The Beautiful Tension
Dear friend,
Oh man, I'm sitting on a balcony/porch overlooking Hayden Lake in northern Idaho. This is my second sunrise in a row and it's spectacular. Yesterday I spoke in an outdoor tent that had me facing this same view. It's quite a change from hotel ballrooms. I could definitely get used to it. This is my fourth time here over the last decade. I love this place.
I am hiking today and was talking with the locals about where I should go. It was a robust conversation that included moose, elk, bear - both black and grizzly - and of course the treachery of the trails. They were saying these things like they were talking about what you'd see at a grocery store or something. So mundane and normal there was not a hint of uniqueness to their words.
Isn't that life? What one person finds completely fascinating another finds common. Granted, they had reverence for the momma mooses and regard for the black bear, but everyone there had encountered such creatures multiple times. What's normal for one is extraordinary for another.
It completely depends on the company we keep to define expectations. Plus the life we've built in context of our routines. Man, if that's not a good reason to continue meeting people and exploring new places, I don't know what is. The challenge and opportunity is also to invite others into our worlds, so we can experience it through their eyes. What if you thought your life was a tad boring and someone else found it exciting and fun?
POTENTIAL
I imagine that's why we like social media. We get to see how others are venturing through their existence here on planet earth. Gratitude keeps us from comparison, so we can view with sincere interest, curiosity and even imagination. I mean who hasn't considered converting an old school bus into a luxury condo on wheels and parking it deep in the mountains of Colorado?
I'm fascinated by the potential life holds. On one hand, I can feel so deficient. The days keep ticking on and am I living them in a meaningful way that matters? On the other hand, I feel completely alive and have so many fulfilling relationships, it could be a peak existence I'm living. I suspect it's somewhere in the middle, but I wish it wasn't.
MINDSHIFT
What if this week you consciously defined five different extraordinary aspects of your life? If that's a stretch, invite someone to share their perspective on your life.
PRIORITY
Lately, I've been having conversations with my delightful bride about priorities. What matters most? What causes us to make a decision one way rather than another? Why do we choose what we choose? And in light of my letter to you last week, is it about the present moment or about preserving and/or preparing for a future? Both are important.
I filter with Why first and then Who. Why speaks to my character and integrity and the Who speaks to love and the richness of life. I find a pros and cons list can be useful, but if it lacks faith and personal values, it's not that effective. Fear tries to play a loud role in defining our priorities. I hate that. It's useful for me to ask myself "What am I afraid of here?" in light of a reaction, decision or future plan. I can acknowledge its presence without accepting it's influence.
MINDSHIFT
What if this week you designed a priority matrix, wrote it on paper and filtered every decision through it?
PONDER
I have been pondering my existence for a bit. I'm not satisfied or content with my current reality. There are things beyond my control that impact my life, but that is always true for you and me. I find the contemplation leans more towards what I'm willing to accept, not what I need to control. Or if it is simply a transition that's gone on for too long. Hallways weren't meant to be lived in.
Like meditation, pondering invites all the different scenarios in our life to come sit together and simply be accepted.
There is a stillness looking at this lake and scenery around it. It's captivating. The reprieve it offers my soul is refreshing. At the same time I feel invigorated to go dominate a trail. I think that's how it's supposed to work. The simultaneous yearning for serenity and conquest offers the beautiful tension life affords us. Navigating it well, makes our existence extraordinary.
SHIFTING
I hope this week you ponder your priorities so you can live out your full potential in the midst of a life beyond your control. #ShiftAway
