| Someone once said,‘if you tell the truth you never have to remember what you said.’ I loved that. So true. It’s this thought that crosses my ever-moving mind as I ponder the ‘attacks’ that seem to sometimes come my way. Now these aren’t attacks in the literal sense. They are merely the cost of living and relating (or not,as the case may be) with people who think differently…with people whose foundation is made up of different experiences…whose filter uses a different process than my own and,therefore,produces a different end result. And that’s okay. Sort of. What feels like an attack may be projection,transference,a simple misunderstanding or any number of things… but this I know for sure:if they are coming at me like a homemade arrow in a jungle fight or a sniper hidden on a roof…they don’t belong to me. They belong to the person slinging them around. In fact,relaying the story to a trusted friend,I indicated that I felt like Wonder Woman. You know…when she lifts her forearms,bares her gold cuffs and expertly deflects bullet after bullet,sending it careening into the atmosphere. Ping! Ping! Ping! And there she is. Unscathed,albeit somewhat mystified and maybe a little tired but definitely on guard for the next firing…her steely eyes circling the perimeter looking for the next culprit…ready to use her indestructible bracelets to absorb the impact of incoming attacks. And that’s how I feel sometimes…just a little bit. And it’s only then that I remember that the purpose of Wonder Woman was to bring love,hope and equality to a world torn apart by hatred…that her gifts not only included her indestructible bracelets but her Lasso of Truth,which forces those bound by it to…well…not lie. And I like this memory. That Wonder Woman rocks. And I feel a sense of relief that yes,Wonder Woman defies hatred and leads with love and I feel like that too. A little bit. And I know,beyond a shadow of a doubt,that attacks are meant to harm not heal…that abuse is abuse – whether it is flying through the air and pinging off your arm or sneaking its way into your psyche. None of it is for good. And I know for sure,that when someone attacks,abuses,is aggressive or even passive-aggressive,they are not presenting the truth of who you are but are presenting the truth of who they are. They are not calling out your weakness but their own…they are not pointing out some denied aspect of yourself but denying a part of their own being…they are not wrapped in truth but warped in delivery. AND until it is communicated in a way that doesn’t have you reaching upward and outward to use your mighty cuffs to fend off the arrow,bullet or word (as the case may be) it is not yours to take on. It is theirs to sort through. You are fine…just as you are,with arms that are mighty and strong and character that is bound to truth. And you do not need to scan the perimeter or defend yourself – wielding your cuffs and brandishing your lasso. You need only ground yourself in hope –defying hatred and leading with love -knowing that the message you need to hear will always come wrapped in love when it is gifted in truth. And that,woman of wonders,is the greatest super power of all. Unthink this:Can you find the wonder in your woman and let her lasso the truth?  I am turning 50 this month. In two days,to be exact. I am excited. But that’s kind of the way it has always been for me.
It has never occurred to me to be upset or anxious or even sad about a birthday. Quite the contrary,I seem to have moved through each one unscathed. Twenty? Total Excitement. Thirty? Smooth sailing. Forty? Piece of cake (maybe 2 pieces but who’s counting…) So,Fifty? Bring it on. I laugh with my friends. ‘Man!’ I say. ‘The forties brought a sense of arrival…a sense that I was stepping into the real me…finished caring what others thought! The fifties? Now THIS is something big! This is something that puts all other birthdays to shame!’ And I mean it. Now,I really AM dispassionate about the things that don’t serve me well and embrace the things that do. Now I REALLY could care less about the ‘shoulds ‘and focus more on the ‘coulds.’ Now I REALLY thrive in deep relationships with people who clean their side of the street and don’t invite drama into the fold. I love more deeply and purely,know that there is something good to come from all things,and that ‘this too shall pass.’ Really. The edge of fifty rocks…I can only imagine the threshold. I’m not sure what fifty looks like…or feels like…or should look or feel like. No one ever told me and I don’t think I knew to ask. I’ve kinda’ been a ‘live in the moment’ gal all my life. My friends and business associates used to call it ‘out there’ then it changed to ‘free spirited,’ now they say nothing. It’s just me. They seem to finally know this. I’m glad that my world is more comfortable with who I have become but,truth be told,it matters little. Oh sure. Every now and again,my latent insecurities about who I should be will come rushing back…I’ll remember some passive-aggressive comment about my ‘free spiritedness’or a new one about who I am will come whizzing by my ear,but I’ve learned to let it go. It doesn’t serve me. Several years ago I left a lucrative career for something else. At the time,I had no idea what the ‘something else’ would be and I didn’t really care. I think that happens in your forties. At least it did for me. I felt I had arrived…crossed some magic line and landed in a powerful place. I had been pretty deeply ingrained in ‘Corporate USA’ – (yes,free-spirited me). Although I have always been in the creative business,I was smack dab in the middle of residential homebuilding and development. I didn’t build the houses but I did build the brands,the brochures and the big-time exhibits that it took to move multi-million dollar developments. It was,quite frankly,a nice life and one that elevated my ego on a regular basis. I did that for decades until,one day,I just couldn’t do it any more. I packed up everything I owned and went to live on a boat for a year…maybe two. If I look back,one would think I had a crystal ball or something (since the real estate world has since taken a dive). Not so. I simply followed the promptings,listened to my instincts and took the leap. I loved it. So that was my forties. A letting go,self-discovering time of complete abandonment. It’s that path that led me to come back to the work world as a Corporate Life Coach. The catch? I positioned myself as a person who helped my clients be ‘on the inside’what we used to tell the world they were ‘on the outside.’It was a great experience but one that left me somewhat frustrated and only slightly closer to my true north. At least I was moving. So now I am soon-to-be ‘the big 5-0’ and my career has started yet again. This time it is so me. I have new work that keeps me excited and alive. I started a business designed to bring products of purpose to the world;I created an innovative product that connects people to nature;I thrive in a dedicated writing practice that I love;and I have abundant creative energy that moves throughout all of my days. The things that find my focus today are things that serve the planet. Things that give back…things that make the world a better place…that make people ‘unthink’ who they are and how they look at life. Things that have meaning and yes,sometimes even a little magic. And I have never been happier. My world is colorful. It has texture. Rich hues and bold lines. I am more confident than ever before. Confident that I can reach beyond my self imposed boundaries and explore the world in a new way. I am an entrepreneur and my wings are spread…again. At fifty,I am ready to take flight. And,although I am merely on the precipice of the new century,I feel powerful beyond measure,hopeful beyond belief,and strong beyond comprehension. I feel authentically me. Not the ‘me’ that someone (anyone) else thinks I SHOULD be,COULD be,OUGHTA’ be. No. I am clear and centered and healthy. My choices are conscious and they serve me well. Fifty? Life feels as if it is just beginning. I am prepared to let go and step into a vast world of passion and purpose. I am excited to explore the possibilities and to start fresh,taking all my hard earned wisdom and strength to better serve the planet. I am optimistic that life is magical and meaningful and that the next decade will see me moving solidly in the direction of my choosing. There is territory to be explored and I am the pioneer. Fifty? You bet. Bring it on,I say. And I mean it. Unthink this:Can you let go of what it should be and let it be what it can be? As the story has it,there was this boy named Clark who came to live in Kansas. His family was a simple family -nice enough- with food on the table and love in their hearts. Clark loved them,they loved him and all was well. Yet… Clark had a yearning…something in his heart that wouldn’t stop. It was a burning desire to help those in distress and,ironically,a talent for succeeding at it. So,as the story goes,Clark bravely and unabashedly threw his doubts and fears to the side! He donned his red cape (what