I recently had an adventure.
An adventure to me sounds exciting and fun, but I often use the term to describe anything that may end up being memorable (and ‘memorable’ may not always mean in a happy, fun, way, but memorable none the less). J
On this adventure, I was involved in heavy traffic for 300 miles!! Can you believe that?! The two-lane, freeway was packed with cars, campers, trailers, semi-trucks, motorcycles, etc.! It felt like a speed-way race!
The options were get stuck in the right lane behind the slow-moving vehicles or, if they’d let you in, get swept up in the left lane, hands gripping the steering wheel hanging on for dear life! Have you ever experienced that?
Where was my middle of the road lane where I could pass the slow drivers, but the allow faster drivers than myself to speed on ahead?!
As I was trying to find a comfortable place for me in this crazy traffic, I noticed a car that consistently tailgated, swerved between lanes and forced himself into the fast lane causing cars behind him to brake.
I don’t know why I kept ending up in proximity with him but I’ll tell ya, I didn’t like it! Maybe it was to learn the following lesson.
I was getting more and more annoyed at his inconsiderate, aggressive driving and I found myself focusing in on all he was doing wrong and how I wanted to get ahead of and “show him!”
Suddenly, it dawned on me that my purpose had changed! Instead of my goal being to arrive home safely, in good time and enjoy the drive, I was focused on getting ahead of one specific driver because he irritated me! And, I’ll admit, my driving was reflecting this change in focus. Needless to say, I was not enjoying the journey.
Where did my long-range goal become hijacked by a silly, insignificant, even dangerous, lesser purpose?! The change in focus was showing up not only in my driving, but in my thoughts and tension in my body.
As I recognized and restored my thinking to what my true intent for that day was – to arrive home safely, in good time and to enjoy the ride – I relaxed. I got in the slow lane. I stopped switching lanes. I began to enjoy the trip. I let things be, all because I remembered my ultimate goal and what was truly important.
I also had to draw upon my abilities to manage my thoughts and emotions and how grateful I was for those tools, but for this day, the best thing for me was to remember my purpose.
I realized how this lesson applies not only to traffic but to life!
When my focus is on my ultimate purpose, I am calm and centered and relaxed. At times, it may seem that I’m not progressing as rapidly as others, but when my purpose gets supplanted by a lesser purpose and I lose sight of what my true goal is, I then become irritable, upset and sometimes angry, without even really knowing why.
Our feelings, our emotions, our thoughts and actions reflect what goal or purpose we are focused on and working towards.
Take a look at what your behaviors, thoughts and feelings are showing you. Have you lost sight of your ultimate goal by something that may seem more pressing or urgent and yet not near as important? Can you re-think and remember what your true purpose is? And what can you do today to get back on track?
I believe that once you do remember your true purpose, you will discover a greater sense of peace and calm in an otherwise crazy and chaotic experience of life.
Wishing you success on your more relaxed, peaceful and purposeful journey!
Much love,
