Doing things difrently

Each of us have made decisions which, with hindsight, could have been approached differently, better.  We could have done and/or said something another way to influence the initiation, course, and outcome of a particular circumstance.  We make choices never knowing the full the implications of our plans, and sometimes not even knowing our own intent.  How can we get that knowledge?  By stepping outside, stepping inside, stepping aside, and stepping into. 

Stepping outside causes us to be less emotional, more clear-headed and able to assess the situation.  Stepping inside someone else's skin helps us gain inkling of their perspective.  Stepping aside helps us put our ego in check and see that it’s not all about us.  Stepping into connects us with the opportunity to see a challenge overcome rather than a problem solved.  ‘Stepping’ frees us from being locked into one train of thought.

When you’re faced with your next challenge be it light or severe in nature, first consider your intent.  Assess the various approaches available to you. Attempt to understand the viewpoint of others involved.   Judge the outcome most likely to happen from the choice you make. Very importantly, consider if it is one you can live with.  Step up.    

Planting Seeds of Potential

 

Everything we do and say can be equated to seeds.  A seed’s main characteristic, whatever its variety, is potential.  Potential speaks of what could be, is possible, likely, latent or probable.  Our actions and words produce a result of some sort, and not necessarily what we expect.  Even inaction is a response to the seed we’ve planted.  

Sometimes we become frustrated by the results of our efforts.  There are a number of things to consider.  We may not have thought enough about whether the growth conditions were right or not for that particular seed.  We may have planted:

·         on lumpy or stony ground, which needed to be winnowed in advance

·         our seed in the wrong place and the soil is unable to sustain it 

·         mixed seed, with the stronger choking the weaker

·         unlabelled seed so don’t know what will appear  

As we each plant seeds today, think about what we intend them to produce.  Will their produce be for us or someone else?  Will we be able to manage the harvest that comes from our planting?  Will the produce itself contain good potential or be barren? Will we need to do some weeding in ourselves before we attempt to plant our seed elsewhere?

Silencing the Noise

Noise makes itself known in various ways. It presents as loud, soft, incoherent or disturbing sounds.  Noise is experienced internally as our senses, and externally as input from people and situations. The external noise you can get away from.  It’s the internal noises eg fear, disillusionment, depression, feelings of rejection, lack of self-confidence, doubt, and our reactions to circumstances, that are harder to manage.

Their impact however can be reduced. Remember that someone can help – it’s a matter of recognizing them amongst our contacts.  Plan your future: write it down, share, and work towards achieving it.  Talk with people who have been on the journey you’re taking, and come out the other side having gained wisdom.   We all have particular ways we receive information, and this can sometimes stop us from developing clarity of thought.  Be open to accepting insight, inspiration and confirmation from a variety of sources.  Once we tune in to these opportunities we are able to hear more clearly, thus silencing the noise.

Which map can I follow?

Cartography is a wonderful invention.  The first known maps drawn in caves, focused on the planets rather than earthbound roads, cities, towns, villages and hamlets.  They were developed to help people understand, explain and find their way around the known world.  A well written map gives clear illustration of the features present in a particular area.  It shows their relationship to other items.  A badly written one leads you astray, at worst guiding you to a totally wrong destination.  A map shows possible routes from one place to another.  It doesn’t state the means of travelling to a particular place.  However, if you read the map key you can tell which roads are major or minor, avenues or lanes, streets or cul de sacs, and be helped to work out the best route.   

Your life and mine are a type of map.  Family and friends, work colleagues and acquaintances read the topography of our lives.  They try to understand what, why and how to do, or avoid.  As life maps we can encourage, direct, instruct and lead others to their purpose.  We can also assist them to reach dead ends.  

Can I follow you?