Have you ever forgot to take the trash out? Man, the bags pile up in the garage, the smell becomes brutal, and you start to attract some unwelcome visitors. It's not a pretty picture.
Now, imagine how bad things would get if you didn't take your trash out for a few weeks - or months? Yikes!
Most of us would never think of such an experiment - yet when it comes to the trash we carry around in our own thoughts - we aren't always as tidy.
What trash are you carrying around?
This weekend I was watching "The Peaceful Warrior" (again) - and Nick Nolte's character, who is the mentor, talks about the need to "take out the trash." To get rid of all of the thoughts in your head that either keep you anchored in the past - or distracted with the possible future. The thoughts that are based on worry and fear; thoughts that center around what others think of you; and thoughts that dwell on the negative.
Do you know those thoughts?
Most of you have heard of Randy Pausch, the inspiring professor best known for his "Last Lecture" that has landed him all over the Web, including appearances on Oprah, and most recently, ABC's Primetime.
For someone who is literally living day-to-day, Randy Pausch is not carrying around any trash. Yet, when watching the special on ABC, it was his wife who shared what I felt was one of the more helpful ideas I have heard in a long time. Diane Sawyer was asking her how she was dealing with her own grief, especially when watching her husband play with the kids, and knowing he will be gone soon. She shared that her therapist gave her a mantra to repeat whenever she was having these thoughts and feelings. The mantra she recites during these times is "This is not helpful."
This is not helpful!
I am not sure there could be a better phrase or statement in helping you mentally take out the trash. Just that one simple statement - "This is not helpful," and you can bring yourself back to the present. It might sound too simple - but it works.
Last week was an incredibly busy and full week for me. For this I was grateful. For 6 days straight I was either presenting or performing - so I really to be on top of my game. I had been praying for the weeks leading up for harmony, patience, and humility - and the ability to yield to each situation knowing that everything that needed to be done would unfold in proper time. This was part of my process of taking out the trash.
Unfortunately, on the first day, I came down with the flu - which needless to say, wasn't something that was going to help my week. At first I was feeling a lot of frustration and discouragement - angry over the fact that I had to deal with this. Plus there was the fact that I wasn't feeling well - which was making me question how I was going to get through all of the performances. There was a whole lot of frustration, fear, worry, and negativity bouncing around in my thoughts. Needless to say...
"This is not helpful!"
If I were counting, I probably repeated "This is not helpful" over a hundred times during the past week. Some of the thoughts were like this...
"Why the flu now?" "This is not helpful!"
"I am not sure I can do the show tomorrow." "This is not helpful!"
"When will this flu be over?" "This is not helpful!"
"Why did this week have to be so busy?" "This is not helpful!"
All of these thoughts - it is easy to see how they were either leaving me in the past or taking me to the future. None of them were helping me deal with the present. And if you are entertaining any thought that is taking you away from the present - you need to take it out as trash.
This is not helpful.
My week ended beautifully. Every single presentation and performance went smoothly - and I couldn't of been happier with the results. I got extra rest when I needed it, my wife chipped in big time and took care of all of the kids needs, and I just yielded and trusted that Love would get me through every experience - which IT did!
So, whether we are dealing with our ego running rampid - or fearing "what could be" - these simple words - "This is not helpful," will always bring us back to the present.
If you need help taking out the trash - just give me a call - I would be glad to coach!
Much love!
Travis
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Tuesday, April 22, 2008
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4 comments:
Thank you for an inspired post, Travis. I love the idea of saying "this is not helpful" to thoughts which make us upset. It's never the situation itself that makes us upset, but our thoughts about it. Wow! I'll take this with me and use it all week.
I also really enjoyed this post. What a clear concise way to dismiss the ego. I will be using it as well, and sharing it with others. I also appreciate your writing and how I feel like we are just having a conversation when I read your blog.
Well in mate! (Soccer term) ;-)
I thought I would share a recent discovery I made about a brand new film that really helped me and several of my clients. the film is being called by many as the sequel to "The Secret" But in my opinion it far surpasses the secret in many ways. The film I am refering to is The Opus (www.TheOpusMovie.com) it features many of the cast from the original secret, people like Jack canfield, Joe Vitale, John demartini, Marci Shimoff, Morris Goodman and Bob doyle. But it also features many new comers like Mark Victor Hansen, Douglas Vermeeren and Bill Bartmann. The film is really well done and has so much useful information. Normally, I don't get too involved with blogging but this is a film I think will make a big difference for a lot of people. check it out and share your thoughts...
love it travis.. sometimes i need to take out the trash too,, my son was in the hsopital again with staff,, they said he might have to take anti-biotics for the rest of his life,,, need to take out more trash love to you travis judy
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