Aspiration vs ambition

Do you consider yourself ambitious? How about aspirational?

If you had to choose one to describe your current season in life, which would it be?

I’m reeling, somewhat, from having stumbled across this brilliant bit of insight in Paul Millerd’s The Pathless Path.

He recounts the influence of philosopher Agnes Callard’s definition of an aspirational journey:

I had never thought about the difference between aspiration and ambition. But it clicked with me completely.

It explained a lot of the friction I’ve felt on my business (and life) journey – and perhaps you can relate. (Or not 🙂

We get pushed away from being open to what may come, especially in the business world. We’re told we must know what we want, to visualize it daily, to narrow down, to niche, to be precise, to be exact.

But there’s a lot to be said (at least on the spiritual/philosophical side of life) for being open and adaptable. For not having a fixed mindset. For trying on values.

This newsletter is definitely aspirational. Who knows where it’s going, lol.

But I’m open to finding out what happens if I write it every day for a year, 5 years, 10, 40?

And I appreciate being on this path with you, right now.

Almost all aspiration,
James

Very much my jam