A Worthwhile Trip To Hell -- The Value Of Contrast
This week I'd like to share an 'off purpose' moment, actually a
series of them that congealed into a daylong trip into Hell. It
happened on Tuesday and started innocently enough with a
disagreement with Ann during breakfast over how Amber's home
school math was going.
Basically, I offered some 'unsolicited coaching' to Ann on how
she was viewing the situation without first being sure she had
the experience of being heard. This led to one of my familiar
Inherited Purpose-based patterns of not feeling like my attempts
to contribute were being received and accepted. And the day went
downhill from there.
The next turn of the snowball rolling downhill was during the
Visionary Writers On Purpose Team Call where one of our members
was quite saddened and upset by a disruption in a professional
relationship and friendship. Having not yet learned my lesson
about listening and unsolicited coaching, I dived in once again,
and, once again it did not go well.
And that pretty much set the tone for the rest of the day. As
one of my old and wise bosses used to say, "Some days you eat
the bear, and some days the bear eats you." Well, by the time I
climbed into bed that night I felt like I was deep inside the
bear's innards. But as I drifted off to sleep I had a sudden
realization that made it all worthwhile.
It had been months since the last time I'd felt like this, when
in the past having such a day was a common occurrence. And I
also realized that many people feel chewed up by life most every
day. In other words, a little 'contrast' can be a good thing. It
can help us realize the 'purposeful progress' we're making in
our lives.