I'd like to introduce you to a thing we call the "Wish<-->Worry Continuum"... a consciousness-creating tool to help manage one's dreams and desires in life.
We all tend to be at one point of this Continuum at any given time.
Consider this:
(No worries if you can't read the thought bubbles - they're repeated later in the post)
Let's say you're reevaluating your career, your financial situation and your future (probably most of us are).
We could stop in various boxes along the Continuum as we reevaluate our options, but it's easy to get stuck in the boxes on the ends - i.e., "Wish" or "Worry". Sometimes we do end-runs to/from Wish and Worry without stopping anywhere in between.
Definitions:
- WISH: A dreamy unconstrained, almost "separate from self" thought. A "Wish" often acts like a noun even if we use it as a verb. It's a "picture". "I wish money grew on trees and time was endless". Heck, even if there's only a 0.0001% chance of that possibility, it's worth thinking about. At least you're aware of what you'd consider to be ideal.
- DESIRE: Again noun-like and something that's "out there" - but it's a bit more personal and digestible. "My desire: To have the money I need and have control over all of my time too".
- WANT: As we move down the continuum toward Want, we start using verb (versus noun) definitions of the word: "I want work or a job that also lets me have control over my time". Even more personal. It's Real. You can taste it.
- NEED: Gut impulse. Very personal. Vivid. Brief. Not hard to understand. "I need work"... or "I need money".
- PROBLEM: Often our Wishes, Desires, Wants and Needs are packaged with Problems (or so we perceive). Problems are usually matter-of-fact descriptions of barriers and obstacles. We often make Problems nasty monsters with irritating rigidity - They're "fact" (we believe): Example: "Work takes time - There's no way around that".
- WORRY: Now that we've encountered the rigid monster of Problem, we easily fall victim to the monster's first-cousin; "Worry". Worry is even more insidious. It pulls you into self-centric dooms-day statements: "Oh no! I just can't find the work that lets me have control over my time too"... What am I going to do!?" We wring our hands, sometimes to the point where our Worry spins us all the way back to Wish. We bounce back and forth. Meanwhile - we're standing still.
When you dream, ponder, and wonder about your future... where are you on the Continuum - and why? Are there circumstances that make you more prone to be in one box or another? What's the "optimal" mix?
The answer likely lies in a combination of all of the above. Dream-crazy is good, as long as we tell ourselves "OK - I'm in Dream/Wish mode right now" - - It's useful in bringing clarity to our passions and dreams.
Even a dose of Worry isn't so bad. We all can use an increased sense of urgency here 'n there. But it, too, needs to be in its place. Know when you're there and put it to work. Worry shouldn't drive actions, but rather be a wake-up call, prompting one to know one's fears and providing the required courage to look those fears straight in the eye.
Regardless, we believe consciousness is one of the first steps in navigating the Wish-Worry waters. It's one of the keys to what we call "Adaptism" - the mode of choice & elegant adaptability.
SMART SIMPLE MOBILE(consciousness) (clarity) (change-ability)
When we're conscious of what we're feeling and thinking, we're far more likely to come up with hybrid solutions - "And" solutions versus "Or" solutions. In the context of the work-time dilemma outlined in this post, perhaps there is work that *does* provide the desired control over time. Or how about this possibility: Finding work that is so aligned with your dreams that there's no longer worry about "control over time" because you're living your dream every single day. Why not!?
We'd be interested in your comments on how you might manage your Wish-Worry Continuum. What might be your "optimal" approaches?
Wishing you a great day - even if you worry it might not be one.
- craig a. james | .smart .simple .mobile 2010
Comments