Hi Friend,
It snooooooowed!! We went from mid 70’s one day to big chunky snow the next. I loved it. Most people hope for a white Christmas. I didn’t know a white Halloween was possible. It was incredibly beautiful.
This week was full of local activity. John was in town for a conference, so I got to show him around a little bit. An acquaintance in the speaking business had a book launch. It was unlike anything I’d been to before. It was personal, purposeful and intimate. I was moved by his conviction and grateful my wife could go with me.
The biggest news is that my longtime (7 years) ally, collaborator and business manager, Sarah is transitioning to a new job. I think I’ve mentioned to you previously that we are in a disruptive mode here at Hawks Agency. That’s a pretty big one. I sent an email to friends and clients who have worked with her, sharing more details and honoring her contribution. You can read it here.
CHANGING SEASONS
That phrase felt most prominent. I’ve gone through many over the course of my life. Some subtle, some blatant. Some I initiated, others happened to me. Some were evident at the time, others not-so-much until long after it had transitioned. Some I was grateful for, others I was distraught. How about you?
The first adult relational change I experienced was when I was 23 or 24. I became brothers with a guy I worked with. I loved working with him. Then one day he announced he was moving out of state. I was shocked, shook and in total disbelief. I bawled my eyes out. I thought this thing we were doing was permanent and going to remain the same for the rest of my life. Oh, the innocence of youth.
REFUSE THE UNWELCOME GUEST
When we experience unexpected change, fear tries to insert itself. It acts like a normal, discomforting friend who needs to hang around during this time. Of course, that nasty fiend is an unwelcome guest who never leaves willingly once we let him in. Whether it’s my Faith, maybe-mindset or past experience (probably a combination of all three), I won’t tolerate its persistent attempts to lodge in my heart and mind.
I don’t have a clue what the future holds but asking fear to be part of my imagination advisory council seems like a really poor choice.
“What are you going to do, Greg?” people ask. “Nothing” is the answer. We try to fight off fear with certainty, which is a temporary illusion of control. Fear loves when we play this game because it knows in a brief matter of time, more uncertainty will appear, unleashing doubt about our plans… opening us up to ingesting more fear poison. I refuse to let fear contribute when envisioning my future reality.
Instigating Ideas…
1. Finish off all the extra halloween candy.
2. Encourage someone going through a season change.
3. Tell someone about a book you’d like to write one day.
4. Consider rejecting fear.
I’ve had plenty of conversations with myself and others about the legitimacy of fear. All of the possible consequences and outcomes of a season change could turn out to be painful, costly or detrimental. That is true, with or without fear. Its sole effort is to magnify the worst conceivable scenarios so that’s all we focus on… which then eventually happens, because our attention is fixated there – proving fear right. It’s a shell game.
IT’S FOR YOU
I scroll much less on insta-reels these days. When I do it is mostly marriage advice, preachers and rehashed self-help mumbo jumbo. One phrase or nugget of wisdom that has stuck with me, which of course I have no idea of who originally offered it, is “Life isn’t happening to us, it’s happening FOR us.” That disposition is excellent for fighting fear.
The only certainty is that the season you are currently in, will change. Interests, people, priorities, jobs and the weather will absolutely shift. Play in the snow when it does.
I hope this week you determine to reject fear with a “happening for” mindset. Whatever change is afoot, knowing it’s being done for you, gives us the chance to find the good in it. Try that.