Hi Friends, What did you implement last week? Thank you to those who responded with examples of how you are trimming your "leaves" and how hard it is to let go of something. I just want to acknowledge for a moment that those implementations are hard work. And I applaud you for doing that work. It's the only way forward. And today's appeal is no different. You can read it and say "cute story" or you can take it to heart, jot down a note and apply a new thing in your life. Look at the above picture. I'm sure you are familiar with it, aren't you? What do you see? A young woman? An old lady? Once you know they are both in there, you can never unsee it.
Now let me insert a little story.
Two women were meeting for a coffee.
The first one said: "I am exhausted. I walked my trail this morning and it was muddy, there were puddles all over and the wind made the branches drop the wetness from last night’s rain on me. I was chilly and lost motivation to continue on the trail. My battery died and I couldn't finish listening to my favorite playlist. So I went home."
The second one said: "I walked too this morning. The breeze was so refreshing after being cooped up yesterday in the house. I just loved how the droplets of rain sparkled on the leaves when the sun hit it just right. It was an extra challenge to navigate through all the puddles but on the last one I decided to let my inner child out and I said ‘why not?’ and jumped in it full force! I laughed at myself, went home and took a shower. I am so thankful for a fun morning and now I get to hang out with you!"
This is an imaginative story, but stay with me. You can very easily picture these two women, correct? Why? Because you have been both women. Haven't you? Now, they were on the same path. Same circumstances. But very different experiences.
What was different?
Did one have a good morning and one a bad one? Yes, because their perspective was different.
I am sure there are books written on this; books galore. And I encourage you to read them all! There is also scientific evidence that what we focus on grows. Our reticular activating system, also known as the RAS, is programmed to find more of what we focus on. I believe we are created this way and just have to figure out how to live with our brains!
You know this from the last time you bought a car. You finally drive it off the lot, and now you see your car everywhere! Did everyone decide to get the same brand all of a sudden? No! Your car brand is in your focus and thoughts and that's why you notice it now. It is now in your perspective.
If you go back to the above posted picture, you will always see both women now. You can't undo it. You changed your perspective.
The good thing is, this applies to everything. All things that life throws at you! You choose how you want to perceive it.
The best part? Once you start training yourself in seeing the puddles as challenges, the wind as refreshing and the droplets as beautiful, you will see more of it.
It has always been there. You just opened your eyes to see it for the first time. You can also train yourself to stop the negative intake. To stop seeing the puddles as muddy, and the wind as chilly and the wetness as uncomfortable.
What I do not advertise is that you see ALL puddles as great and fun. That's not what I am saying. I want you to see the puddles and acknowledge them. Not think them away or not feel irritated by them. Acknowledge them. Accept your irritation and THEN see them as challenges and navigate from there.
My brother taught me a lot of that actually. And now I can't tell him anymore. But he hears me, I'm sure.
He was such an example of living a hard life AND acknowledging the very difficult and irritating things in his life AND trying his best to have fun and connect and see the good.
If he could do that, then we have no excuse.
Please share how you will or have changed your perspective on something in your life.
I can't wait to hear from you.
When you change the way you look at things, the things you look at change. Wayne Dyer
Need help with a particular puddle in your life? Message me.
PS: Message me for a free consult to start moving toward a healthier perspective.
You are loved. Deeply loved. Loved beyond measure.
Until next time, Isabelle
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