Category: Perception Is Reality

The slogan I’ve been using to brand MoveMe Quotes since 2010 has been, “Motivating you to keep moving forward—the only direction!”

The idea being that there’s always a way to learn, grow, and improve from any given life situation… all you need is the right mindset, perspective, and/or framework… which is what MMQ aims to provide…

Today, I uploaded a quote to MoveMe Quotes that read, “I finally found my rhythm when I realized that even the steps backwards were a part of the dance.”

And the more I live out my life, the more this latter idea of living life as a dance feels appropriate.

I think too many people try to live their life linearly… and go from one life milestone to the next with the expectation of it going smoothly, gracefully, and according to plan.

But, the plan that society brands into our mind is this misconception that linear is the way forward… or that forward should always be the only direction we should head… and maybe my slogan has contributed to that…

But, life is not linear. Life will never be without its fair share of obstacles, challenges, and setbacks. Life will never always be forward.

But… what we can always keep moving forward… is the dance of our life.

So long as we keep swaying our hips… stepping spontaneously to the beat of this life’s drum… and surrender to the rhythm and flow of our inner guidance…

How could we not always keep moving forward?

A lot happens on earth in a day.

I remember feeling equal parts awe struck as I did mind blown when I watched One Day On Earth.

In one day… somebody is giving birth… somebody is learning how to ride a bike… somebody is shaving with their dad for the first time… somebody is farming crops… somebody is killing a cow… somebody is hugging their mom or dad… somebody is feeling hopelessness… somebody is feeling grace… somebody is traveling to a new part of the world for the first time… somebody is making love… somebody is performing in front of an audience… somebody is closing their eyes into death…

When we have a zooming out experience like this…

And can really absorb the scale of the human experience…

It might help us remember that the things we’re complaining about… overthinking… and hyperfocused on and making into a big deal…

…Maybe isn’t and aren’t.

When I think about learning piano… it feels daunting.

Like… there are so… many… keys…

But, then I remembered how good I am at typing.

…And how much smaller a key is on a keyboard vs a key on a piano.

…And it came back to me how I once felt daunted at the prospect of learning how to type without looking and with more than two fingers.

…And I realized that, today, I can type lightning fast, without looking, and with all of my fingers.

This is what people mean when they say perspective changes everything.

In the snap of my fingers I went from a feeling of hopelessness about learning something new to a self-confidence that’s not fluff based… but evidence based… that stands up against the tests and challenges of my ego as it tries to keep me confined within my comfort zone.

…And it really can happen that fast.

Inner work prompt: …What’s something that feels daunting to you in your life right now? Are there any evidence based experiences or scenarios that you can reference that might change your perspective on that?

I woke up today and saw nothing but white as I looked out my bedroom window—about a foot of snow blanketed my neighborhood overnight for the first time this season—and my first thought was, “Damn. This again.” And I dragged my feet as I thought about unpacking all my snow tools, shoveling, ice scraping, salting, layering, slipping, sliding, shivering, etc.

And not even an hour later I got a text from one of my co-workers saying, “I can’t come into work. It’s snowing and the elves have summoned me. It’s Christmas.” Followed shortly thereafter with another that said, “I brought the kids to school and then came home and laid down in the snow. I’m in heaven.” And another that said, “It was a miracle that we arrived to school on time. I just love this time of year and I love snow so much. It makes me feel like a kid again and reminds me to slow down.”

…Damn.

Same snow. Radically different reality.

And since there’s no changing the snow… maybe it’s a good time to try changing how I (we?) see it.

P.s. The above post has nothing to do with snow.

One of my students set up a self-defense class at a local women’s shelter for those who were victims of violence/abuse.

Being a women who had been in a women’s shelter before, it was something this student felt strongly about.

Being a man, it was something I couldn’t take the lead on because men aren’t allowed in the shelters.

And after reaching out to my female instructors, we came to find out that none of them were available to run it on the day and time requested.

And so rather than cancel, an opportunity presented itself.

…An opportunity for student to step into the role of instructor. An opportunity for student to lean into a topic they felt passionately about and start taking initiative in how that energy can be manifested. An opportunity to alchemize a traumatic experience into an incredibly powerful healing and educational experience that could be shared with others.

Sometimes things don’t line up the way you want them to or play out how you imagined them playing out… and oftentimes, it’s simply because there’s another opportunity in the mix that simply wouldn’t have come up without things unfolding exactly how they did.

Today, I read a quote from Ryan Holiday that illustrates the power of gratitude and how it can completely transform situations:

• “That troublesome client—thank you, it’s helping me develop better boundaries.
• That traffic jam—thank you, it gave me time to call my wife and have a nice, meandering conversation.
• That rejection email—thank you, it forced me to reevaluate and improve my work.
• The political realities of our time–thank you, it’s a chance to test myself, to really stick to what I believe in.
• That loss—thank you, for reminding me of what truly matters in life.”

I liked it so much, I thought I’d reflect on and add a perspective shifter to five situations I’m finding hard in my own life:

• Thrown out back—thank you, it’s forcing me to spend more time strategizing how I care for and strengthen such a crucial part of my body.
• Wasted time spend on social media—thank you, for reminding me of the importance of being totally logged out of apps.
• A steady decrease in subscriber count—thank you, for forcing me to think more creatively about sharing my work.
• Lonely nights—thank you, for giving me ample time to read, write, create, recharge, and explore my inner depths.
• Family health scares—thank you, for reminding me of the preciousness of life and to not take any moments together for granted.

…Your turn. Reflect on five situations you’ve been having a hard time with. Is there a perspective that could transform each of them for you?

P.s. ICYMI you can read the best of what I posted to MoveMe Quotes last week here.