The Problem with “Keep on Keepin’ on”

Choosing and Avoiding

Should I power forward or let go?  When we are faced with this choice, it can become such a huge tug-of-war force in our life.  It sits with us, like a little angel/devil on our shoulder.  If we choose to excel forward, we may feel a wonderful sense of personal satisfaction or the terrible guilt of time taken from other responsibilities.  If we choose to let go, we may feel like a weight has been lifted off or like we could have/should have done more.  What a confusing mess!

So, understandably, we often avoid choosing.  We go into autopilot.  We simply hoof forward.  We keep on keepin’ on.

This week, I stepped into a room and was instantly filled with dread. Apparently, I had been on autopilot for weeks, avoiding a tiny, steady stream of stress. When I walked into that room, it finally caught up with me (and caught me completely unawares).

Yoga has a suggestion: open up! Stay vigilantly aware of your body and your feelings.  Engage in the work of be present and mindful. You can do this through daily meditation, yoga, walking in nature, prayer… The important work of staying present and mindful, stems off the avoidance (no more surprise emotion attacks). But mindfulness can also help put the choosing into perspective.  If we choose to power forward and it all goes to hell, it’s frustrating but not the end of the world.  If we choose to let go and it all unravels, it’s disappointing but not the end of the world.

At the end of the day, we are not called to be Awesome.  We are called to be Open.

Until next time,

Laura