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LIVING LIGHTS ON!
LETTING GO & THE TAO OF WILLIE “I know just what I’d change Some recent events have me pondering the art and power of letting go – letting go of past mistakes, past pains, past wrongs done to me, past pain I inflicted on others. Last fall Cathy and I moved to Denver. For me it’s a return after an 18 year absence. Returning to a place brings old memories to mind. Many of these memories are wonderful. However, the last time I lived here I was also a failure in business and marriage – or at least that is what I was feeling at the time (with several facts supporting that belief). Then last week one of my executive coaching clients mentioned how often during times of stress and doubt, he brings out of an old closet in his mind the memory of a bad business judgment from 20 years ago. When that closet door opens, the memory is as fresh as if it just happened. It feels so current that it can influence his current behavior. The final event to cause me to ponder the subject of letting go was reading The Tao of Willie, The Guide to the Happiness in Your Heart. Willie Nelson’s latest book is a refreshing look at finding happiness and contentment in life. He writes about what he’s learned in his seven decades of living. A couple of his quotes resonated with me: “Life is not about how fast you run or how high you climb, but how well you bounce.” “There comes a time in each of our lives when we have the opportunity to reach out and turn the switch that will change darkness to light. All we have to do is slow down, remember who we are and who we would like to be.” We can so easily get caught up with old judgments and criticisms that they govern our current thoughts and energy. We forget who we really are and who we want to be. What we focus on expands. If that focus is on past suffering, past judgments, past wrongs, past losses, we bring that negative energy into our current space. The result is that we allow the past stories to govern our current activities. It’s not an effective way to live. A strategy used by high performers in many fields is to step back after their performance and look at it factually – was it effective or not effective. They then take that lesson forward to the next time. They don’t focus on the negative but look at it as a lesson for improvement. Having a strategy for letting go is critical if we want to be productive and live life fully and passionately. We must shift our attention and our thoughts to things that energize us, not drain us. “Once you replace negative thoughts with positive thoughts, you’ll start having positive results.” Willie Nelson. Three strategies have been very effective for me. One was suggested by one of my mentors several years ago. She helped me realize how my past experiences made me a better advisor and mentor to my own clients. The exercise she gave me was to form a partnership with my past me’s by describing all the positive things my 30 year old and my 40 year old brought to our current partnership. It forced me to look at each of those periods in my life and recognize the benefit and power they brought to my current work. It turns out that I wouldn’t be nearly as effective today without those “screw-ups” working with me. The second strategy comes from Clarity training. When old stuff appears, I shift my attention to my heart connected vision. Looking at where I’m going versus where I’ve been always creates a positive energy rush that reminds me of the real truth about my life and work. And, the final one is that every day without fail I do some daily rituals that help me stay conscious so I can recognize quicker when negative thoughts are trying to govern me. These include meditation, a daily ritual and a daily check-in where I look at what I’m grateful for and set my intentions for the day. I don’t try to resist the old “I’m worthless” thoughts, knowing they will reappear now and then. I merely stay awake, acknowledge them and shift my attention. It works. “I'm forgiving everything that forgiveness will allow Gary Hawk Live every day with your lights on! For more information, check out our website, or call us at 877-335-9333 Refer a friend to Lights On Living! Click Here
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