For years they have told us: “You are what you eat.” “Food is like medicine.” But what could possibly be the benefits of fish heads?

There once was a story told about a man in a small village who, because of his ingenuity and intelligence, owned a very prosperous fish market. One day one of his customers came to him and said, “Everyone in our village knows that you are extremely bright and very successful. What is it that has made you so smart?” Without even pausing to reflect, the man replied, “It’s the fish heads.”

“You mean,” said the customer, “that if I eat fish heads I’ll be smarter?” “That’s correct,” said the shop owner. “How much do they cost?” asked the man. “They’re $5 a head,” said the owner. Wanting to grow smarter, the customer said, “Give me three of them,” and then he placed $15 on the counter.

The next day the customer was back in the fish market. “I ate those fish heads,” he said, “and not only were they terrible, but I don’t feel any smarter.” “You didn’t eat enough of them,” replied the shop owner. “How many do I need to eat?” asked the customer. “You need to eat at least ten of them,” said the man. Thereupon, the customer put $50 on the counter and walked out of the shop with ten more fish heads.

The following day he was back. In disgust, he said that he had eaten all ten of the fish heads. “They were absolutely horrible,” he said. “Why, for that amount of money I could have purchased ten entire large fish.” “See,” said the shop owner, “you’re getting smarter already!”

In my quest for success I have oft been tempted and have even succumb to eating my fair share of disgusting “fish heads.” And I, too, like the eager customer in search for wisdom, have walked away at least a little smarter.

Euripides a Greek playwright, c. 480-406 BC wrote:

Experience and travel-these are an education in themselves.

Our Creator made this world and gave us the power to choose, to learn, and to grow through our own experiences. To merely exist and not explore is a tragic waste of the life you’ve been given.

The fears of pain, of embarrassment, of rejection, of not being good enough literally hold us prisoner. And, for what? What is our reward for living in fear? Only those who dare to dream, to explore, to try… Live.

The person who risks nothing, does nothing, has nothing, is nothing and becomes nothing. He may avoid suffering and sorrow, but he cannot learn and feel and change and grow and love and live. —Leo F. Buscaglia

We must go beyond textbooks, go out into the bypaths and untrodden depths of the wilderness and travel and explore and tell the world the glories of our journey. —John Hope Franklin

So what do you think? Fish heads for lunch? Today ask to have the blinds of self- deception lifted, ask to know what fears are holding you back. Grab a sheet of paper and make a list of all the possible lies you tell yourself and then list the desires of your heart.

What would you do if you thought all things were possible?

The only thing that stands between a man and what he wants from life is often merely the will to try it and the faith to believe that it is possible. —David Viscott

I believe in you. It’s time to believe in yourself and that you can choose to live your Life on Purpose.

Share this with a friend. Fish heads, anyone?

Of course, you should always consult your doctor before adding fish heads to your diet. Get my favorite quotes.

Also if you would like to have my daily blog post emailed to you daily, click here and simply give me your first name and email address and put email me your posts in the comment box.

Thanks for visiting Life On Purpose. My desire and hope is to share with you some of the thoughts and ideas that have assisted me on my journey. A journey that has been full of experiences, opportunities and blessings that would not have happened it I had not surrendered to a power higher and greater than my own.