Socially Acceptable Power Trip

Just what is a "Socially Acceptable Power Trip?" Chance are, you're already on one and you may not know it!

In the simplest form, a "Socially Acceptable Power Trip" is knowing, wanting, and working towards all you can be.

Hoorah!

Now, that's not too hard to comprehend. After all, you may want it all and you may want it all right now. But you know that anything worth having is worth the work. And you probably know that you really can't have it all. And somethings that you can have aren't worth having unless you can share them. And somethings are best achieved through sharing.

We all have wants and desires motivated by morals and ethics.

But do we make realistic goals to obtain or satisfy our wants and desires?

Do we make realistic plans to achieve our goals?

Do we truely know what resources we need to implement and sustain our plans?

Do we have the drive and fortitude to continually persue and improve upon our goals?

After all, there is only so much anyone can do. First, I will clarify what I consider to be the important items or concepts necessary for properly adventuring on a "Socially Acceptable Power Trip." Then I will brief you on my personal Trip.

So, what are the important items involved in a "Socially Acceptable Power Trip?"

1. Intimately knowing your wants and desires then subduing them into reality.
   
   "Intimately knowing" means we need to understand what motivates us to do the things we do, associate with the people we do, or host the desires we do. We also need to understand to what extreme we will pursue any of our desires. We need to know the time, thought, effort, emotion, or money will we extend on any particular quest as well as the end result or return on investment.
   
   Not every want and desire we have is achievable. Some are just pure fantasy, some are attainable with proper planning and work, and others are a breeze.
   
   I want some candy and I desire it to be chocolate. Seventy-five cents and a walk to the Circle-K will fullfill that desire; unless, Circle-K is out of chocolate. Then I'll have to go to the 7-11 across the street. A little more work, but still a breeze.
   
   I want and desire to be as physcially fit as possible and ride a big Harley Davidson. A larger desire than a simple chocolate bar. Infact, too much chocolate can interfear with this desire. However, I can say from experience, that this desire is achievable with the proper motivation, planning, commitment, and savings account.
   
   I want and desire to find a really hansome, mature, wealthy person that does everything to please me. This has the high probability of being pure fantasy. Unless I win the lottery, then I can marry myself.

2. Taking time to plan to plan our goal in a realistic manner considering all the changes that Murphy's Law will inflict upon us.
   
   Once we have a desire, we are motivated to act upon our environment to achieve our desire. The larger the task, the more planning we will have to do to obtain our desired end result. Now, it doesn't take much planning to get your self up and walk to the store for a chocolate bar; unless, you live in the country and the nearest store is five miles a way.
   
   However, for long-term goals, we will need to plan our planning strategy, possible do some research and comparison of methods before we implement our own strategy. If we truely desire to "beef up," we need to understand the amount of time and commitment this task will take in all aspects of our lives. The is more to "beefing up" than just working out in the gym: its a way of life.
   
   Both "beefing up" and purchasing a motorcycle are very attainable goals; however, they do require commitment and a clear understanding of the responsibility that comes with such possessions. Both items require work, time, effort, and money to achieve as well as maintenence costs.
   
   Once we have committed ourselves to achieving a particular goal, we need to assess the reasonableness of our goals. We need to be sure that we truely reach our objectives with the resources and within the time frame we has chosen. We need to make contingency plans for those Murphy Laws.

3. Be aware that the only constant in the universe is change, and it will change when you least expect it.
   
   At some optimum point, we will cease our major planning effort and commit our energies into action. However, we should be aware that all things change and even the best laid plans will be upset do to the nature of the universe. But this must not discourage us from the sites of our goals. Life is a constant struggle to adapt and overcome obsticles on the way to achieving our goals.
   
   In reference to the "beefing up" analogy, we need the proper nutrition to feed our growing muscles and we need to push our bodies beyond that maximum point in order to force it to grow. Properly done, our bodies respond to meet change and demand in our environment. this is just the way our physiology is designed. We, as intellectuals, can reason the changes in our environments and act accordingly.
   
   You never know what you can or can't do until you try.

So, there you have it. The three main concepts for a "Socially Acceptable Power Trip." It's not too difficult once you realize that this is the basic criteria for achieving anything in life. To a greater or lesser degree you can use these concepts to get a chocolate bar from the store, obtain your college degree, beef-up, plan the purchase of a motorcycle or house, or build a small empire.