Lifestyle
Break Free and Live!
There is one thing that immobilizes me that is really puzzling, a commitment or misplaced loyalty to the wrong thing. I recently discovered that I was unable to articulate how I was feeling for many months, until yesterday (Friday Feb 27th, 2009 my parents 52nd Wedding Anniversary date), the feeling of feeling trapped, unable to break free of this overwhelming feeling of obligation. For some this is easy to deal with and yet for me I struggled with what I was sensing, I was not doing what I should be doing and I was doing it for the wrong reasons. I can’t go into details but I can tell you I was participating in a way that kept me from being truly effective in my consulting practice.
What keeps you feeling trapped, how can you break free from it and what will you do if you could break free? The questions are many aren’t they? I know this, once I made the decision and sent the message I was resigning from the Board and would not be participating in a new business start up, I suddenly felt like I broke free to live. I broke free of feeling I wasn’t doing the job I should have been doing and I couldn’t do what I really felt passionate about, What a great day! I am now wondering down a new path and can’t wait to see what lay’s before me.
So Break Free and Live! Don’t do something you know deep inside you shouldn’t be doing, set yourself free to do the work you are truly passionate about. It sounds easy but it isn’t, think things through and make sure what you are feeling is accurate and not just you being emotional. Seek the counsel of those you respect and know you to help you process those emotions, you will blessed by them many times over as they express to there insight.
Break Free and Live! You only have one life to live, make it the life you’re suppossed to live.
The Checklist
Firstly let me apologize for not writing lately, life has a way of taking me away from the very thing I love to do. Why is it that when we go through tough times we focus on all the wrong things? If you become unemployed, you stare at what money you have and thats where you keep your focus. So when the money gets low we go into fits of rage and panic and so on. I can share this because I have done it, I still do it! We all want to meet our obligations no matter what they are, we don’t want to feel bad or be viewed as a bad risk or be known for not keeping our word. How can we stop from being sucked into that vortex, that downward spiral of beating ourselves up and feeling immobilized by our circumstances?
Make a Checklist! Ask your self a couple of questions, they’ll feel backwards, not solving your challenges, but if you truly think about them and act on them, they will indeed take you down the road to recovery. You will be able to turn the tables and get back to feeling that you have value and you are contributing to a higher cause…that cause is you! This list is designed to help you take the focus off of you and put it on other people. I have three questions that I try work from on my checklist.
1.) Are you doing what you were meant to do? (ask people who know you well what they think you are naturally are gifted at, whats your passion?)
2.) What action have you taken to determine question #1? (start working towards your passion regardless of resources)
3.) How many people are better off because you lived? (take what you are passionate about and help other people, you will be rewarded)
It seems simplistic and most people have a very hard time taking their eyes off themselves and putting them on others. The real solution to changing your life is to invest your time and money in others, the rewards are far greater than anything you could have ever dreamed. Don’t be opportunistic by looking for opportunities in other peoples hard luck, that will work against you and only serves you. Just help others see a better way to changing where they are.
I have always tried to encourage people who come in contact with me, I tell them they can be better than they are, this is a work in progress of course and you haven’t arrived yet. Strive to be the best you you can be, truly care for others and help them when you have nothing to help them with… except you.
The Checklist can help you focus on a more higher greater good, helping others and building them up. It’s Biblical too 🙂
Many Blessings
My Walk to The Mailbox
I was reading this morning in Walking With God and suddenly I was overwhelmed and I just had to write you and share my experience this morning.
I woke up this morning with my heart filled with hope, because today I was to go outside for the first time in 6 days, I was going to try and drive! I have been wrestles and wanting to get mobile and do something, I’m not very patient at the best of times as you know. So I asked God, Do you want me to drive today? I listened and then a huge shooting pain hit me, yes, right where I was opened up to fix my Hernia. I took that as a NO! So I then asked if he wanted me to try and walk to the Mailbox today, I heard nothing. So, I took my shower and cleaned up as well as you can clean me up, grabbed my coat and made my way outside. What a great moment it was, I felt the sun on my face and took a deep breath, then I took my first steps. I wanted to walk in my normal way of walking but I was scared, what if I slip? Could you imagine the pain? Would I really hurt myself? As you can see a full range of emotions was racing through my head, I found myself looking for Mommy.
I went to my car, opened the door and looked in the console. Why? I was looking for my wallet! I couldn’t find it anywhere, I knew for sure then I was not supposed to drive this day. I closed the door and looked across the valley, what a beautiful day it is for a walk I thought. I got to the end of the drive way and found myself remembering the first day I left home as a teenager, I said, well this it. Look out world here I come!
I also found myself walking like I was a hundred years old, taking baby steps and making my way to the mailbox. There was lots of frost on the ground so I was concerned about slipping and falling, if I did I knew I would be down for sometime crying I’m sure from the pain, not from the impact but from the sudden movement and tightening of muscles and would I tear open up the incision? There’s a reason why they say 4 to 6 weeks for recovery, but I want it over in a week of course J
I got to the mailbox with anticipation, what’s in here I wonder…Yippee No Bills! As I close the mailbox I look back towards the house and thought, I’m half way there and I didn’t fall. The commercial on TV came to mind, Help I’ve fallen and I can’t get up! I’m kind of weird at the most unusual moments but most people already know that about me…my silly switch just clicked. I walked back home without incident, it was a small victory.
Once back inside I made a cup of tea and thanked God for the walk to the mailbox, after all, God is busy why should he take time to walk with me to the mailbox? I picked up the book once again and continued to read Walking With God….a sense of peace and humility came over me, we all need to take a walk with God no matter what we’re going through. Stop and ask him, you’ll be pleasantly surprised.
Many Blessings,
Owen
Make A Difference, Validate Someone Today!
Late Breaking News!
Christmas as we know it will never be the same 🙁
