is so over saturated with music, I wonder if he'd of had a shot at making it in these conditions, despite the supreme God given talent. I know a lot of musicians -good 1s that's it's incredibly hard 2 do what they love even tho they're great at it. Kinda depressing.

[/quote]

I often wonder the same thing.
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Reply #12 posted 02/06/17 6:39am

anangellooksdo
wn

The Bible also suggests we be in the trenches with the most needy of the needy when we give our gifts.

Jesus washed his disciples' feet.

This was an act of true humility. It wasn't about people seeing him be humble; it was the joy he had at loving those he helped; people who were willing to put the work in. It was quiet and anonymous.

But he knew where His father wanted him. Likewise we must all find that quiet place where we live our purpose.

Prince had a big public stage presence but I think it was the one-on-one loving and mentoring, and not just musically but spiritually, that he found his greatest joy.

As for how he'd start out today, he might not be given the chance he was. He might've not have had a record label so patient with him, hanging in there with him until he could produce an album with some "hits" and letting him do basically whatever he wanted in the beginning.

But that is just not the way it happened. Prince lived during the years he lived, and God orchestrated everything. So it's a moot point.

For as much as Prince wanted to be free eventually, I think he knew that WB had been very generous with him as well. I think he was grateful for that.
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