I often get frustrated at the high standards that we place on ourselves (specifically, myself).
For some reason we are supposed to be a good worker, good family member, good musician, athlete, yogi, chef or artist and to top of it we have leisure time that we enjoy.
These expectations often cause a sense of whiplash from time to time. We realize that things are often out of our control no matter how hard we work to make them great.
Life is unfair, there’s no other way to put it, and when you accept that your happiness is an inside job you can start to loosen your grip on things.
I write these words as an idealist. My jaw is often clenched from stress. But when I become aware of this tendency, I can do some breath work or try some EFT tapping.
I also write as a chimney to let go of stress. You can try 750 Words to give writing a shot. Pen and paper works the best.
In the past few weeks or months I have learned that life's drama is really a distraction from doing what matters most to you. That’s why drama has the tendency to show up in the form of noise or the feeling of being attacked by mosquitos in the forest.
Doing work that matters most to you shows up as signal, strength or the feeling that there is a cable attached to your head, plugging you into the source from where you came from.
If I were to tell you that this week you should ignore all the drama and only focus on the signal, I would not be speaking from a place of truth. It’s a negotiation over time. I don’t think there will ever be an ideal state of being. You simply have to do your best, chipping away at doing your most creative work.
This week I am going to try working on music for 20 minutes a day. I am going to see the results against my other strategies which often involve constantly searching for a pocket that I can work with and then magically never getting around to it.
What might you try this week to make progress on a goal that you’re working towards?Feel free to write me back and share privately.
All the best for your week ahead, and may you hit your quota of bagels…
Elliott
You cannot make everyone happy (at least not at the same time :)), and the most difficult one to make happy on a day-to-day basis is you yourself. :)
A really nice piece and the comment from Claudia too!
You're perfect just the way you are. You're trying to fit so many of your spiritual gifts into one body and lifetime. The journey is long. Be kind to yourself.