Week 43 – If you’re tired of living under pressure, it might be time to change the channel.
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Love,
Cheryl
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If you’re tired of living under pressure,
it might be time to change the channel.
This morning I woke up with a ticker tape running through my head, streaming a list of all the things I needed to get done.
Go to farmers market – cut and dry herbs from the garden before frost sets in – write blog – pay bills – exercise – finish laundry.
Blah blah blah blah blah
I sat up in bed and quickly changed the channel.
Pressure.
It’s been the fuel that’s lit a fire under my butt for years. The bosom buddy who sits firmly on my chest, pushing me, prodding me, and sometimes forcing me to do things I really don’t want to do.
I feel like my whole life has been powered by a love affair with pressure.
The fatal attraction kind.
It’s seductive: Oh, I work so much better under pressure.
It’s sneaky: Hurry up and complete your to-do list and then you can relax.
It’s mean: You’re such a procrastinator. Why don’t you finally get something done!
Sometimes the pressure comes from external sources like deadlines, other people’s expectations, or the desire to be significant and indispensable.
More often than not, however, the pressure has a more internal source – a mean, inner taskmaster who snaps a whip or a frightened little girl who scrambles to stay out of the line of fire.
Just writing about pressure makes me nervous .
As I grow wiser and more committed to enjoying a loving relationship with myself, I’ve made a conscious decision to stop using pressure as a source of energy.
No more cramming too many appointments into one day.
No more beating myself up with harsh words.
No more waiting till the last minute to get things done.
Pressure cuts off the sacred air I prefer to breathe these days, the kind of air that fills my body with peace and calm and ease.
It’s been a tough relationship to end, however. It’s longstanding and familiar, a source of motivation that’s served me well.
But I’m tired. I want to live my life, not manage it.
So I change the channel when pressure comes on.
I take a deep breath.
I relax my shoulders.
And I choose a new form of energy.
I choose kindness.
This Week’s Video
Okay, you can’t possibly feel pressure when you watch this little guy. Check out the video here.
