Posts
NOTE:
The lovely Meradeth Houston has me on her blog, WRITE STUFF today!
Come say HI, will you?
"When things go wrong, don't go with them."
- Elvis Presley.
We often falter when our enthusiasm is worn down by thousands of life's paper-cuts and flat tires in our pursuit of whatever dream we have.
There is nothing wrong in having a Big Dream and working for it.
But it will not come true overnight or in the exact way you have envisioned it happening.
You need to create small rewards along the way.
You must take the time to celebrate your small successes, your insights and a-ha moments, not just the end result.
You can’t put the only prize at the end of a very long journey and expect that will be enough.
It would be like asking yourself to cross a desert without a glass of water, with the promise of a lake at the other end.
At some point, you’ll say, “Screw the lake, just take away the pain of this parched throat … now!”
But many, instead of celebrating their small successes,
only use them as spurs to propel themselves faster and faster towards that ultimate brass ring.
That easily leads to exhaustion, emotional and physical.
When you’re tired and anxious and feel like giving up, it’s easy to ask: what’s wrong with me? Am I on the wrong path?
It's not the path. It's the rest areas you are passing up.
What is wrong is that you failed to pause and enjoy the journey, the small milestones you had achieved.
You hardly ever took time to look back and say to yourself, “Wow, look at how far I’ve come! What a view!”
Instead of keeping yourself up with worry by repeating “There’s more that needs doing,”
reward yourself for a good day’s work with a good night’s sleep, knowing that you made real progress.
Farmers let their tilled land lie fallow for a season.
And if even dirt needs a rest, how much more so does your human body and spirit.
So, my weary friends, nurture your potential by cultivating the habit of pause and reflection,
by taking the time to enjoy those accomplishments as they’re happening.
Be at peace with your stage of the journey and try and laugh along the way, all right?
It’s impossible to live without failing at something unless you live so cautiously that you might as well not have lived at all.
- J.K. Rowling
This is some very good advice and I thank you for it. Sometimes, when the workload seems too much it's hard to remember to take a a breather and get a drink of water.
ReplyDeleteI won't pass any more rest areas, promise!
ReplyDeleteYeah, you do need little goals you can accomplish along the way or it won't feel like you are making any progress.
Kathy:
ReplyDeleteYou're right: sometimes it is better to take a break than have a breakdown!
Alex:
The small victories are what get you across the desert, right? :-)
It's always good to reflect. How else to assess where we go wrong and what we do that's right (for us)?
ReplyDeleteI like this sage advice:
"So, my weary friends, nurture your potential by cultivating the habit of pause and reflection,. . ."
Will check out the post on your book at Meradeth's blog.
Nice post here and at Meradeth. I had a lot of time to rest and reflect during the holidays.
ReplyDeleteD.G.:
ReplyDeleteMy post at Meradeth's was about my friend who pulled me out of a truly bad spot. I think all of us need a time to re-charge our emotional batteries and to reflect where we have gone and where we are going. :-)
David:
Your holidays sound like they were festive and healing. Thanks for visiting me at Meradeth's!
Thanks so much for joining me at my blog today!
ReplyDeleteAnd also for this amazing post! Definitely something I needed to hear and think about today--I am guilty of getting far too busy and forgetting those rest-stops!
Much needed advice!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Ellie!
ReplyDeleteCheck out my latest book if you would. :-)
Excellent advice - as always, Roland!
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteThis sounds like a good post for all the people taking part in the "Celebrate the Small Things" blogfest.
ReplyDeleteUnfortunately, it's much easier to remember the bad things. We have to actually remind ourselves of the good ones.
Thanks, Wendy:
ReplyDeleteYou are always my advocate, and I truly appreciate that!
JE:
Yes, good whispers and trauma shouts, doesn't it?
What an encouraging post to read. I fail often. Every day in fact. But it doesn't stop me trying. I think giving up (and deliberate cruelty) are the only unforgiveable failures.
ReplyDeleteElephant's Child:
ReplyDeleteIt is not so important when we fall, but only that we rise each time. :-) I love your comment.
I really needed to read this this week. Thanks for the encouragement and inspiration, Roland!
ReplyDeleteAnd I love that top image and quote so much.
Julie:
ReplyDeleteI've been all over SouthWest Louisiana today and tonight, delivering rare blood so I am just now reading this. I pray that this new week treats you easier. I, personally, am trying to deal with a lab worker whose ill temper and rabid hatred of me is making life ... interesting. I do not know the cause of her hate. The very sound of my voice causes her to glare at me -- and I have to notify her of hospitals calling, asking for her help. Sigh.