 |
Unscrewupable Resolutions
One of the basic rules of the universe is that nothing is perfect.
-
Stephen Hawking
At a writer's retreat last weekend our teacher made up a new word and encouraged us to consider our writing unscrewupable. He was reminding us that most good writing is the product of several edits. His suggestion closed the door on perfectionism and opened it to freedom, creative ideas, and a more easygoing approach to our work. But that door is too often sealed shut because we ignore Hawking's basic rule of the universe. It is a rule vital to all areas of our lives.
The rule is especially apt this month of resolutions, most of which, according to U.S. News and World Report, start out gung-ho and are soon abandoned. They fail because of an inbred self-destruct mechanism put there by the perfection police. That mechanism demands us to drop those pounds, be on time and exercise cheerfully by the end of January. And that's a recipe for giving up. Here are a few tips that might keep our resolutions thriving.
-
Remember Edison.
When asked how it felt to fail 1000 times while inventing the light bulb, he replied that he hadn't failed at all. He took 1000 steps toward illuminating our nights. Let's apply that to our resolutions, which, if so far difficult, will probably take several cycles of starting over.
- Accompany your resolutions with self-compassion, so you will be more equipped to imitate Edison. With every set back without beating up on himself, I hear him simply saying, "Do I want to keep going? Have I learned anything?"
- Imagine how you will FEEL when you reach your intentions. Often feelings win over reason. For instance, what has more appeal, the science behind squelching something like smoking that has given you pleasure for years, or imagining the feeling of clear lungs, more energy, and a strong heart? Put your imagination into high gear, combine these three, and have a great year.
~PAX, FELIX
|
|
|
|
|
