Getting to the heart of the matter.

No matter how much circling around we do, when we finally hit spot on the bulls eye, a satisfying “a-ha!” is sure to follow. The other day at an initial client appointment, I heard plenty of circling. He was saying things like, “I’ve been working like this for so long (papers scattered everywhere) and I mostly know where stuff is. It’s not pretty but it works for me…”

My response was “Do you want to continue as a solo-flyer just getting by? Or do you want to be the leader of your company?” Badda-boom! That finally did it. His eyes lit up, his head lifted, “A-ha! I’m investing in myself!” With that realization, his tolerance level for his mess dropped and we dove in with a vengeance!.

A lot of people I talk with lately feel that things are picking up. Not just faster—it’s as if a certain quality of intention is being demanded.

I talked with a friend today who is having extraordinarily “bad luck” these days. Is it luck? Or is the universe trying to whack some sense into his stubborn skull that resists change? Between ending up in the hospital for something (they still don’t know what) last month, a broken rib and gashed leg from a bike crash yesterday, and his loyal side-kick pup of 16 years giving signs that she’s ready for greener pastures, one could say that this just ain’t his year.

But others I talk with are comparing this with all the other craziness going on: losing houses, jobs, spouses. Is it one big coincidence? Might be, if you believe in that coinky-kink concept. Perhaps, on the other hand, there really is some kind of major purging going on. Materialism on the way out, connecting with what’s really important on the way in. And if you choose to ignore the flow–look out!

That’s where the “certain quality” comes in. I’d be interested to know if the “bad” stuff is happening to people who are in the groove with their life. Are they doing what they love? Are they serving more than taking? Are they experiencing gratitude on a regular basis?

I was talking with another friend this evening about the bad-luck guy. She said with certainty, “That happened to me three years ago.” Her dog was killed by a car, she was in an accident that prevented her from working, plus she was experiencing a toxic chemical reaction to paint supplies she’d been using over a period of time. She said her friends were literally watching over her to make sure she didn’t so some major self-inflicted damage–she was that messed up.

Her interpretation of that time was that she was getting knocked down lower and lower until she could do nothing but look at her life and make some hard-hitting decisions about what she was doing, her motivation, and where she was heading. And, wow, did she make changes.

She’s now one of the most active peak-oil activists in the community and running for public office. Mind you, she wasn’t a sit-on-her-butt-and-do-nothing kind of woman before, but there is now a focus to her efforts that is extraordinary.

Hopefully, your life is going well. To which I say, “Yay! Celebrate!” There is truly so much beauty around us all the time, a beauty made even more exquisite with gratitude for its presence.

If, however, life isn’t going so well for you these days, remember to breathe–deeply, intentionally. We certainly are expected to accept considerable flexibility these days. Buddhism teaches that the only permanent thing is that nothing is permanent. Seems to be a rather in-your-face lesson these days, eh?

Ask for the courage to change what isn’t working in your life. What can you let go of? Can you let your spirit shine a little more brightly? Remember that the universe ultimately has your best interests in mind. Yours, mine, ours, theirs, hers, his….

Here’s some reader Q&A:

> Shawn,
>
> I’m feeling inspired to do another round of spring cleaning. And I
> find myself wondering if there is a way to mentally reframe ‘throwing
> things away’. Especially things that have meant something in the past,
> but things which I doubt anyone would enjoy if I tried to give it away
> - like past drawings, ceramic creations, …. Any suggestions? I’d
> like to honor the process, and what the objects have meant to me in
> the past, and let them go with love to a final resting place. Somehow
> thinking of them as garbage doesn’t feel good.

> Thanks, T.

Hi T.,

I hear you! It can be a real challenge to decide about things that have held meaning for you and that are ready to move on out of your life. They aren’t “garbage”, they are relics of your past. It sounds as though you’ve already begun a respectful letting go process by acknowledging that you want to honor what they’ve meant for you.

Once you’ve gathered all of your items that you are ready to let go of, one suggestion would be to do a little ceremony. Take some time to reflect how these items have served you and helped you along your path. Feel gratitude for the healing experience of creating them, or for their entering your life when they did. Then feel gratitude for your current place in your life journey, as you look to the present and the future with hope and love.

To complete your ceremony, there are a number of ideas people have shared with me:
–If the items are decomposable, you could bury them.
–If they are burnable, you could burn them.
–If they are interesting (and little!) relics, they could be quietly left in the wild for the natural elements.
–These might trigger some other ideas appropriate for your situation.

I hope this helps. Blessings on your journey!
Shawn

The sixty-second issue of the Project Simplify newsletter The Simplifier is now archived on our newsletter archives page.

Here is a brief summary of the contents:

1. A Note From Shawn
A spunky time of year
2. Our Featured Quote
by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry
3. Article: Limp fishes, dog butts, and handshakes: Creating good client agreements
by PS Head Simplifier Shawn Tuttle
4. Your Simplification Tip
The Lion, The Witch, and Rotating Your Wardrobe
5. In the News
Built for consumption; Why we procrastinate; and Find the time to do all the things you have to—and want to—do
6. Featured at ProjectSimplify.com
New blog posts
7. Keep Smiling
Mac or PC Rivalry Rap Video

Read the full issue here.
Subscribe to The Simplifier here.
[posted by Lance]