If you are a long-time reader and listener, you know I have spent some years in the kitchen growing up and working to pay my way through college. During my time in the kitchen, not only did I learn many skills and chef trade secrets that make my meals the talk of the evening, but I have also learned that preparing a meal for guests is similar to how we should approach creating a plan to create the best life for ourselves.

 

People often lack the time, knowledge, and discipline to create something from scratch. Our society today is focused on fast, simple, and easy. Though the notion of quick, simple, and easy is not dangerous outright, it can become dangerous when paired with complacency and laziness. For example, think of the perfect meal. What does that meal entail for you to have it in your stomach? Do you have to open up a can or a box and toss it in the microwave for 3 minutes, or do you have to get separate ingredients, mix, cook, and then serve?

 

Depending on which one you picked, you could see a major issue already with your lifestyle. People who look for fast foods or foods packed with sugars, carbs, and preservatives will have a higher tendency to be overweight. This is magnified by age, so the older you are, the worse off you will be if you are not taking care of what you consume. This is true also in the world of social media and news. What you consume is what you become. Have you heard of the term “woke” before?

 

Kids have always been highly susceptible to social media, news, peers, and video games because that is how the brain develops early. It is like a sink sponge that will pick up all the soapy goodness and all of the grime at the same time. That means a child can get many good things from parents, teachers, and friends, but it can take just one person or outlet to contaminate the mind. This is becoming an increasingly severe issue that will reach the boiling point if we do not address the information input of the younger generation.

 

Imagine this scenario: You envision the perfect meal you want to create. Your mind is brimming with delectable dishes, delightful flavors, and artful presentation. But here’s the catch—this sumptuous feast won’t just materialize before you with a wave of a magic wand. Instead, you need to take action and work diligently to turn that culinary vision into a reality.

 

Similarly, when crafting the best life for yourself, you can’t simply daydream about the life you desire and hope it manifests out of thin air. It’s about being proactive and grounded in reality. Dreaming is essential as it sets the foundation for your goal, but your actions will ultimately shape your reality.

 

Our world today is built on instant gratification, and our attention span only shrinks daily. I will be surprised if most readers have made it this far because we want bullet points and five-paragraph max reads. Libraries are on the brink of extinction, and technology will one day remove the need for paper books. This new mindset is like a chef in the kitchen. You have an array of ingredients and recipes that can be concocted, but will you have what you always have, or will you dare to create a new flavor for your palette?

 

Much like in the kitchen, where a chef combines various ingredients with precision and care, life also requires a thoughtful combination of choices, efforts, and opportunities. The “chef trade secrets” I learned in the kitchen translate into life skills that help me make better decisions, seize opportunities, and navigate challenges. Just as a skilled chef knows when to use specific techniques to enhance flavors, we must adapt and learn from our experiences, knowing when to push forward, be patient, and pivot.

 

But there’s another critical aspect to cooking and life—the journey counts, not just the result. The hours spent experimenting with recipes, the trials and errors, and the joy of sharing a delicious meal with loved ones are just as important as the final dish. Similarly, the ups and downs, the learning experiences, and the growth we encounter along the path to achieving our dreams shape us and make the journey worthwhile.

 

Moreover, as in the kitchen, where unexpected challenges might arise—a missing ingredient or a broken oven—life is bound to throw curve-balls our way. How we handle these unexpected twists is a testament to our resilience and adaptability. It’s about being resourceful, thinking on our feet, and finding creative solutions.

 

Remember, too, that it’s perfectly okay to seek inspiration from others in cooking and life. As chefs attend workshops, read cookbooks, and learn from their peers, we can seek guidance from mentors, books, and those who have walked similar paths before us. It’s not about copying someone else’s recipe for success but gaining insights that can be blended with our unique ingredients to create our remarkable journey.

 

The next time you step into the kitchen to whip up a meal or plan your life’s journey, remember that it’s not about dwelling in a fantasy world of “cans” and “what-ifs.” Instead, embrace the power of action, adaptation, and learning. Take the first step, make the first cut, and savor the process. The most memorable meals and fulfilling lives are crafted one step at a time with love, dedication, and a dash of courage.

 

As a sumptuous meal delights the palate, a life well-lived is a feast for the soul. We can fill our bellies with junk and have the same option in our minds. Will you continue to fill your mind with junk that makes you slow and sluggish, or will you create something that fills you with energy and vigor? I want you to be the dough, tomatoes, and cheese in a world full of hot pockets. There comes a magic when you learn to build yourself from scratch.

 

Step-by-step Recipe Breakdown

 

Step 1: Recognize the Parallels

Understand the connection between your experiences in the kitchen and crafting a fulfilling life. Just as preparing a meal involves careful planning and execution, approaching life with a well-thought-out plan leads to success.

 

Step 2: Be Mindful of Your Choices

Acknowledge that society’s focus on instant gratification can lead to complacency and laziness. Understand that what you put in directly impacts your well-being and development regarding diet and information consumption.

 

Step 3: Take Proactive Action

Realize that your dreams won’t materialize by simply imagining them. Creating a delicious meal requires effort and action, so designing your desired life necessitates proactive steps. While dreaming sets the foundation, your actions bring those dreams to reality.

 

Step 4: Embrace Learning and Adaptation

Acknowledge that cooking and life require a blend of choices, experiences, and opportunities. As a chef combines ingredients with care, your life journey results from thoughtful decisions, seizing chances, and navigating obstacles. Learn from experiences, adapt to challenges, and seek inspiration from others.

 

Step 5: Savor the Journey and Create Your Path

Cooking and life equate to learning, growth, and unexpected journeys. Challenges. Embrace the process and the steps taken along the way. Seek guidance from mentors and peers, but blend it with your unique qualities to create your remarkable journey.

 

Remember, just as a well-prepared meal brings satisfaction beyond mere fullness, a fulfilling life encompasses more than comfort. Choose to create an enriching life rather than settling for convenience. Approach life to experience its pleasures to the fullest.

 

In closing, a home-cooked meal from scratch will fill you with more than fullness but an array of other feelings like gratitude, confidence, and curiosity. There is much to be experienced and so much world to see. Why are we living in a box we call comfort? Why are we traversing life through a drive-through when we were meant to create and experience all the world’s pleasures, not just what is on the shelf? If you are a person who is ready to experience more in life and refine your situation, reach out to us here at Reven Concepts today!

 

Until then,

Michael Rearden

Founder of Reven Concepts