would he be without it?) and used his gifts…his desire…his strengths to save the world! Yet Clark had one weakness…the ultimate destroyer of his power…(Some would say Lois Lane but that’s another side of the story). No,Clark’s true ‘killer of strength’ was kryptonite,a potent radioactive element found on his home planet of Krypton. It was the only thing that could take him down. So he avoided it at all costs! Yet those who wished to keep him from his greatness put it in his path regularly. Of course,Clark succeeded in getting it out of his way and continued to soar high in the sky (chasing Lois Lane and protecting his identity) while often being confused with a bird or a plane. Wow. Awesome story. Great life. Fast forward. Twenty-first century. You’re living a quiet life in small town USA. Nothing much special going on – stable life,loving and being loved…yet there is a yearning in your heart. There is a passion stirring in your soul to do something…something that takes you beyond your own backyard…something that makes you feel alive…something that takes your god-given gifts,desires and strengths soaring to new heights…something that makes you,well…want to fly! And you think….no way. Could I? Could I really fly? Now if you’re superman you grab that red cape and you give ‘er a whirl! If you’re you,well…you could opt for the cape but maybe there’s something else. Maybe your red cape is a pen,a camera or your voice,an idea or a hug. Maybe your red cape is passing along a blue marble…passing out some shoes…or passing along a smile. After all,Superman was as happy rescuing a kitten from a tree as he was leaping buildings in a single bound. Fact is –whatever it may be,your red cape transforms you. It makes you feel like you could leap tall buildings in a single bound. It makes you feel confident and capable,invincible and inspired. Hec…it makes you feel like you could save the world,get the girl and rescue the kitten –all at the same time. Yet there is something that will stop you…. Yep. Your 21st Century world has kryptonite too. And it will K.I.L.L. you. It’s the one thing that will clip your wings,cut your cape or throw you to the ground. It is your weakness and it simply makes you weak. And – bad news here – it usually comes from your home planet (aka:family of origin). Sorry. Sad but true. The thing most likely to take you down showed up early in the game and it is the one thing that can destroy you. Addiction,abuse,narcissism,abandonment,hypochondria…the list goes on (and on and on). The point is,in the presence of it,you die…little by little,or in one fell swoop,you die to who you are or,worse yet,never get to live the YOU that you were destined to become. It’s awful. Just awful. That kryptonite stuff is lethal and it wants you –bad. So your job–when you want to live a life of meaning…of passion…of daring adventure–is to find out where your kryptonite hides and how it shows up. To find out what is that one thing in life that can truly keep you from your greatness. And then you have to kick it to the curb and get that cape! Then- and only then – can you save the planet,rescue a damsel in distress,or pluck a kitten from a tree. Only then can you rise to who you are and soar to new heights…only then can you fly. And if you are to really live…you just have to fly. And when you are flying there is no mistake – no bird,no plane – just you. Living like superman. Unthink this:What will it take for you to fly? I have a friend who is convinced that 5000 years from now they are going to dig up our remains and call us the ‘Plastic People.’ Our artifacts will substantiate the title and the new (and,obviously,much wiser civilization) will scratch their heads in bewilderment – wondering why we never evolved beyond this unenlightened existence. They’ll wonder what manner of intelligence left us eating,drinking and living with toxins…shake their heads (or whatever it is they may have) and feel oh so sorry for this limited,misguided culture. ‘Plastic People,’ she says ‘That’s what they’ll call us.’ I couldn’t agree more. The use of plastics in our world (our nation,our community and even our everyday lives) is astounding. It’s everywhere. Research combined with expeditions,have shown that there are at least 5 ‘gyres’ around the world. These systems of rotating ocean currents seem to collect our trash and,you guessed it,most of that is in the form of plastic. The truth is,the realities are just being felt. A high seas adventure by eco-activist David DeRothschild took place in the last year or so. This eco-creative guy sailed from San Francisco to Sydney on a boat made of plastic bottles in order to shed light on the problem. The goal:to help people understand the dangers of plastic (particularly single-use plastics) and to recognize the earth as our support system. If we destroy it,we destroy ourselves. Period. We are the ‘plastic people.’ (Get your tom-tom,do a dance). When I was a little girl,I used to sit in my room and think:this is my room,my house,my street,my neighborhood,my city,my state,my country,my continent,my world,my universe…by then my heart was pounding and it all seemed so big I had to whittle it back down to at least the neighborhood (and sometimes that was a little overwhelming but hey,I was 6….what can I say?) ANYWAY,here’s the point: If the magnitude of the world’s dependency on plastic or the Pacific Garbage Patch just feels like too much to tackle,just open your eyes to your own life. Look around- where do plastics show up? And if that feels overwhelming,narrow it down to ‘single-use plastics.’ Those one-time,throw it away and never look back plastics that eventually become lodged in a turtle’s throat or show up in a whale’s belly. Yeah. Think of those. I think it was Wayne Dyer who tells the story of walking along the beach where thousands of starfish had washed ashore. One by one he picked one up and threw it back into the sea. A fellow beachgoer ambled by and commented something to the effect ‘you can’t save them all ya’ know!’ Wayne Dyer didn’t miss a beat but tossed another one back and replied ‘Well,I saved that one.’ And that’s how it works. That straw I just threw away might not seem like much until I realize that I used 3 this week…and so did 3 billion other people. That grocery bag or coffee lid might not seem like a lot until 6 billion combine their loot and toss it in a ‘land fill.’ That ziploc bag (that could be rinsed) that water bottle (that shouldn’t be there at all) or that fork and take out container…yep,all fodder for the garbage patch and a dolphin’s dinner. So,if you’re just beginning to become aware of your affect on the world around you – start small. Go room by room in your own home. Begin to notice just how many things are packaged in,as,or around plastic. Begin to notice just how ‘disposable’ we are as a society. How everything seems designed as a convenience because – heaven forbid- we should be i.n.c.o.n.v.e.n.i.e.n.c.e.d. Notice. Just notice. And,if you have to start somewhere – go little. And then maybe you’ll NOT buy water in plastic bottles (or any bottle at all) or use a plastic bag to carry your groceries and YOU can say ‘saved that one.’ And then,maybe…just maybe,you can change the course of history by creating a new tribe of people. Real people. Not plastic ones. Unthink this:how many times a day do you throw away something made of plastic? I started a company from a doodle. That’s right. A doodle. I was on one of those infinite conference calls. You know the ones. The hands free device slipped over my head,three or four people talking,no one really listening…’round and ‘round we go…. (sorry to the client who shall remain nameless) but you know what I’m sayin’. I was bored. To tears. So instead of crying,I doodled – something I’ve always done when I need to pass the time…just think…or get the creative juices flowing… What resulted were three little animals made of shapes…my ‘doodle’ shapes if you will…a circle,a swirl,and a little crescent moon. I still have the originals…and will most probably keep them fah-eva.  That doodles that grew. Funny thing is…my little doodles grew…they became bigger doodles that turned into an idea…and then the idea became a concept…and the concept became a company…then the company became a product… and now the product is a brand! All from a doodle. It wasn’t until much later that I discovered my penchant for doodling…my need to visually sketch my ‘to do’ lists…my inability to describe something without a pen in my hand (or at the very least my hands swirling in the air in some fashion) made me a part of something bigger. A revolution,of sorts. (Truth be told,I am pretty excited about this…which says ‘what exactly‘—I don’t know!) Anyway,it’s not a revolution in the traditional sense of the word –we aren’t cloaked in red or blue,carrying muskets and wearing cute little hats but we are leading a charge that could shake things up! It’s new,it’s near and it’s well on its way to being ‘something‘and what that something is remains to be seen…  I doodle 'to-do'lists. I know. Weird but true. It’s The