He Friend,
This is a special Weekly instigator. Previous to calling it Weekly Instigator, I called my weekly letter Random Inspiration. I wrote 215 letters under that heading. Today is my 149th Weekly Instigator, creating a grand total of 364 weekly letters. Which, when divided by 52 just so happens to be SEVEN YEARS exactly. That’s kind of crazy! I love that I’ve captured my life & ideas this way.
Speaking of, this week I had the opportunity to serve at the Regional Food Bank with a client event. It’s amazing to me how many meals can be sorted/packed in just an hour (1662 meals!). Their system and process is uber-excellent. Also, my two squirrels keep fighting over the table and so one started pretending he had his own. I don’t think I’ll show you any more squirrel pics (after today), but trust my kids are getting them.
I’m a fan of the streak. I like stacking wins or at least consistent attempts over time to flex my commitment muscle. It’s got elements of determination, self-control, repetition and pursuit. Sometimes I’m decent at those on their own. Putting them together creates an internal momentum that serves me well.
Seven is the number of completeness. When I did the math a little earlier I paused for a moment and thought “I wonder if this should be my last Instigator?” I pondered it a bit actually, thinking about what life would be likewithout having this to look forward to? I concluded life would be lacking.
Complete, Not Finished
Rather, I decided it’s not a conclusion, but a completionthat positions me for what’s next. I shall continue on with these ramblings, even if just for me. Though I certainly appreciate YOU reading them.
Ending is hard. A job, a relationship, a hobby, a way of thinking, a behavior, a perspective, a hope… beliefs, actions and ideas that have been a part of our identityare super difficult to jettison. Yet endings are so necessary. Have you ever watched a movie that ended 30 minutes too late? Ever listen to someone tell a story that all you wanted to do was get to the end?
In our lives we keep things going way past their endingand it costs us. Even if you’re not an optimist like me, our willingness to cut our losses and move forward is weak. One of my all time favorite books “Thinking Fast & Slow” Kahneman offers loads of data on why, even after loads of sunk costs have transpired, it’s better to walk-away. But.We.Don’t.
I’m not ending writing you, but I am doing an inventory of what I do need to terminate in my life.
What do you need to end?
I’m considering three areas:
Beliefs. About myself. About God. About the World. About my Purpose. About Money. About Emotions. About Relationships.
Effort: Work. Growth. Health. Reality.
Thinking: Imaginings. The future. Strategies. Ego. Control. Expectations. Interpretations.
Some of those may not make sense to you, but they do me. A few queries: How does this serve me? How does this hinder me? What fear is driving my unwillingness to discontinue?
Instigating Ideas…
1. Start a streak.
2. Feed squirrels.
3. What should you end?
Unfortunately, we have a tendency to begin or layer into our lives, way more than we stop or remove. Our minds get cluttered and overloaded, leaving no margin. Pressure mounts, time shrinks and urgency filters through all the cracks in our neuro-pathways.
The End is Near!
Old time street evangelist used that phrase as a scare-tactic. I find it offers enormous hope. If the end of negative thinking, small mindedness, unhealthy habits, ego-driven decisions, insecurities, bad relationships, were coming to end, how fabulous would that be?!
It’s up to you and me to decide on an ending. If we’re not mindful we’ll have stories playing for years in our heart that weaken us, unknowingly.
This week I hope you determine to conclude something in your life that’s long overdue a shutdown!