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I like to pretend that I’m someone who’s totally laid back, easy-going, and able to go with the flow of life. However, sometimes I find it very difficult to let go and just trust the process. Can you relate?
My wife Michelle and I are learning this as we await the arrival of our second daughter any day now. Samantha, our first, came two and half years ago and was almost a month early, much to our surprise. Since that was our first and only experience – we assumed this second time would somewhat similar.
However, this has been quite different already. The due date is today, Monday, 8/18, but we assumed the baby would have already arrived a few weeks ago. We’ve had a few false alarm trips to the hospital and the mysterious ride of this process continues to excite us, baffle us, intrigue us, and humble us deeply. What a great opportunity for us to learn, grow, and GO WITH THE FLOW.
Being able to let go of our attachments, desire to control, and of making things be how we think they should be are all important elements of our growth, fulfillment, and peace in life. What if we were able to really let go, trust, and just allow things to be as they are? That would be cool, much less stressful, and a lot more fun, wouldn’t it?
The key to going with the flow in life is to be able to appreciate what’s happening, not resist it, and be honest about we’re feeling about. Instead of blaming the circumstances, expecting always to be in control, and having to have it all figured out – we can let go and enjoy the ride. This is easier said than done for most of us and in many situations, but when we do it – the peace, freedom, and power we experience are amazing.
See if you can let go and go with the flow in your life today. Have fun…and, think good thoughts for the safe, easy, and healthy arrival of baby Annarose! Thanks…stay tuned!
August 13, 2008
We are each way more powerful than we give ourselves credit for. We have the ability to make a difference. This short video is a reminder of the power of one.
The Opening Ceremonies of the Olympics are today and I’m fired up. I LOVE the Olympics and was fortunate enough to attend both the 1996 Games in Atlanta and the 2000 Games in Sydney – two of the most incredible experiences of my life.
The Olympics are always filled with so much passion, energy, and inspiration. One of the greatest moments in Olympic history, in my opinion, happened in 1992 in Barcelona. It wasn’t a gold medal, a world record, or even a great accomplishment – it was the courage of a man to get up and keep going, and the love and support of his father that was so remarkable.
Check out this clip and get some tissues (even if you’ve seen it before, as I have dozens of times).
Who we are, how we play the “game” of life, and being able to give and receive love – those are always more important than “winning the race.”
My wife Michelle sent me this great video – it made me laugh and inspired me. The power of dance, joy, travel, community, and self expression all come through…check it out:
To find out more about this guy Matt, his project, his travels, and the story behind this video, check out his website at https://www.wherethehellismatt.com/?fbid=BOYzro
Death has a way of putting life into perspective, doesn’t it? While I did not know Professor Randy Pausch personally, his life, his message, and his death (just one week ago today) touched me deeply. Randy gave his famous “last lecture” to his students at Carnegie Mellon University last September and has inspired millions through that lecture (thanks to YouTube, Oprah, and people sharing his words of inspiration), as well as the bestselling book he wrote, The Last Lecture.
This week all three of my blog posts have centered around Randy and his incredible message and example. One of the most poinignet aspects of what he said and what I took away from his lecture, as well as every other experience I have ever had personally with the death of someone close to me, is that most of the stuff we focus on, worry about, and even do on a daily basis doesn’t matter that much. It is the people in our lives, the love we have, and the simple things that are the most important.
This week I am in the midst of finishing up the manuscript for my next book, BE YOURSELF, EVERYONE ELSE IS ALREADY TAKEN – which I am excited about, but also has caused a great deal of stress, worry, and anxiety for me since the deadline is fast approaching and I have been behind schedule. As much as I try to remind myself that I will get it done and that it will all turn out, it is so easy for me to give away my life to the process and to my fears about it not getting done, being bad, etc.
As important as this new book is to me, in the scheme of things and when I ask myself what really matters, I realize that Randy’s reminder is so important. Incidentally, we are also expecting the birth of our new baby girl sometime soon as well. Now, that is something that really does matter.
What really matters to you? Are you spending as much time and energy as you can on the things that really matter to you…and letting go of the stress, worry, and anxiety that you allow to flow in the direction of the many things in your life that don’t really matter? If so, let’s all together see if we can remember what Randy taught us and focus on the truly important stuff.