Each week for as long as I’m digging it, I’ll share my responses to the Life Organizer questions – my most recent book. We do this together at the Comfort Cafe every week. You might enjoy playing along or maybe choosing one question to reflect upon. Note: this week, the questions are different then the ones in the book. I felt like creating new ones.
Life Organizer Questions
What is one thing I’m afraid of these days?
Loss. It’s a feeling I’ve struggled with so much in the last four years, through the loss of my dad, my friend, my marriage. Is it a fear of more loss? No. It’s a fear of being swamped by the loss of confidence that came with these losses. The last few years undermined my sense of who I am and what I can do. I fear that undermining even as I have been actively freeing myself from it. Wow, I didn’t know that. The power of mindful questions!
What is it (the fear) stopping me from doing?
When it’s sneaking around in me and I’m not aware of it, it stops me from trusting myself and creating from a place of real honesty and truth. I careen between too many ideas and believing I am burned out and have nothing new to say. I start comparing myself to others and feeling awful.
If I were somebody who could do _________ (whatever the fear is stopping me from doing), what would I be able to do?
I am often this somebody – so I will listen to this somebody – she is wise! She knows to resource (we do this at the Comfort Cafe and it simply means tuning in to something larger than your own mind / fear /thoughts and drawing strength); I know to remember I am innately good and there is nothing to prove or improve; To bring my energy home and ground myself; to listen for the thoughts that are fomenting and remember there are parts of myself that are afraid and they don’t get to run the show.
Now that I see what I could do, what do I choose to do this week?
I choose to write my novel from a place of soul connection rather than “what would be a good story?” I choose to go on this trip to Alaska this week with my sister and mom in a mood of gratitude and curiosity. I choose life!
4 responses so far ↓
1 Janet Bailey Sep 14, 2009
What beautiful questions! I’m especially captivated by “If I were somebody who could do [whatever the fear is stopping me from doing], what would I be able to do?” (I’ve used kind of a version of it: “If I knew what to do…”, but your wording goes deeper.) Want to apply it to my marketing. And your example of what your Somebody already knows is really helpful.
Alaska! Have a wonderful time.
2 Rebecca in VT Sep 15, 2009
I’ve been using fear this week as my breathe in/breathe out exercise (Thich Nhat Hanh)–I breathe in courage for myself and breathe out peace for everyone else. Your comments today and in the past about how the ‘afraid’ thoughts do have a place, but they don’t get to run the show, is very helpful. Jen, I’ve been reading you for a long time now and you have plenty new to say, but there is also value in refining yesterday’s wisdom–like re-reading a very good book or watching a really good movie again, we’re always growing and seeing in new ways. I also read Jan Lundy’s blog, “Awake is Good,” and her thread this week complements yours perfectly. Not surprising–two wise women writing them.
3 What if….. « Voyage of DISCOVERy Sep 15, 2009
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4 Lori Enos Sep 15, 2009
Jennifer,
This was a real eye opener for me as I’m often afraid of success as it will open up more doors and more choices. Staying employed in a job I’m not happy with is easy, striking out on my own is more difficult.
Thanks for making me think.