Except When You Don't
Traci
I have found a lot of wisdom in the pages of Dr. Suess, including this quote from Oh The Places You'll Go. This book was given to me when I got on the plane for my first year of college over 20 years ago. I have referenced this book many times over the years and this section seems very fitting today.
"Except when you don't.
Because sometimes, you won't.
I'm sorry to say so
but, sadly, it's true
that Bang-ups and Hang-ups
can happen to you.
You can get all hung up in a prickle-ly perch.
And your gang will fly on.
You'll be left in a Lurch.
You'll come down from the Lurch
with an unpleasant bump.
And the chances are, then,
that you'll be in a Slump.
And when you're in a Slump,
you're not in for much fun.
Un-slumping yourself
is not easily done."
I have not yet found it within myself to embrace slumps. I want to be energized, excited, and extraordinary every moment of every day. . . but then life has a lot of ordinary moments too. Today's thoughts are not necessarily about avoiding slumps altogether, but about how to get out of them more quickly. If you don't want to face any slumps or obstacles in your life then I suggest you don't go for the extraordinary - stay in your safe, comfort zone - and you will live a much simpler (and I think, far less rewarding) life.
How to shorten the "except when you don't" times:
1) Kick the Victim Mindset to the Curb. The victim mindset is about blaming your life and your problems on anything and everything.
2) Embrace the Empowered Mindset. The empowered mindset is about owning the fact that you have chosen what you have in your life, and owning your response to the things you can't control.
- Your financial situation - own your part (the things you chose to buy, money you chose to spend, house you chose to purchase).
- Your kids who are causing you grief - own your part (you chose to have those kids, or at least made choices that caused you to have those kids).
- Your problems with your boss or co-workers - own it (you choose to work there - yes! you choose to work there).
WOW! Those are convicting. I will address these in a future blog because victim/empowered has been a huge lesson for me!
3) Accountability. Who do you have in your life that will lovingly tell you the truth? Who do you have in your life that cares more about the big picture of your life than the comfort you may experience for a moment?
Be Extraordinary!