,
Taking action.
I have found that it can be easy to create problems and obstacles in our minds that do not exist merely by doing absolutely
nothing.
In other words, when we know that a daunting, undesired or new task that may be intimidating is before us, the longer we do not take action to tend to it, move past it or examine exactly what it is, the more we build it up in our minds as something horrendously life-shattering.
Whether it is the uncertainty about the future, or seeing the score we earned on an exam, the unknown has many possibilities, and we often tend to
gravitate toward the negative if we have never experienced the success such a reward or boon can bring into our lives. After all, we know what our lives are like right now, at this moment. But we do not know what our lives will be like when the homeowners say yes to our offer to buy the house, the boss says yes to our request for a raise or the coach/trainer pushes us beyond our preconceived limits and enables us to experience what we are capable.
It is
only by taking action, trying something new, making ourselves vulnerable, but also in the prime spot to receive the necessary information we need, to move forward successfully, that we thrive and step closer toward our best possible selves.
As I watched the documentary
RBG, which profiled Associate Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, I was reminded that often our best self is revealed when we adhere to what we uniquely can do best. Instead of physically joining the protests in the streets for women's equality during the 60s and 70s, she partook by using her mind regarding education (she was one of only 20 female law professors in the country when she began teaching at Rutgers in 1963) and in the practice
of law to challenge laws that suppressed women's equal rights. We each will take action in different ways, large and small, but taking action is the path toward reduction of stress, making progress and reducing our fears and worries.
It can be tempting to do nothing as the unknown may reveal itself to be horrendous, but as Marc and Angel Chernoff point out in their new book (which is featured in this week's This & That), it is on the other side of
struggle that the life we desire resides - waiting for us to take action and persevere through what will only be temporary.
Perhaps you are on the other side of the struggle and nodding in agreement that indeed, the struggle (in hindsight) was absolutely worth it. I can attest as well, sometimes it doesn't feel that way when you're in the middle of it. But it will not last long as you keep striving forward through it and then surpassing
it.
Speaking of striving forward, let's strive forward toward the weekend - and a long one at that for those of us in the states. i certainly am excited to put my feet up, perhaps take a swing in my hammock and certainly read one, maybe two books.
In today's newsletter, there is a simple, but scrumptious new recipe, thoughts and a round-up of the recent Royal Wedding, style inspiration from the Duchess of Sussex and a
French-Inspired podcast episode as well as Wednesday's Why Not . . .? post of the same theme. And that is just a taste. This week was full of new posts, and I do hope you enjoy.
Thank you for subscribing to TSLL's weekly newsletter, and until next week, I'll see you on the blog.
