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Out on a Limb

“Why not go out on a limb? That’s where the fruit is.” Mark Twain 

How true! The excitement, the juice, the richness of life often requires us to reach outside of our comfort zone, risk, go where we have not gone before. What I especially like about Twain’s metaphor is that a limb rich with fruit remains connected to a strong trunk. It seems that climbing the tree of our life and risking the stretch for richness by “going out on a limb” asks us to:

  • tend to our trunk, our core, our foundation in order to remain grounded in the imbalance
  • choose limbs which can support our weight, paths to the fruit which have a good chance of holding us up 

What fruit are you reaching for?
What does your foundation need?
What path is yours to follow?

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Gentleness

Life – the purposeful, intentional, sometimes driven, always expanding life we choose – deserves a constant companion: Gentleness. Even amidst the activity, achievement, commitments, goals, excitement … even – or perhaps – ESPECIALLY amidst all of this, gentleness is a vital ingredient. For you:

What does gentleness look like?
What does gentleness feel like?
What does gentleness sound like?
What does gentleness taste like?
What does gentleness smell like?

Where is a dose of gentleness the cure?

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Blurred Vision

The last bit was about multitasking and the challenge to be present to this now moment, this activity, this action. Now, as you revisit single-focus, notice what blurs your vision. What gets in the way? What clutters your mind, your heart, your focus?

Take a moment now. With pen and paper at the ready, clear your focus by transferring the clutter from mind to paper. Take three deep breaths – then return to your choice for single-focus presence.

What do you notice?

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Multitasking

They say we can’t do it – multitasking – that is. The human brain truly focuses on only one thing at a time. Imagine yourself fully engaged in “just this moment” or “just this activity”:

  • Now I am lighting this candle.
  • Now I am creating this tidbit.
  • Now I am taking a drink of coffee.
  • Now all of my attention is with this person on the phone

What would be possible in each now moment? What richness would we notice? What would it feel like to be fully present now? Today, take the “now moment challenge” and practice directing all of your attention to “this one thing”. Just practice. Even as I’ve been writing, my attention has wavered so practice I will!

What power is present in full focus?

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Lesson from Oz

While there are many things to learn from The Wizard of Oz, I’d like to invite you into just one for today. Do you remember Miss Gulch, the bicycle riding, mean, old hag? She had every intention of confiscating Dorothy’s dog, Toto, and had the “rules of the law” to support her. This, of course, crushed Dorothy.

Now think about Dorothy’s dog, Toto. I see childlike energy and determination, ignoring the rules, and “going after life”! And Dorothy had every intention of keeping Toto close to her chest at all times.

What voice in you sounds like Miss Gulch?
What inner voice is that of Toto?
What power have you given to Miss Gulch?
How does your inner Toto energize you?
What helps you embrace, engage with, expand, and celebrate your inner Toto?