Doodle Revolution. Yup. No lie. The Doodle Revolution. I discovered this 21st century movement on one of my H&G (Hansel and Gretel) walkabouts. Seems there is a group of people who have made doodling a business! Not a brand like I have created (although that is most certainly a business too),but a true to life,I-get-paid-to-draw-shapes business. These people are called (yes,they have a name) ‘Visual Communicators’and ‘Graphic Facilitators.’They use swirls,circles,arrows,dots,and all manner of simplistic shapes to illustrate an idea ,a marketing plan or a company. Hec’ there’s even a class you can take to learn how to do it yourself. I never knew. I just never knew. So,now I follow The Doodle Revolution and Sunni Brown,the founder. I like to see what she is doing in the world and how the doodle is fairing. In fact,just the other day,I discovered her equivalent article of ‘Doodling for Dummies.’ (She didn’t call it that ,of course,it was just the basic doodles…if you’re new to the game and all….) Who knew? All I can say is that my initial doodles…my ‘go to’ doodles,if you will,are what she claims are part of the basic set. Whoa. I guess at some level it’s intrinsic….a natural part of our make up…an often overlooked yet vital part….ok ok. Enough. Just –promise me – the next time you want to thwart the doodle,think it’s a waste of time,or just mindless scratching…think again. You may be conceiving something that has just been waiting to be born. And your doodle could be a dandy. Unthink this:When is the last time you examined your doodle? A friend of mine shared something with me the other day. It was about her favorite tee shirt. She conspiringly leaned across the table and whispered,“ I have this favorite tee shirt that I paid like —thirty bucks for,” she looks around the room. “It was waaaay too much – but I HAD to have it…it’s black…wife beater type,ya’ know? Nothin’ to it…but I LOVE it! And it says…” she leans in closer…. “I FEEL A SIN COMIN’ ON.” I crack up. “No!’ she exclaims,her face super serious. “My kids are mortified when I wear it….and I seem to only want to wear it on Sundays!’ She leans back,wide-eyed,expectant. “I’m not kidding! SUNDAYS!” I’m dying (of laughter). The wide-eyed-serious-can-you-believe-I-do-that-to-my-kids look on her face makes me want to laugh even harder. I get it. It’s fabulous. I know it’s not about THE SIN (although her kids obviously don’t) but about what it represents. It’s deeper than that…more real,if you will,than some chumped-up judgment about right or wrong. It’s BIG. And it hits us all (whether we want to admit it or not) . So,I’m thinking about that shirt today cuz,by golly – if I had it,I’d be wearin’ it! It’s the first near perfect (weather wise) day we have had in this long,cold winter….I’m dying to be outside… it’s all I can do to stay focused AND conscious AND oh-so-aware of everything I’m doing…. It’s all I can do not to bag work for the sun on my skin and the warm air in my face…or to go order a hamburger AND a margarita (or two) at some outdoor café (on a Friday afternoon,no less). So,yeah. If I had it,I’d be wearin’ that shirt today. For the record,SIN (in its original Greek translation) means ‘to miss the mark.’ Yep. That’s it. Not quite the do or die version claimed for centuries,but purely to go astray…(and just so we’re clear here,the translation of ‘repent’ is actually ‘to return.’ Not so scary either,huh?) Yet,it’s still something to watch out for…and that’s the danger. I’m likely to ‘miss the mark’ if I pay attention to this scream inside of me….after all,I’m doing some of the best work of my life…and it’s flowing so beautifully! (And,no, I do not believe a little bit of sun and a burger will completely pull the rug out….) But that’s how this stuff works. Just when you are about to make strides….just when you are about to finish that project,get that promotion or launch that product….just when you are about to commit to being fit,embrace your marriage,give up your addiction,or chat with that counselor…here comes the sabotage. (self-sabotage actually – but what’s worse than messin’ up your own gig?) It’s powerful –this I’m-going-to-do-everything-in-my-power-to-mess-up my life thing. So powerful,in fact,that people keep finding other ways to call it out… Jung says it’s ’the ego;’ Tolle ‘the pain body;’ Debbie Ford ‘the shadow:’ Steven Pressfield,‘resistance;’King James ‘the devil…’ Point is,whatever name you give it,the result is still the same. You are sooo messin’ with your greatness. (Afterall,who are YOU to be great?) Who are you to be in a great relationship,have a body you love,the job of your dreams or tons of money? Who are you to laugh often,give freely,or take what you need for yourself? Who are you to make a difference in the lives of others,invent ‘the next great thing’or even just take up space in the world? Indeed. Who the HEC’DO YOU THINK YOU ARE?  So,today. I’m not going to play the sabotage game. I’m not going to let resistance,the shadow,the ego or any other part of me dance in the dark. Nope. Today I am going to let my light shine brighter and brighter. I’m gonna kick ‘the devil’ in the butt and keep on keepin’ on.
