Despite the insurmountable appeal in finding fault and blaming others, I’ve concluded I myself am my own worst enemy. You see, generally despite the situation particulars, I have all I need to make the best of whatever it is. No matter how it came about, I can choose my next action – what I do next.
The challenges in my life, whatever they are, are not personal. They’re not permanent until and unless – I soak them up like a sponge and make them mine! Then, they are mine – not before! Have you noticed in all James Bond movies; Bond usually finds himself in some dire situation? Does he stop, find fault with what he did? No. Does he blame others, the villain perhaps? No, His mind has already determined the best thing he can do, and he does it. Repeatedly, going to the next step to resolve the problem – until it’s done.
That’s critically important and bears repeating. Finding fault and blaming ourselves or others will not and cannot solve the problem. Any problem. They’re distractions! Perhaps they console us for a moment but nothing more.
My own distractions are what get in my way! It’s not that I don’t have justification for getting caught up in a distraction. It can be life altering. It’s like a sand trap in golf. You didn’t choose to be in it. Regardless my intentions, landing in a sand trap is a surprise that just happens. My response – what I do next – like a chain reaction, determines the actual damage. How it affects or changes my game!
Carmen’s story Choose encourages and inspires me to accept ownership of my life. Only then can I have the right frame of mind, the perspective that empowers me to make the best of whatever happens!
Carmen Moshier ~ Choose
Think of it like renting a house vs. buying a house.
When I live in a rental, I’m stuck in the house as it is. Whether I’d like to enlarge a room by removing a wall, change the wall color, add a room, etc., I can’t. It’s not mine. I must suck it up, learn to accept it because I’m stuck with it as it is!
Alternatively, if it’s my house, then I can make changes. I own it! I choose.
Life is similar. Until I take ownership, responsibility for it – whatever it is – nothing changes. Here and my own story here I share examples of the difference dismissing distractions and taking ownership makes!
I find it empowers me to see it like the Chinese Finger Puzzles I played with as a child. See if you get my point. When a friend showed me a Chinese Finger Puzzle, just looking at it intrigued me. Then, they demonstrated it. Stuck their fingers in, couldn’t pull them out but then, like magic, the puzzles released the fingers.
Excitedly, I had to do it!
I stuck my fingers in. Pulled it apart. Then, pulled it apart again but it wasn’t what I expected. The puzzle wouldn’t release my fingers! No matter how hard I tried, my fingers were caught. Indeed, the harder I pulled, the stronger the trap!
It was easy when I learned the trick.
There is always a trick. The trick generally appears counter-intuitive. That’s what makes it a trick!
Actually, it appears to be a trick – but it’s a skill!
Are you interested in learning the skill to making your life all that you wish it to be?
Like so many other things, I experience stress, sometimes considerable stress, when learning a new skill. It’s standard and routine to even doubt if it’ll work or if I’ll ever get it.
But, when I keep practicing, I always get it. So will you.
Sometimes I begin to get close to right. Then … right! This encourages me to keep practicing. Before I know it, I’ve nailed it.
Then, it’s human nature to begin taking it for granted.
Forget how difficult and stressful the learning and practicing was. It’s human nature to gradually, imperceivably see it as natural, permanent. The way life is versus a testament of being open and receptive to learning and mastering new skills.
Did I illustrate my point?
If you’re ready to learn new skills, new tricks, contact me here.
Until next time,
Joe