Dog Pile

This writing is Certified Human

“You have power over your mind, not outside events. Realize this, and you will find strength.” — Marcus Aurelius

This writing is Certified Human

The Obstacle

We get stuck feeling down
Sickl
Injured
Disappointed
Let down.

We allow it to cloud the day
Everything feels heavier
More difficult than it needs to be.

We do not perform as well as we could
Because of what we are carrying.

Our relationships strain
Because we are stressed
Anxious
Frustrated
Angry
Disappointed.

Others feel it.

We stop enjoying what we are doing
And the company we are with
Because of the misery.

We add more suffering on top of the misery.

The Gift and Opportunity

What is
Is.

We cannot always control how we feel
But we can control what we choose to add to it.

If we are sick
We do not need to compound the misery
With thoughts and complaints.

If injured
We do not need to add to the pain.

If others let us down
Or lead us on
We can let it go
And move forward without the anchor.

We can stop feeding internal complaints.

We can choose to be where we are
With all we have got
Even if it is not all we wish we had.

The Practice Of Self-Mastery

• Notice your state without complaint
• Remove your added suffering to the condition
• Be fully where you are with what you have
• Continue forward as best you can

CHEAT CODE: NOTICE → ACCEPT → REMOVE THE EXTRA SUFFERING → CONTINUE FORWARD

The Why

I am sick.

A bad cold started Saturday
And it has not gone away.

My ear has been infected for over a week.
It hurts
Makes me dizzy.

There was a soccer tournament with my son this weekend.
I had baseball to coach.

There is work
Clients
Family
Chores
Responsibilities.

None of it cares how I feel
And none of it is waiting for me to feel better.

I choose not to add suffering to sickness.
To continue forward.

Not as good as I could
But as good as I can.

When I feel down
I look at what I still have
And remind myself to be grateful for what is.

This body will heal itself
Like it always has.

The chores will get done.
Clients will be served.
The kids will have me there as a dependable coach.

They will know no different
Because I will not ask  them to carry my suffering.