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Living in the Question

But what is the question?

Here’s the thing. I am exploring this topic for the sake of my next public speaking engagement. Perhaps you will explore it with me. The idea comes from these lyrics:

Follow My Soul (video recording)

I’ve traveled in the city and followed other’s steps.
I’ve done each task before me. My life: a success.
I’ve learned well, for I thought all life’s answers were taught.
Now I’m starting over to dream in the clover
I hear new questions again.

The questions that are with me each day and through the night
sometimes send fear straight through me. I know not wrong from right.
Yet I know I must go through this uncertain time
and be with the feeling, as the unknown’s revealing. I’m
learning a new way to grow.

I’m living with the questions. I’m moving in the flow.
At times I ask direction, yet often I know
that the way, I would go is not the path I’ve been shown.
Yet, I’m gonna go there; follow my soul where
my heart it knows my truth.

Words and music by Jeanne Loehnis
Copyright 2003 Jeanne Loehnis Appleton, Wisconsin

For today, I will leave you with:

  • What is the question in your soul?
  • What answer do you follow that isn’t yours?
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Why goals?

“The major reason for setting a goal is for what it makes of you to accomplish it.
What it makes of you will always be the far greater value than what you get.” Jim Rohn

Think back to a major accomplishment in your life – one you can vividly recall working towards. Recall the struggles, the challenges overcome. Recall who you were before as well as the qualities you developed along the way. Bring a few more goals to your awareness. Consider childhood goals, adolescence, young adulthood: riding a bike, running a 6 minute mile, writing with your non-dominant hand, mending a relationship with your best buddy in 9th grade, achieving a 4.0 grade point average.

Which of those goals remain important to your life?
What is the value of the character traits, strengths, qualities you developed?

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The 10,000 foot view

You are facing yet another task with “I don’t want to do this.” showing up in your being. What are you choices? You can:

  • blow it off – just don’t do it
  • ignore your discomfort and do it anyway
  • take out your frustration on the nearest bystander who has no clue what you are reacting to

Each of these will have an impact on you and those around you, yes? One more option: Take in the view from 10,000 feet. Yes, stop and put your imagination to work. Rise above the task, the discomfort, the frustration, the moment. What will the impact from my decision be at days’ end, next week, next year, ten years from now? What is the grand purpose of which this action is a small part?

What does the 10,000 foot view suggest?

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What mistakes will you make today?

Consider this:

One way to live this life is to “figure out what works” and do it over and over until we die. One problem with that perspective is that “what works” keeps changing as the world around us changes.

Another way to live is to be present to what is really here now and dance with it, discern what step to take this time, and take it. Then, evaluate: How did that work? What did I learn? What changes will I make next time?

On each path there are “mistakes”.  Path number one includes mistakes you want to hide. Path number two has mistakes that serve as stepping stones.

What mistakes will you make today?

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(J)(O)(Y)

I’m at it again. I think it comes from 30 years in computing — acronyms — those non-words that mean so much! Well, today we start with “joy” and create (J)(O)(Y):

(J)ourney
(O)f
(Y)es

How is yours a “journey of YES”?

What? It’s not? Are you more likely to say, “No, not me.” or “No, not this time.” or “No, I couldn’t.” What if you tried, “Yes, I’ll try!” or “Yes, of course!” or “Yes, I’ve never done that before but why not!”

What would be different if yours was a (J)ourney (O)f (Y)es?