Sometimes, when things seem at their most chaotic state, we tend to lose sight of some pretty basic practices. We forget that 'this, too, shall pass' and that there is usually a reason for most of what's going on around us. Knowing WHY is not so important as understanding, or rather, trusting that it's all going to be okay. As the little book says, 'don't sweat the small stuff'. I've found this little phrase to be quite helpful in some pretty ugly situations. Because, in the end, the less we 'sweat' the moment, the faster we move through it.
Case in point: recently I had an incident with my neighbor and her seeming inability to be mindful. By 'mindful', I mean that she is almost always somewhere else (in her thoughts, that is). She's a lovely woman, but seems incapable of staying present. The reason this became an issue was that she came into my back yard and didn't close the gate. This, in turn, led to my cat getting out into the front yard, where danger lurks. Cars, coyotes, assorted stray dogs, etc. The cat is not an indoor cat, and I believe that it's really all about survival of the fittest. HOWEVER, there are certain things I can do to minimize said dangers, and one of those is to keep the cat from going out front. On this particular day, because my neighbor 'forgot' to close the gate, the cat just couldn't resist the opportunity to go check out what she'd never seen. Curiosity, of course. (Hence the saying....)
After my neighbor left, I realized the gate was open and the cat was nowhere to be found. My first instinct was one of panic. I went out front to see if she was anywhere in sight, to no avail. Then I went out back. Then upstairs. Then I walked through the entire house looking in all her favorite spots. Nothing. OH MY GOD! WHAT IF......? My brain went into hyper-drive and all sorts of ugly thoughts began screaming through my mind. And then it hit me. I realized that I was envisioning all the worst instead of trusting that she'd be okay. The moment this thought entered my head, I sat down under a tree and started visualizing her romping around in the garden, chasing birds and scampering up trees. I saw her, in my mind's eye, doing what she does so well; hunting and playing happily in her yard with her dog. Not 5 minutes later she came walking up to me where I sat under the tree, purring and swishing her tail contentedly.
So, it seems, the moment I gathered myself enough to control the thoughts I was having, letting go of the fear and grabbing hold of the trust, was the exact moment she came back. She was in her element, being a cat. I was in my element, being a 'mom'. As soon as I 'saw it', then trusted what I saw, I was able to live it. Simple stuff? Not always. But here's the thing. It is said that we have the power to control our experiences by the thoughts we think and the things we 'see' in our minds. It is also said that we can, at any given moment, change the course of an experience by the simple act of changing how we feel about it. In other words, our emotions guide us through our experiences, providing tools for us to create as we go. And as wacky as that may sound, it appears (in my 'reality') to be true. Any time I'm having 'a moment', if I take the time to listen to my emotional responses rather than reacting to them, it becomes utterly clear what my next step should be. It's almost as simple as using a navigation system (only without that icky voice!). If we would just listen, we can find our way to the more pleasant road, and turn what could be a very unhappy experience into one that is perfectly harmonized. Isn't this what Life is supposed to be about?
It may be a very simplified idea, but it seems to me that the simpler things are, the more pleasant Life tends to be. Perhaps the next time you feel yourself going to that panicky place, you could stop for just a few moments and see what you want to see instead of what you're afraid you'll see. See it, trust it, LIVE IT. Give it a shot. You may surprise yourself!
Camille Olivia Strate is a writer and critter keeper who lives in the foothills of Southern California. Her greatest passion is helping people care for their critters. Teaching folks the language of animals so the can 'hear' what they need is among her greatest achievements. A new non-profit called The RAJA Project is about to launch, offering financial assistance to elderly citizens who might otherwise be unable to pay for their pets' Veterinary needs. Visit her personal site at http://www.joyzachoice.com
» left by Roschelle Nelson(723) Roschelle Nelson (52 days 17 hours ago.)
Great article. Often it is the enemy who puts these awful...what if's into our heads. and it is our Savior that calms the storm swirling around up there. BTW..I've got that little book "Don't Sweat the Small Stuff" it's great.
» left by Teresa Ortiz (52 days 14 hours ago.)
Hey Roschelle, Is that by Stan Jantz and Bruce Bickle? I haven't read that one yet, and I just got "I'm fine with God, It's Christians I Can't Stand", so far, so good! :-)
» left by Teresa Ortiz (52 days 14 hours ago.)
Hi Camille, nice to hear from you again :-) I'm so glad your litter critter came home safely!! I know how I would feel if our little Russel's broke free!
i believe in every concept you brought up. it's not always easy when you're in the thick of things, but if we can remember what you said, it does seem to work. thanks for sharing,
Great article, Camille. I too, believe in 'not sweating the small stuff' or any 'stuff' for that matter especially 'stuff' beyond our control. It will work out one way or another and making ourselves sick with worry won't change the outcome one iota!
Oh, how right you are, dear Sandra! Not to mention the fact that worrying also creates more angst AND (I believe) causes the majority of our 'dis-ease'. I've come to understand that 'letting go' is what trust is all about. It's oh-so-much more fun to live that way, doncha think? Thanks for your feedback. As always, it is greatly appreciated!
Camille, I agree that asking why is not helpful, even though most of us tend to ask it. Enjoyed your article. We change for the better when we try not to sweat stuff...whatever is going on in the day. Apart from the really important stuff that I guess we should sweat. You are very good at descriptive writing that puts the reader "in the scene."
Jane~ Many thanks for your comment. It does me good to know that what I offer is of some help and, perhaps, enjoyment to my readers. This is my 'why'...in a nutshell. Blessings to you and yours~ Respond to this comment
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