Thank you for joining me, Dear Creator –
Off we go on another day’s adventure. Moments of fun and challenge that educate and entertain us…
…When we can whittle through all the lizard thoughts worrying about how we did, did we measure up, what will everyone think. That’s some heavy mind garbage that can really weigh down the lightness and learning from any experience.
So, Dear Reader, I’m going to share a story of how my demon thoughts sabotaged a recent experience of mine. For sure, if you’re tired of hearing my stories, please insert one of your own. I’m betting we all have them. Regularly.
A few weeks ago, I went for Thule Training, where I spent a day learning about a lot of different Thule products, and getting a chance to do actual installs of a roof rack, a couple bike racks, and a couple watersports carriers that attach to roof racks. The training was quick-paced and under ideal conditions, but was a great hands-on introduction.
So, yesterday, I worked on my first on-the-job install. It was a complicated two-stage installation – first, a roof rack, and then a hydraulic articulating kayak carrier that allows side loading, and assists lifting and mounting of the kayak on the car roof.
I worked with one of our expert installers, and he was really thorough and conscientious about taking me through the install. I appreciated this, because I was hyper-concerned about doing things right. I mean, we’re working on somebody’s SUV, where they’ll be loading a kayak on top, and taking it all on the road. It’s people’s property, and it could mean damage, and possible injury if something were to go wrong.
We made our way through the steps and parts, and it felt hugely satisfying to complete the job, feel how secure the system was on the car, and to test the hydraulic arms and know they were secure and working.
Woo-hoo! Job done! Success! I went back inside the store with a deeper, better understanding for the process, having been able to walk through it again, teaming up with our installer.
It only took a minute, though, before a fellow employee (actually, one who had accompanied me at the training) quipped a comment about how long it had taken us to do the install.
My mind immediately went to “not being good enough.” My lizard brain started shouting that it’s not enough to put the system on correctly and securely, but that I have to be quicker at it, too. Even though I was still learning, and that the most important thing was to do the install right – I was now telling myself that I had failed!
It stung, and my mind swirled the rest of the day with my lizard shouting out a lot of self-doubt.
It helped a little when another co-worker, who had been through a previous Thule training workshop, reassured me that, in his opinion, our install had not taken too long, and that he thought that the install we had done was the most complicated. He shared that he also gets hyper-concerned with things like installations, because there is a lot counting on it being done correctly.
I really appreciated his perspective and his candor in sharing it with me.
It got me to thinking again about each of us having strengths and weaknesses. Knowing, deep down, that that’s the way it works, that’s the Truth, and that’s exactly okay.
It also helped me recognize my ego’s desire, in any given situation, to demonstrate the strength that the situation requires. And, that’s all about being concerned with what others think about me.
Some of what I do at this retail job does not play to my strengths. I provide really strong customer service, and I’m able to share a lot of the understanding of outdoor gear from when I was pursuing my passion and preparing for the Trail. But, I’m not a natural at assembling products that I’ve never seen or used before; or being shown something once, quickly, on-the-fly, and being expected to understand and repeat it thereafter.
In those moments, feeling those expectations, I struggle to be okay with the truth that those aren’t my strengths. I want them to be, so that I won’t feel uncomfortable and inadequate.
I appreciated my colleague sharing his similar struggles. I was touched that he would risk vulnerability like that.
And that reminded me what I am good at, what my strengths are. What really matters to me. Being kind and compassionate. Holding and radiating Peace. Creating a safe, non-judgmental space. Being a deep, thorough thinker, intent on understanding from all perspectives. Being a peaceful Soul.
That may mean I take a while to install a rack, put together a canoe carrier, or think too much about where different products are “supposed to” go.
But, maybe it’s just what you’re looking for in a coach. Someone who listens deeply, considers thoroughly, and helps you navigate through your reality and your thoughts, to your Dreams.
Would you consider this Prompt?
So, what is your story? An episode where you got caught up in your weaknesses, and lost sight of your strengths.
Can you go back, now, and reframe the story, seeing where your strengths supported you?
Great Guides, keeping me on My Path to Purpose. Much Love – Thank You!
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