My client, Bill, called the other day for our scheduled
coaching session. He was angry and frustrated.
When I asked him what was going on he told me that he had
purchased new carpet for his house. He had saved the
money for some time in order to afford exactly what he and his
wife wanted. They had the carpet just about a month when
the dog tracked in some mud and stained the carpet. The
stain was not likely to come out. Bill went on and on
about the "bad" dog and the stained carpet.
After a bit, I pointed out to him that he was spending his
coaching time -- our sacred time to work on his life and
career goals -- focusing on "the stain." The
stain was coloring his attitude about everything and Bill felt
nothing was going right. I pointed out all the
energy that he was expending on the stain, when, in fact, he
had a newly carpeted house that he could be proud of.
"Take your focus OFF the stain," I said. Bill
listened and realized that his energy could be better spent
focusing on gratitude for new carpet, a lovely home, a good
wife, etc. And then we were able to move on.
I wonder how often we spend our time focusing on the stains in
our lives -- those things that aren't "perfect."
How about when we focus on those people in our lives who
aren't "perfect"? How often do we get caught
up in the flaws that we see? How often do we sabotage
relationships because we do not look beyond "the
stains"?
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Have you ever bought a new car and then had it get scratched
or dinged in a little fender bender? It's disappointing,
to be sure, (especially with the price of motor vehicles these
days!) when the new car is no longer "perfect" in
appearance. It's helpful to remember that the car still
runs though -- it still gets us where we need to go. It
still serves the purpose for which we need it. When we
focus on the things that are working we can shift our
perspective.
We all have "stains" and perfection is a fleeting
illusion. What stains do you need to put out of your
mind? What are you grateful for? Who do you need
to acknowledge for all the things he/she is doing right?
Shift your energy away from the stains and enjoy the abundance
of all the things that are working well in your life!
Take your focus OFF the stains! You'll find much more
happiness and peace -- and so will the people around you!
~~~~~~~~~~
Soul Restoration Tip
I offer you the
following meditation from Dr. Andrew Weil's CD called Eight
Meditations for Optimum Health. Use this meditation
daily and experience loving kindness radiating out from your
heart and rippling throughout the Universe. If you do
not know how to meditate, simply sit quietly in a place where
you will not be disturbed for a few minutes. Take several
deep, cleansing breaths, close your eyes for a moment, and
then open them to slowly read aloud. . . .
May my heart be filled
with loving kindness.
May I be happy. May I be peaceful. May I be
liberated.
May all beings in this vicinity be happy.
May they be
peaceful. May they be liberated.
May all beings in this state be happy.
May they be
peaceful. May they be liberated.
May all beings in this country be happy.
May they be
peaceful. May they be liberated.
May all beings on the planet be happy.
May they be
peaceful. May they be liberated.
May my parents be happy. May they be well.
May
they be peaceful. May they be liberated.
May my friends be happy. May they be well.
May
they be peaceful. May they be liberated.
May my enemies be happy. May they be well.
May
they be peaceful. May they be liberated.
May all beings be free from internal strife.
May all beings be free from mental troubles.
May all beings be free from physical troubles.
If I have hurt anyone, knowingly or unknowingly,
in thought,
word or deed, I ask their forgiveness.
If anyone has hurt me, knowingly or unknowingly,
in thought,
word, or deed, I extend my forgiveness.
May all beings everywhere, near or far,
known or
unknown to me, be happy, be peaceful, be liberated.
© Beth Burns. Beth is a
Professional Life Coach -- partnering with motivated people on
their personal and professional goals. Her mission is to teach
people to love themselves and to love the life they create. She is also the Founder and
Creator of The Inner Peace Project (www.innerpeaceproject.com)
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