"I will bend like a reed in the wind" -- Paul Atreides, Dune
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"I will bend like a reed in the wind" -- Paul Atreides, Dune |
         
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Alive & Well ArchivesMarch 2007**************************************************** -
Raymond Lindquist **************************************************** TODAY'S
TOPIC: Letting Go How
often do you make your life more difficult than it has to be? How often do
you get upset or bothered when you do not have a valid reason? Recently,
I realized I was making my life more difficult and draining my energy over
something stupid, but I couldn’t let it go. I belong to a gym with many
locations. To enter the gym, I have to show my ID card, which does not
have a photo ID. However, a photo ID is required, so I have used a photo
from my previous gym’s ID card. For the past 6 years, this has worked.
I have entered at least three of the gym’s locations with this form of ID. Recently,
however, a new branch opened near my house. Even at this new gym, I
continued to use my old gym’s photo ID. But one day, a gym employee said
I had to have a state issued photo ID. I
could have just put a copy of my license with my gym card, right? That would
have been simple. But no, I decided to make my life more difficult.
I dug my heals in and insisted that I did not want to use my license. The
employee let me enter anyway but said I had to have a state issued ID the next
time I came. For at least a month after that, I continued to go to the gym
without my license. Occasionally, I would see that same employee, and I
would have to go through the discussion all over again. I just knew I was
right about this! Usually
I did not see that particular employee, and other employees let me in without
saying anything. But I realized that every time I went to the gym, I was
braced for a fight. As I walked toward the gym, I would think, “I hope I
don’t see that woman.” I would hear myself start to argue with her in
my head. I even thought about going to a gym further away just so I
wouldn’t have to use my license as ID. Isn’t
that crazy?! Do you think that woman sat there wondering if she’d see
me? Do you think she even cared about me? No way! Yet, I
entered the gym every day braced for a fight. I finally realized I was
making my life more difficult. I realized I was wasting energy on a
pointless argument. Maybe I was right, but it was not worth the energy I
was devoting to it. After
realizing this, I started to use my license, and I no longer enter the gym
feeling stressed. I expect to just walk in smoothly now. Since I
started to use my license, I have not seen that employee. Funny how that
works, right? How
about you? Where are you digging in your heels? Where do you insist
on being *right* and end up hurting yourself in the process? Where have
you insisted on being in control when you know you really can’t control the
situation? Where have you been unwilling to let go? Perhaps
you have limiting beliefs that you refuse to release. Perhaps you insist
on trying to control your kids, who are uncontrollable by their very nature.
Perhaps you attempt to change the people around you. Or perhaps you refuse
to use your state license when entering the gym. Whatever
it is, realize that when you try to control things or people, you are the one
who ends up exhausted or hurt. You are in the one who feels stressed and
unhappy. You are the one bracing for a fight. So
where can you let go? Notice where in your life you feel stressed.
What drains your energy? Then take steps to let those go. Instead,
focus you energy on what you can control – your actions, thoughts, language
and emotions. If this is difficult for you, contact me today to get
started on coaching. ***************************************************** Coaching
Challenge ***************************************************** Take
the action above; notice where you feel stressed and what drains your energy.
Then take steps to let it go and focus your energy on what you can control –
your actions, thoughts, language and emotions. |
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