 | I feel like I am riding a rubber band. Or, maybe, I am the rubber band. One that is in the hands of an energetic eleven year old trying to sit still. Out, in, out, in. Pulled taut, crumpled in, pulled tauter, crumpled in again. Some might describe it like being on a yo-yo. For me, the rubber band metaphor works better - the tension of the rubber band that threatens to break, the potential for being |
launched right out of my familiar surroundings. And rubber bands that do not break under the stress, often lose their stretch and never get back to their original state.
That feels possible in my current condition. I read news headlines and articles, and I can feel myself being stretched out tight. I resolutely turn away from social media and news websites and feel myself crumpling into a ball of overwhelm - shutting down and of no service to anyone.
What happened to those ’’seeds of hope’’ that I preached about at my church on Sunday?
Sitting in front of my computer, overloading myself with what is going on out in the world is not serving anyone. Least of all, my dear, old self.
That does not mean I am choosing to live in a bubble of detachment or complacency. It means I need to find different ways to show my support and speak up about what is important to me. I appreciate my friends who can raise their voices on social media and keep the drum beat going. I do not think I am the person for that job.
I think it is good to know what my limitations are. There is a reason that umbrellas are not made out of snow. (okay, so I just made that up).
It is good to know what my limitations are because 1) I can let go of unrealistic expectations for myself and 2) I can challenge myself with care to stretch those boundaries.
Instead of being stretched and pulled and left to crumple like my son’s favorite rubber band, I want to be stretched like a yoga pose - with intention and breath and in ways that serve my inner workings as well as the outside world.
This morning, I will challenge myself to do just that. I will reach out to have a few individual conversations with people I respect who may have differing points of view. I will do some actual stretching - so that I can live out this metaphor in my body. And I will quiet my social media frenzy and turn on my French language app instead (thanks for the idea, Amanda!).
In what ways are you over-stretching yourself today? How can you bring intention to what you care about without becoming that rubber band?
That feels possible in my current condition. I read news headlines and articles, and I can feel myself being stretched out tight. I resolutely turn away from social media and news websites and feel myself crumpling into a ball of overwhelm - shutting down and of no service to anyone.
What happened to those ’’seeds of hope’’ that I preached about at my church on Sunday?
Sitting in front of my computer, overloading myself with what is going on out in the world is not serving anyone. Least of all, my dear, old self.
That does not mean I am choosing to live in a bubble of detachment or complacency. It means I need to find different ways to show my support and speak up about what is important to me. I appreciate my friends who can raise their voices on social media and keep the drum beat going. I do not think I am the person for that job.
I think it is good to know what my limitations are. There is a reason that umbrellas are not made out of snow. (okay, so I just made that up).
It is good to know what my limitations are because 1) I can let go of unrealistic expectations for myself and 2) I can challenge myself with care to stretch those boundaries.
Instead of being stretched and pulled and left to crumple like my son’s favorite rubber band, I want to be stretched like a yoga pose - with intention and breath and in ways that serve my inner workings as well as the outside world.
This morning, I will challenge myself to do just that. I will reach out to have a few individual conversations with people I respect who may have differing points of view. I will do some actual stretching - so that I can live out this metaphor in my body. And I will quiet my social media frenzy and turn on my French language app instead (thanks for the idea, Amanda!).
In what ways are you over-stretching yourself today? How can you bring intention to what you care about without becoming that rubber band?
Jessica Curtis is a professional life coach who helps people cultivate intention and live from a place of meaning and authenticity. If you think you could benefit from working with Jessica or want to invite her to work with your group, reach out to start a conversation.
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