THE DOPPLER EFFECT

Just as a police siren

seems to change pitch

when the car

approaches

and then flies by,

when you are moving forward

opportunities,

ideas,

expectations,

get compressed.

 

Everything seems

imminent,

urgent,

and

important,

calling for attention

with a shrill voice.

 

When you look back,

those same

opportunities

seem to have some

space between them,

but you have passed them by.

 

It’s only in the moment,

in the present,

when everything

is truly what it is --

just as the siren

only sounds like itself

when you are even with the police car --

where you can

evaluate,

decide,

and act

without fear,

without regret.

Next time you hear a siren,

remember the doppler effect,

and be present to your own life.

WHEN DREAMS COME TRUE

When your dreams

start to come true,

life can be a little

surreal, almost unbelievable.

 

When your plans become

reality,

you may also experience some

temporary turbulence.

The gremlin,

the naysayer,

the judge,

may be awakened,

asking,

“Who do you think you are?”

 

Disregard.

 

Enjoy the view.

Keep moving forward.

 

This is real.

This is believable.

This is who you are.

FOREVER FREE

When you love someone

they set you free.

 

You begin to lose

self-consciousness,

self-loathing,

and the endless inner conversation

of self-deprecation.

 

But, people can let us down

and the old voices can come back.

 

When you dedicate yourself to a cause -

something

larger,

grander,

and noble -

you find joy in serving.

 

Giving yourself opens up

a new way of experiencing

your struggles,

your opportunities,

your life.

 

But causes can consume,

leaving you depleted and disappointed.

 

When you practice

self-compassion,

you stop looking outside

for the answers to what’s happening

inside.

You discover that

loving and serving

yourself

quiets the voices,

dampens the disappointments,

and

frees you forever.

YOUR PEOPLE

The people who

are pursuing their own plans,

seeking to do well

so they can do more good,

and

the ones who

bring out your best,

who unwaveringly support you

and

hold you accountable -

seek more of them.

 

And when you find those who embody

all these traits,  

You have found YOUR people.

BEAUTIFUL DISRUPTION

The difficult disruptions -

a troubled childhood,

a failed relationship,

an unexpected illness -

can seem like insurmountable obstacles.

 

These

problematic,

perplexing,

punishing,

predicaments

can feel

personal,

pervasive,

permanent.  

 

But, powerful personal stories

often begin with the

the unwanted,

the undesired,

the unrequested

and end with something

beautiful. 

NO EXTERNAL PERMISSION

If you’re waiting for some

recognition,

accolade,

award,

to confirm your

your work,

your art,

your worth,

you’re placing your life

in the hands of strangers.

 

If you need your friend’s approval

to move forward,

you’ve given over your power.

 

Care about your work.

Hone your craft.

Value yourself.


No external permission needed.

SETTLING

We often talk about

settling

like it’s a bad thing.

 

Settling down,

settling in,

settling for,

carry a negative tone.

 

When you settle something,

you more often

fix,

resolve,

put in order,

decide,

apply yourself.

 

You can be like a sprinter

who settles into the blocks

before launching

into the race.

 

You can be the builder who makes sure

the foundation has settled

so as to support the rest of the structure.  

 

So if you are feeling like you have

settled,

you are perfectly primed

to pursue your purpose.