Riding the Pendulum

I heard once that it is necessary to live unbalanced in order to be balanced. Although some would say to just "trust your instincts", I find that following instincts often hinders me from tapping into qualities that those natural instincts do not trigger. I end up living somewhat lopsided in the qualities that come natural to me. If I am outgoing I will always feed my charisma and approachable quality, if I am unorganized and spontaneous I will highlight my flexibility and willingness to change. Although I see the benefit in highlighting my positive attributes I also think that is important to go the opposite way and at times overemphasize attributes that I currently lack. With some aspects in our life it is necessary to counter our destructive habits with extreme actions/inactions that go completely against our instincts. This scene with George Costanza came to mind while I was chatting with a friend about this topic yesterday.

GEORGE COSTANZA - The Opposite



I wouldn't say that this is the most healthy method in curing toxic characteristics, but we all have to admit the courage involved in this approach. It sure isn't mediocre nor is it passive, and sometimes in life we need to act now, we need to push the envelope in dealing with our pride, fears, insecurities and our need for approval.

I heard recently that psychologists have now found it harmful to cure phobias by placing individuals amidst their most fearful situations. It pretty much means that sticking a young girl who is scared of spiders in box filled with them is not the most effective remedy, and I think we can all agree with that.

However, there is a great wealth of inspiration and hope that results from viewing our fears and deficiencies from a new light. And often times the only way to change your angle is to dive into an unknown realm, a space that in most cases are uncomfortable, unnatural and for a lack of better words 'scary'. For some, who find themselves always lacking courage, that realm may force you to speak up to those you disagree with, for others, whose opinions are usually heard a mile away, that foreign realm may demand silence and restraint. Many will need to step into the deep end, some may feel the need to speak in front of the class, others might have to start dating again, whatever positions you in a place of fresh perspective will help you overcome.

I echo my friend who writes at the end of every email "Do something everyday that scares you!"or my other buddy that tells me that "If you do what you've always done, you'll get what you've always gotten." It could help to occasionally take moments to swing to the opposite side of the pendulum to see what we look like from the other side.

Door Prize

I had the honor and privilege of learning a new term last week. Here's the definition:

A "Door Prize" occurs when a...

CAR DOOR

intersects with a....

BICYCLE


CAR DOOR + BICYCLE = DOOR PRIZE

So last Tuesday I'm riding down Harvard Ave when out of no where this freakin door opens up in front of me. My front wheel crashes against the door bending it way back while my shoulder slams into the door frame. I was talking after to the bike expert guy and told him what had happened and he was like "chuckle chuckle..... you mean a Door Prize?". It wasn't very funny at the time :) Luckily I had no injuries, but poor Bertha suffered some severe damages to the front fork and tire.

It's now in surgery at the shop until Wednesday.

I really actually thought that I'd have the cat reflexes to dodge opening doors, but they really do come out of no where. It's a good thing Jules got me a helmet a few days before :) No need to worry mother, I'll be sure to just slow down traffic and drive in the middle of the road from now on.

Think Just Enough to Act

"In Hebrew philosophy, a belief was not a belief until it was acted on. And all beliefs affected community, because the actions they spawned affected every area of life. In Greek philosophy, belief could be separated from action. Thought and action suffered a painful divorce into upper and lower stories of existence.

Greek thinking led to dualism, a separation between the material and spiritual aspects of life. The material world -the realm of the senses and action-decline in value. The spiritual world-the realm of the mind and emotions-represented a higher plane of existence. The work of earning daily bread played second fiddle to the pursuit of philosophy. Greek thought infiltrated the early church and gave birth to a separate class of priests, clerics, and a host of monastic orders. This thinking still pervades modern society and the church in a variety of ways.

The Hebrew philosophy seems comparatively simple. No dualism. No separation. If you love someone, you will meet her need. If you meet someones need, you love her. Hebrews did not separate the heart from the mind, or belief from action. They were one and the same. What you believed affected all you did, from cooking a meal to building a city. What you did reflected what you believed. Therefore, work became an act of worship, and no vocation was viewed as more sacred or higher than another."

- The Ascent of a Leader

Currently, I am pursuing the goal of dismantling the disparity between thought and action, sympathy and physical assistance, or intention and fulfillment. It's amazing how we've come to the point where we need to reprogram our lifestyle to align the boldness of our thoughts with the courage of our hands. I've come to the conclusion that over-thinking is the cause. We predict way to often and continually remain in state of inquiry and assessment.

To tilt the scale back into a state of balance my weeks aim will be to think just enough to act.

We'll see how well I do :)

Encouraging to Note

"I have no special talents. I am only passionately curious."

Albert Einstein