Tree of Life (detail)
Today is a good day on the Vision Quest. When I say good, like most people, I mean I am grateful for what I am getting. Although I was up late last night I did make it up this morning to go to a new yoga class. After two weeks of missing I had no choice. I was beginning to atrophy. My ability to move and to flow and to even breath was being compromised. So glad I went. Not cured, but getting there. I did a run through of the survey as I said I would last night and have made a few minor changes and sent off to a friend/editor for her to do a beta test of it for me. I hope to have it done and start putting it out there by COB Monday. It seems like everything takes longer than I want it to. Balancing my desire with patience is always an issue when it comes to living my Vision. I really admire people who are productive and patient. I feel like I am either dragging my feet or on fire. I know I am not alone in this. Where is the balance?
I am curious how you maintain patience as you work toward your goals. How do you enjoy the journey?
(first posted 4.25.09)
Your challenge of balancing urgency with patience is a huge struggle for me. To a large extent this dilemma translates into anxiety for me…much of my time is spent in the over-anxious state. I am fortunate to have friends and family who give me feedback when I am in this state. When I am in this state my normal calm and confident demeanor vanishes which affects people around me in an unhealthy manner. At the other extreme, I withdraw and become slug-like. I seem to have two states—On and Off. In one, I am the energizer bunny on steroids–in the other I am a couch potatoe without a couch.
So how do you get to the optimal state of balance. My friends have advised me to take up meditation…most of the time when I try this–I fall asleep–I suppose this is why many people take up yoga which always struck me as a kind of group meditation.
This past week, I went to a lecture by Robert Rosen (CEO of Healthy Companies) His book Just Enough Anxiety addresses the dilemma…how to create a healthy level of anxiety…too little and you accomplish little…too much and you are your own worst enemy. I need to read this book…in many ways reading (followed by refleftion) is one way of restoring balance…
I think that answer may reside in the acceptance that eveything we do in life must be with balance as an objective–there is no such thing as a free lunch—everything we do (no matter how noble and well intentioned) comes with a price. Reading for example, can make me anxious—there is so much to know–and so little time.
Which takes us back to vision…if life is s serious of paradoxes and dilemma’s–knowing where we are headed can help us make good choices…
Chuck