Author: Jim Gohrick (Page 124 of 159)

Often times we can get ourselves into a bit of a rut. That pattern may or may not be constructive for us and we need to know how to change it up if/and when we this occurs.

Joe Dispenza has said: “we do the same things over and over again throughout a day – even weeks and we expect change to occur.” We must be able to change our behavior in order to attract the results we are looking for. So many of us allow our bodies to dictate what we do throughout a day without ever using our brilliant minds. It’s just a habit we have become accustomed to.

We drink coffee when we wake up at the same time every morning, we brush our teeth at the same time every day, we drive to work at the same time hardly remembering our journey along the way and then we come home after work to sit on the couch and watch TV the rest of the evening. And then we wonder why our days blend together and we feel stuck.

We can certainly change it if we are mindful about our tasks we choose to engage in throughout the day. But, this takes effort. It takes focus. We must remain steadfast in our awareness and not go on auto-pilot.

Start small: For the next hour or maybe the first part of the day. Break it down into tasks if necessary, but don’t allow your body and the repetition of the day dictate what you’re doing throughout the rest of your workday/week/month.

You make the rules and everything can be the gateway to anything.

Besides, you’re worth it.

I wish I could be Chicken Joe.

Who is Chicken Joe, you say?

There’s a character in the feature animated film “Surf’s Up,” in which all the character’s are animals. Mostly penguins I believe. He is a chicken who’s name is Chicken Joe. He’s a surfer with a style that’s as laid-back as his life (Think Spicoli on steroids).

He aimlessly – for the most part – walks through the movie with no real intention other than to remain in the present moment.

At one point he is “captured” by a tribe of “indigenous” penguins and they are ready to have him for a meal. As Chicken Joe sits in a huge pot of water over the fire as the tribesmen cut and drop vegetables into the water, Joe sits comfortably with his arms (wings) resting on the lip of the pot as if he’s relaxing in a hot tub. Not a care in the world.

He is a contestant in a surf competition and finds himself in the finals due to sheer coincidence only to become champion of the tournament after unkowningly catching a final wave that picks him and his board up to ride to the winner’s trophy as he lay’s on his surfboard looking at clouds in the sky.

What a way to live your day. What a way to live your life.

Man, I wish I had a little more Chicken Joe in me.

Granted he is a chicken. And he’s animated.

That’s a phrase I grew up with as a kid. Especially as a boy who played sports – including football. You don’t hear it as much anymore nowadays. I’m not sure where it fits in today’s society.

Is that a good thing? Is it a bad thing?

I’m always teetering back and forth when it comes to the ego – and the process of letting it go – and competition. Where, it would appear the ego needs to be present in order to compete. I’m not sure.

Can we compete with ourselves in setting goals and intentions, as well as against others and still remain centered with our ego sitting on the sidelines? That’s a tough one for me.

The balance I struck in the past was to remain egoless before and after competition, but during the event I allowed the ego to run a muck. Don’t get me wrong, I was respectful and fair to my opponents but it was my intention to bury them during the game. After the final whistle blew I was as gentle as a kitten.

Maybe that’s the ticket. Feels a bit like Jekyll and Hyde to me.

What say you?

When I was in junior high and I liked a girl, it didn’t matter what my friends said about her – good or bad – I wasn’t going to take their word for it. Not because I didn’t believe them, but because I needed to go through the experience myself to solidify the truth. Besides, it’s ME. No one would treat me less than.

Well, that’s not always the case. And yes, she can be like my friends said. However, the only way I was going to find out was by going through it. They say you learn your hardest lessons by going through the most pain. I believe that.

These life experiences are how we become wizened. Without them, it would be all theory. So, we know what we know.

I always have to remind myself this when I’m in a situation with my children and remember, these are their life lessons. This is how they are learning to navigate themselves in the world.

And as much as I try to get out in front of them to solve their problems before they arise, it will never be the same as allowing them to go through them first hand.

Now they know what they didn’t know.

Love is comprehensive. Desire has a singular focus.

Love is gentle. Desire is rigid.

Love gives back. Desire only takes.

Love feeds the soul. Desire is never satisfied.

Love heals. Desire ignores the pain.

Love brings us together. Desire isolates.

Loving someone is difficult. Desire is a shortcut to indulgence.

Love nullifies low energy. Desire perpetuates selfishness.

Love is a choice. So is Desire.