Author: Seven Circles

Recently while visiting a friend’s home, I was attempting to do my laundry in a very small space that housed the washing machine, the clothes line and a laundry hamper. Every attempt to enter the space or hang clothes to dry or place the clothes in the washing machine led to the hamper being in the way – pushing back on the door – and you found yourself constantly having to work your way around it.

After stopping to notice the overwhelming frustration I was experiencing, I reflected how this had several correlations with things that we experience in our everyday life.

Do you know what is your hamper? The one thing that absorbs your energy, makes you redouble your effort with little gain, makes you create a work around, makes you feel helpless and overwhelmed, makes you feel that nothing can be done to remove this one obstacle? Can you SEE your hamper?

The first step is to be able to identify your life hamper. When this is clear to you and paired with your resolve to deal with it, the solutions on how to deal with it will become apparent.

See your hamper in every day life and be resolute that you can deal with it.

Start were you are, there is no other place to start. Bend down and pick up that piece of clothing right next to your feet. The best place to start is always right where you are.

Here are a couple of other ways to deal with that which is overwhelming you.

1. Deal with the largest matter first, then all other tasks will seem more manageable
2. Pick the easiest thing that can be done, so eventually all that is left is the harder bits which you can to without mental interference.
3. If you are up to the challenge, pick the most emotionally challenging thing and deal with it, then the level of success you experience will energize you to complete the rest of what is needed

You’ve got this! You are one hundred percent Response – Able for your life.

There is a story in the Old Testament about Lot’s wife. As you know she was given no name – just called Lot’s wife. She played a role and did not have any identity of her own. The most we come to know of her is that she turned to look back and became a pillar of salt.

We all have done this at some point in our lives.

Have you caught yourself turning back and looking at your life? And then getting stuck? Turning into a pillar of salt? Maybe you played a role that became your identity? Maybe the thought of asking who you are and what you want to do with your precious life is too daunting? And you keep thinking if I was in a role then I wouldn’t have to create an understanding or appreciation about who I am?

Catch yourself in those moment of looking back and with kindness remember that you are more than any role you have had. Look forward and let life reveal its wondrous opportunities to you.

Are you clear about your destination? Are you sure where you want to go? What you are you willing to do to get where you want to go?

Can you write a few words down or draw a picture about your destination? Can you write a few words about who you will BE at that destination?

Can you tell somebody about your destination, you at that destination, and recount the many bridges you have crossed to be at that destination with some detail?

Every morning read your desired destination aloud to yourself and you will create your destiny.

Are you waiting to have a life? To express your creative nature? Your joy of life?

Maybe you say to yourself – When I reach X goal then I will start really living. Or when I lose enough weight then I will give up this torn or stained clothing. Or when I have enough money then I will start enjoying my life.

The premise of a future living is an illusion created by our concept of Time. 

Here are some ways to harness Time –

To lose weigh in the future you must honor your body now

To start being joyful in the future you have to practice joy today

To start living the life you want in the future you must engage with your life now

Be your best creative joyful self today – its good practice for the future.

When you start doing this, the illusion of a future time will fall away and you will be here Right NOW in the middle of the life you want.

Do you have those evenings when you feel you wasted the day? And nothing you did was right or really mattered? And then did this spiral into what’s the point and what’s the purpose of all this. And even encouraging yourself leaves you flat and listless?

If you catch yourself in this space and don’t know the way out, try the Balm of Gratitude.

Remember that a Thought is a form of Action of the Mind. Start by being grateful for where you are right now, then remember one thing that someone else did that you were grateful for (however long ago it was) and end with gratitude for your ability to do something different tomorrow.

Applying this Balm of Gratitude and connection soothes and heals many mental sores and wounds over time.