I just watched a short video clip in which Esther Hicks/Abraham was asked, “Why do dogs hang their heads out of car windows when they can get bugs in their eyes?”
Her answer, “There is going to be contrast. The ride is worth it.”
What a beautiful analogy to help us wake up and enjoy the moment…just as the happy dog is doing as he hangs out the window. The dog doesn’t concern himself with the bugs flying by. The dog happily enjoys the breeze on his face, his tongue hanging out, eyes smiling…taking the risk of picking up bugs along the way.
Ah, the thrill of the ride! What a message there is in that statement. All too often do you find yourself focusing only on the end result, the outcome, of what you are working towards? What happens to your life when you focus only on the dream, ignoring all the minutes of the ride taking you there?
And what do you do about all those bugs along the way? When a bug flies into your eye, do you quickly remove it and continue on with your invigorating ride? Or do you stop in your tracks, fold your arms, and proclaim, “That’s it! I am sick of all these bugs! I am not going to ride any more!” Maybe you take a quieter approach…simply lower yourself out of the window and forfeit the thrill of the ride?
I don’t know about you, but it seems I never have a shortage of bugs – oh, the contrast. The good news is the contrast shows us what we don’t want so we can focus on and appreciate that which we do want.
Last night I was speaking with a friend, verbalizing all the pressures I am feeling at the present moment…pressure to proof-read my book one final time, pressure to select the photos and design my front and back cover, pressure to construct my web site, pressure to write a requested article, etc.
Her response was that these are not “pressures.” These are all learning opportunities. “You are feeling the pressure of the challenge to do something you have never done before. Next time it will be so much easier.” Hmm, life is rolling by while I am busy complaining about these bugs in my eyes.
Might the first step be to manage the bugs and the second step to be grateful for them?
I recall some advice from Michael Clouse that might help us to manage the bugs: make a six item to-do list every night. In the morning, prioritize that list. Start with the most important item on the list…or as Brian Tracy says, eat the biggest frog first and feel good the rest of the day. Without the list, all of our responsibilities can begin to feel overwhelming. Chunking a task down into little bites helps to move us out of paralysis.
Now, the next step, and perhaps the more challenging one, is to enjoy the ride while experiencing a bug or two along the way.
Might a little shift in perspective also help?
“Oh, I am so frustrated that I don’t know how to do this thing!”
OR
“Oh, what a great learning opportunity this piece is for me. Just think of all I am learning along the way!”
Interesting the profound knowledge that can come from watching a dog hang out the car window…
