Monday, June 10, 2013

Putting the pieces together


Isn’t it strange the way it seems we are already surrounded with all that we need? The missing component is using our unique creativity to put the pieces of what we love together and define our own success.
 
It struck me this afternoon on a rainy dreary Monday that it may be just that simple. I was having a tough time getting motivated to work. So I took a piece of advice that a decorator and friend from the community kitchen told me yesterday. I saw her at TJ Maxx and we talked about her doing some decorating for me. We joked that she would come over and decorate for me for drinks! She said all you have to do is pull out 5 of your favorite things and then we play. It all starts and revolves around surrounding yourself with what you love and what brings you comfort. It was a simple 5 minute impromptu conversation.


Today feeling in a funk I decided I would try some much needed self care. I did some short meditation before going to the gym. I remembered thinking on my long run yesterday that meditation is the space between thoughts. I almost always find that space toward the end of my long run. My mind is clear of clutter in the 9th, 10th, and 11th mile. It’s just me and my breathing and the drive to finish. I decided I should try to recreate that feeling today while being still. I logged a good 10 minutes which is great for me! I went to the gym and by lunch I was ready to get to work. Work. I have been searching for something new and more reflective of the person I have become to infuse into my business and I’ve been really stuck lately.


So this afternoon I decided to set up shop on the couch. I pulled out my laptop and thought of my decorator friend and grabbed something I loved. I immediately went to this candle. Its a heavy glass hand painted scented candle I made a long time ago. I love the look and the feel and the smell. So I lit it and felt instantly soothed. And then a spark came. My neighbor was just telling me of a candle she has that she loves and keeps on her desk. And it struck me. She is inspired by her candle. If I am soothed and inspired by this and I love this, maybe someone else will too.


So I snapped a picture and I put it on Facebook asking the question, Do you like this? A fleeting thought went through my head, what if no one likes it? But my new stronger runner-self replied, who cares? You love it! So I made the choice to be brave and I posted it.


Today’s puzzle pieces took me all day to put together… Running reflections, a community kitchen friend, something I created and love, confidence to get out of my comfort zone thanks to running, and now writing about it. All the pieces of this puzzle are things that I love. I can’t wait to see the picture that the pieces create down the road. Maybe going with the flow of life and simply loving what you love is the first step. Maybe success really is just using your creativity to recognize and put the pieces of all you love together. I think it’s worth a shot anyway :)



4 comments:

  1. I am reading a lot about fears and behaviors and the power they have to work in cycles to self-reinforce and literally deepen connections in the brain with time.

    So many irrational fears we create, anticipating failure or anticipating others' negative views on our choices/decisions. We don't give people a chance to like or dislike something because we've already made up their minds and cast that judgment on ourselves...and it's all imagined!

    That tends to come down to a fear of being vulnerable. If we put something "out there" it presents risk. How we mitigate risk or how we connect ourselves to it will often determine the choices, or lack of choices we are willing to consider.

    Another tidbit I thought was worthwhile: rational versus emotional decision making. One isn't better than the other. Emotion glues the rational together. Emotion connects people. What's interesting is that a number of studies show reliably that the more challenging a task, choice or other action becomes, the higher percentage of emotion-based reasoning we use and minimize the rational mind. When emotion becomes predominant in our decision making, we almost always make a choice we'll later view as not the best one. It is usually a choice that will provide some immediate relief or temporarily take a piece of the larger burden off for some duration. So at the times when we could benefit most using rational thought in difficult choices, the less readily available it is.

    That explains so much to me!

    I suspect a major part of why I love reading your blog entries is that they tend to be beautiful examples of you making progress moving beyond your irrational, unhealthy fears and into a place where you learn to break that cycle of emotional connections to irrational/unhealthy fears.

    It's a beautiful thing to read and witness! It takes bravery and courage to face all you have been.

    Hope and inspiration are almost free. Fear has a very real cost to self and those we love.

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    1. I love that you took the time to share that. I have been drawn to read it several times today and the more I read it the more it makes so much sense to me. Sadly the older I get the more I see the role fear has played in many of my past decisions. It's a hard habit to break. And I have found that for me, the pendulum has a tendency to swing in the opposite extreme... from fear based to solely emotion based. I love where you say, "Emotion glues the rational together". It's all about finding the balance.

      Thank you for recognizing so much and sharing. Most of all, thank you for your patience and friendship through the years, for always seeing in me what I am just starting to see in myself. XO

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  2. Great quote I very recently read. "When we can see our prison, we also see our potential."

    The fact is that many people never fully see their prisons or other confines holding them back from living in a more empowered life of choice and mindful manner.

    Not a one of us is perfect. We came to make the choices we do for numerous reasons, none of which are bad until we see them for what they really are and desire to change.

    Accept yourself in every moment for all that you value about yourself and as importantly what you don't like. Learn to be comfortable in a moment and you see how it's all really ok and the next moment has more potential.

    Funny -- you often see things with me before I do, so for you to say the same about me was pretty cool.

    Remember, not all fear is bad. Fear can help us survive in a situation or for a period of time. It seems when irrational, unproductive fears guide our choices or limit us is the time to examine them and consider dismissing them.

    I love you so much!

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  3. Love your insights, as usual. And I love you too!!! Safe travels & enjoy Ireland :)

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