Today I’m going to let my muse win…not kill her,maim her or thwart her efforts toward creativity…today I’m going to stand firmly planted in the world that I have come to love and in the life that feeds my soul. Today,I’m going to continue to move purposefully within my purpose. And I’m going to make sure that I use up everything I’ve got in the pursuit of good…and then (and only then) will I go get that margarita (just one)….and maybe,just maybe…I’ll buy that shirt too. But whatever my choices,they will be mindful and supportive of all that I am destined to be. And I will win,not only the battle,but the war…cuz even if ‘I feel a sin comin’on’I always have the chance to choose. And this I know for sure. Unthink this:How is sabotage showing up to take away your best life? I am a real fan of Jennifer Aniston. Really. Ok. Maybe I’m biased. We seem to have a lot in common. She has great friends. (Yep.) She likes being outside. (Oh yeah.) And at the beach. (You bet.) She travels significantly. (That too.) She has a job she loves. (Got that right.) Enjoys life. (Roger that.) She’s loved and lost. (Well,yeah.) More than once. (Ok,that too.) She’s single. (Duh.) She’s fun. (For sure.) Likes to hang at home. (Truth be told.) But loves to laugh. (Yessssss.) And the list goes on. It’s no wonder I’m a fan. I feel like a kindred spirit.  Here’s the thing about Jen. Throughout the last decade,she has become the poster child for ‘the single girl.’ Here’s the other thing about Jen. She makes me proud. In a world of couples,it’s sometimes hard to be traveling ‘solo.’ Life wants you to think there’s something ‘wrong’,something ‘missing,’ something,quite frankly,lacking. (But only if you’re a single girl). I feel her. Battling a world that insists you’re ‘not okay’is exhausting. I told a friend of mine once that I realized most of my well-meaning yet ‘partnered’friends said things like “I can’t wait for you to meet the right guy’ (like that is when life would begin)…that the solution to my seemingly lonely life was only to come from a man entering it. I had to laugh. Nothing could be further from the truth. In fact,I have been much lonelier in a relationship than out of one. (There’s nothing worse than someone who’s there…but not there,ya’know?) Seems to me the lense is seriously clouded. So while I stand the chance of sounding bitter,let me assure you this is not the case…nor the reason for this post. I want to publicly applaud Jennifer Aniston. She has held her head high (regardless of what is said) and set about enjoying her life and dealing with the ups and downs -just like the rest of us. She enjoys her friends,rocks a great career (and haircut),travels the globe and laughs a lot. (Not so bad for a single girl.) And while the rest of the world imagines that life hasn’t been good since – well,you know what – I beg to differ. I think it’s been an astoundingly good life and one that she has chosen,step by step.  It seems purposeful…with lot’s of laughter,plenty of love,and experiences that help her grow. It seems to be filled with healthy options,exciting adventures,and choices around every corner. But the best news of all is that she is not a victim -of anything. She gets to pick. And she does it well. (Contrary to public opinion.) And that’s what keeps her moving forward in a really great life. One step at a time. (Or,as a friend of mine so aptly taught me… pas à pas.) Step by step. So I say ‘you just keep on keepin’ on,girl.’I couldn’t think of a better spokesperson for those of us lucky enough to be living a life so large that we get to choose our own path,in our own way,in our own time. I couldn’t think of a better representative –single or not –for someone who puts on her boots (cute ones,too) and steps out into the world with a smile on her face. No. Matter. What. Pas à pas. Unthink this:Are you taking steps that keep you moving forward in a life you find easy to love?  Eckhart Tolle wrote a book (a couple really,but I’m talking about ‘the one.’). This particular book was so incredibly powerful that Oprah held the first ever 10 week web class with the author to discuss its details….chapter by chapter.
