Instead of always in the mode of “trying”, what would “doing” look like?
For years, I have been trying to find something that gave me as much joy as playing the flute.
I hired a coach. She asked me if that was working for me.
Such a simple question, with a simple answer.
I’d never thought of it that way. Trying isn’t working.
What are you still “trying” to do that is not serving you?
Maybe “trying” is a term for, “I am not ready to do”?
Am I ready now?
Are you?
Go on this mental ride with me for a minute. What if you just did the thing instead of “tried”? Doing involves movement – going forward or backward.
Think back to your childhood. What did you want to do more than anything while sitting next to your parents and listening to those sermons at church? Did you want to try to be somewhere else? No! You didn’t want to try! You just wanted to! You wanted to run, do somersaults, cartwheels, play on the playground. You wanted to play with your friends!
I remember my training—the training of learning to sit still. I either got a squeeze on the knee, a look of disapproval, a piece of candy to bribe me, or if I was really lucky, my dad was packin’ cookies in his pocket from connection time right before church, and he would hand me one every now and then (and have one himself) and pacify me for a little longer. Like Pavlov’s dog, I was trained to be still.
I use these same techniques with my child.
Not saying those methods were wrong. What I am saying is we learn from a very early age to be still. Stillness is rewarded.
Stillness can have benefits. Calming of nerves. Settling to prevent harm. Etc.
But what if I confused stillness with trying? Seems that I have. They look the same in my life.
Does it look this way in yours?
I wait patiently for a cookie to magically appear. Waiting for the right time. Waiting for the right opportunity.
I hold in uncertainty, hoping not to cause a disapproval in others.
I may try and wiggle a bit, but I know what to expect if I am still.
It provides certainty.. comfort…
But, is that all I want?
Is being still what you really want?
Close your eyes for a minute, and imagine yourself in that pew. What if they started playing your favorite song? What if because you loved being on stage, you ran right up there. You danced and sang your heart out. What if they even handed you the microphone. Oh, imagine the joy! And when your friends come join you and the show you put on – how fun! And, when the song ends, you are tired, so you find a pew to rest under, but quickly decide you want to log roll down toward the pulpit under people’s feet. And, just as you were about to bonk someone’s legs, they picked them up. How delightful, right!?!
Can’t you see it now? “Church is so Much Fun!” – the musical.
Now, open your eyes. Breathe. What do you want to do? What makes your heart soar? What makes this world a genuinely more beautiful and happy place? What is it that you can give?
What if you did it? What if you just. did. it?
Well. I don’t know. But I am going to just do it. Here I am.
I have light to shine on this world. I know I want to have a wildly successful blog. I want to impact millions of people to help them move forward in their dreams and make this world a better place.
I want to work for fun. Every. Day.
I want to create a life I love.
And, I want to help others do the same.
Keep coming back here! Cheer me on.
I am doing it. Let’s see where this thing goes.