Are You Floating Your Boat, Or Sinking Your Ship?

Tracy’s been having some lousy days lately. Her latest and greatest deal fell through, her clients were less than pleased, and her little cat had been sick.  Having a happy thought probably wasn’t top of her to do list.

What were you aware of today?  Did you notice what you were thinking?  Maybe what you were feeling was more obvious?  If you’ve been reading my posts (and I just want to say thanks for all your encouragement) you’ll know I’ve been aware of some oddly and decidedly unfriendly thoughts this past week.

My friend Tracy, must have decided to join the same club.  She shouldn’t have bothered…it’s not much of a group…I should probably get a sign, beware…for your own benefit keep away.  Or maybe if I shine a light or two no-one else would get caught on those twin cliffs of despair and despondency.

Lighthouses don’t go running all over an island looking for boats to save:
they just stand there, shining.~Anne Lamott

She was certain being a realtor was all wrong for her.  She couldn’t do it…she wasn’t up to dealing with…basically everything.

Tracy’s big challenge was she that was stuck on that old roller coaster of thoughts, up and down and round and round.  Been there, seen it, done it…and I confessed all here.

And here she was, clients mad…cat sick…deal down the drain.  Cat sick…deal sunk…clients sue…no they weren’t going to sue…but hey let’s make matters worse…what else could happen…surely we can imagine even greater calamities.

I got fired, my cat died, and now I’m being taken to court…woa there, hold on just a minute…relax a little Tracy.  Give yourself a break.

She desperately needed some new assumptions, since, as we all know…don’t we…that assuming things you really don’t want to show up in your life isn’t only unhelpful, it verges on being crazy making.  Just ask me.

Our assumptions are going to float our boat or sink our ship.  So because I’m helpful like that, I shared some assumptions I’d learned along the way.  And whilst it’s true, I can still get into trouble when my thoughts begin bucking like the proverbial donkey or is it bronco…I’m managing those pesky thoughts quicker and better.

My learned assumptions…and no it’s not learn-ed as in being super duper clever, its just what I’ve picked up and accepted along the way.

 

Now is the only moment that counts

Staying focused on what had happened…no, more than that…making what actually happened so much worse in our imagination, actually does just that, makes matters worse.  Tracy had run and rerun the recent events in her life over and over again until it became unclear what really happened and what her imagination told her had happened.

Yet, the important thing to remember, is that there’s only one moment that matters and that’s now.  And now is where our opportunity lies to experience different outcomes…to imagine what we want, not imagine worse case scenarios.  Currently, neither best case or worst case is ‘real’ and Tracy’s in a position to create the future she would like, not focus on what she fears the most.  ‘Cos as we all know what we fear always finds us.

 

Ask yourself what do I want over and over again and it’ll become really clear what you do want in life.

How many times have you been frustrated because you weren’t sure you were doing the right thing…had you made the right career choice, should you be doing something different?  That’s where Tracy was.  Not a happy place, and it was made worse by the fact that her friends seemed totally involved and passionate about what they were doing…maybe it was time for her to change careers.  Maybe she just wasn’t suited to what she did.  Oh my.

It’s all too easy to get off track when others are totally involved and passionate about what they’re doing, and all you have is a giant question mark as to whether you’re doing the right thing for you.  But the experience of asking yourself repeatedly what do I really want and taking the time to honestly listen to the answer, gives you the power of  really ‘knowing’ who you are and what it is you want to experience in your life.

And should you discover you truly do feel more joyful taking another path, then you can move into it with ease and grace and no giant question marks.

As you start to walk out on the way, the way appears ~  Rumi 

Knowing what you want means you no longer focus on what you don’t want.

The world is filled with wonders.  What to choose can be a challenge…but answer the question what do I want and then take a pause, what does it feel like, what pictures can you see in your mind’s eye, what sounds do you hear.  Sit in silence with yourself, as Virginia Wolf once said my mind works better in idleness and so does ours.  Give yourself the space to get your best ideas.

If there’s no lifting of your spirits, no joy, no thrill of expectation, ditch it…it’s not for you.  So what if you don’t want to climb mountains or be a computer genius or save the world from some great ordeal.  You have your life to live and it’s precious and important and beautiful and some other soul will want those other things.  And who knows, maybe, one day you’ll want them too.  Just not today, not now and now is the only thing that counts.

Give up ‘shoulding’ on yourself.

How many shoulds and musts do we get every day?  All the stuff we hear on television, or from our friends and sometimes our family can put us under pressure.  I really ought to be happier, slimmer, more spiritual, work harder, talk less, talk more…blah, blah.  Its’ exhausting just listening to it, never mind trying to be it.

Which is where the power of having worked out what you want comes into it’s own.  Knowing you’re always asking and answering the question what do I want liberates you.  Instead of running around chasing after what you ‘should’ be doing you now have the time, and most importantly the energy to follow the desires of your heart.

Isn’t it amazing that so many people are doing wonderful things in life, and now you can breathe a sigh of relief and join them.  Who cares if five or ten other people think you ‘should’ be doing something other than what you desire…you are dancing to the tune of your own music and the rhythm suits you perfectly.

Assumptions, choosing what you want and living in this moment can transform your life.

Tracy’s currently giving it a whirl.  So far so good…she’s working on a new deal with her old clients, and her cat is doing great.

Are you floating, your boat or sinking your ship?

Encourage one another.

Love Elle.

Photo credits
versageek
Alice PopKorn 

 

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