It was phenomenal. It created quite a stir in the ‘more conservative’ groups – and even had some calling Oprah (and/or Eckhart,they weren’t really specific) the ‘anti-christ.’ Really? Really. Funny thing about that. The book’s title:A New Earth was actually inspired by a Bible prophecy that appears in both the Old and the New Testament. It speaks of ‘the collapse of the existing world order and the arising of ‘a new heaven and a new earth.’ All good stuff. So…back to the point. A New Earth (the book) is both simplistic and profound,offering up a bounty of delectable morsels on which to chew. Like… ‘In the seeing of who you are NOT the reality of who you are emerges by itself.’ Or… ‘The stronger the ego in you,the more likely it is that in your perception other people are the main source of problems in your life.’ Whoa. (We might want to read that again!) At any rate,this is one of those books that will make you stand up and take notice of your life in a whole new way. So,if you are so inclined,read the book or,if you’d rather,just ask yourself this question: ‘What is your relationship with Life?’ Oh. And then answer it. Unthink this:When’s the last time you read a book that could change your life? It’s a new year. A new day in a new year…and it’s 1-11-11. I just can’t let it go. So I have to say something before the clock strikes midnight and the eleven is lost to the twelve….all the way around. I don’t know why I feel that way. (Well,I do- sort of- but let’s not go into it now). It’s just that eleven has always meant something to me. I see it everywhere. On clocks. In addresses. Phone numbers. Lucky days. Significant events. And then a date like this comes along and I can’t even go to sleep until the whole day is used up. Big time. But there is magic in the air. Really. I’ve been feeling it all day. And I think it is here to stay. So how about we go with that? Just wish each other a great year and call it a day…albeit a great one… So,Happy New Year. May love and light guide you on the path in the year ahead and may you create exactly what you want. All of it. Unthink this:What you most need to get is what you most need to give. Ever noticed that there are two kinds of people in the world? (Ok. So THAT’s a loaded question!) No really. These two kinds are distinct…(aren’t they always?) and the way they tend to view the world is sooooo incredibly different. It’s kinda’like a default position…the knee jerk place that comes into play before (and sometimes still after) the brain kicks in…. I call it ‘The Window’ and ‘The Mirror’ It goes like this. Window people look outward first. They blame everyone and everything for the pain,injustice and discontent in their lives and ask themselves “who did it and what can they do to make it up to me so I don’t have to feel this?” Mirror people look inward first. They accept responsibility for where they are in life and ask themselves “how did I get here and what can I do differently so it doesn’t happen again?” Window people ask ‘why me?’ They tend to focus on the past and relate most things to what the last guy did. Mirror people ask ‘why now?’ They tend to focus on the present and relate most things to the choices they have made. Window people think life is out to get them. They live from a sense of fear that the world is a bad place,filled with bad people,who want to do bad things to them. Mirror people think they are here to get life. They live from a sense of wonder that the world is a both a playground and a learning ground that is ripe,rich and rewarding even when it feels like it’s not. Window people want to change others. One of their greatest desires is for others to be different than they are –so that their life will be better than it is. Mirror people want to change themselves. One of their greatest desires is to recognize how they can be better at their own life so that they can make the world better than it is. So,you gotta’ ask yourself….who are you being? What is your natural instinct…your baseline…the foundation from which you view the world. Are you ‘window’first and foremost or are you ‘mirror’when it matters most? The choice should be clear. And if it’s not…maybe grab that glass cleaner so you can see a little better. Unthink this:Are you looking outside yourself to find the answer that’s staring you in the face? | |
