The other day a bird was flying around in the 2nd story of our office building. Not only is this highly unusual, but my office is by no way or in any form a warehouse. This bird frantically flew around attempting to decipher how to get out of this office.
During his encounter, there were periods the bird would perch and look outside the high rise windows which surrounded our ceilings. As I continued to watch the bird fly around, I could see that the bird was flustered as he saw where he wanted to go and should be, but couldn’t get there because of the glass.
Unfortunately, this particular office set-up has no windows that open, and the closest door is quite a ways away.
Finally, after leaving the bird alone, a door was left open in hopes that eventually he would instinctively locate it to get outside.
Well, this situation with the bird reminds me of many of us who at sometime within our lives may experience a similar predicament..
Maybe you are in a situation or at a place in your life where you know what you want to do or where you want to go, but something is stopping you.
This something can be both internal (within yourself) or external. Nevertheless, you really have no idea what steps to take to change this.
It was Albert Einstein who said “We cannot solve our problems with the same thinking we used when we created them”. Sometimes it’s important to STOP, LOOK and LISTEN TO YOUR HEART and ENJOY THE JOURNEY. Reality is…God wastes nothing. The lesson and journey becomes more important to your development, than any temporary discomfort you may ever experience.
Remember getting anxious, upset or flustered more times than others, not only can it prolong the journey, but it can also keep you from thinking rationally and determining the best steps towards your success. Knowing what the steps are can help you identify where you are and what to do.
STOP
Regardless of where you are in life, whether at a stop sign or detour, there is a solution and steps you can take to attain desired results. It is important to remember whenever you find yourself stopped in life, it does not have to be negative. When you STOP in life, it becomes an opportunity to re-evaluate where you are going and determine your next plan of action.
LOOK
When we assess our situation and predicament, we can make a conscious effort in determining which outcome we desire and what has to be done to get there.
As you LOOK, you are gathering information, whether it is self reflecting or obtaining guidance from others. It is overall evaluation and adjustments. It is a second chance to be deliberate with what you want and knowing what lengths you are willing to take to get there.
LISTEN TO YOUR HEART
Many people fail to LISTEN TO THEIR HEART, search and determine what is truly important to them. As a result they can arrive at the destination and achieve the goal and yet be empty and unfulfilled. They also sacrifice and take for granted what truly mattered to them, such as family, health and your overall peace and perspective on life.
It is important that early in your career, goals and profession, your values are identified and time is always set aside to cultivate them. This step can truly only be done by you because it is about you and a goal is never really worth it if it leaves you dis-enfranchised or broken. At a later date I will be addressing how to deal with a life where you feel dis-enfranchised and broken.
ENJOY THE JOURNEY
In any life learning experience, the most rewarding part is always the journey. The journey is a sequel of experiences both good and bad, and you undoubtedly will eventually end up where you need to be after the necessary steps.
You will realize in the grand schemes of life that burning a meal or forgetting to meet a deadline, may have been a temporary disappointment, but 5 years later in perspective it doesn’t matter. It wasn’t the end of the world and the problem made you stronger or taught you to recognize when something was happening and how to prevent it or avoid it.
As far as the bird, he did finally get out of the building after several detours and delays, once he allowed his instincts to take over. As with life, you too will learn how to maneuver toward your destination while enjoying the journey, regardless of detours or delays.
Love,
Carol