"Everyone gets the experience. Some get the lesson." —T.S. Eliot
This morning I made a wish…one I knew was self-centered and frivolous, but my heart prayed for it anyway. Yes, prayed!
“God, if you could please just send 4-6” of snow in the next few days, I would be forever grateful.”
W-H-A-T!!!!!!
I can already hear and feel the protests…
“Kim, are you crazy? It’s only September!”
While snow is not unheard of in Colorado at this time of year, inches are not the norm in September.
Why am I pleading with the Universe for a thick, white blanket on my colorful morning glories and still ripening tomatoes?
Because for the 389th time, I’ve had to say “Leave it,” to my sweet 14-week-old puppy, Harper.
It’s not that she isn’t learning…we’ve made progress on ignoring the morning glories…mostly.
It’s just there are SO many interesting things waving in her face as she trots through the yard…from tall grasses to the beckoning branches of low bushes.
And then there are the scents and possibly delicious treats she’s never encountered before…flowers, shrubs, rocks, sticks, drip lines, sprinkler heads, bean plants, cucumber vines.
Even the “boring” short grass is worthy of a taste and a tug…daily!!
The list of temptations (aka learning opportunities) is endless…especially this time of year.
I figured a nice covering of snow would ease my need for training.
Makes sense, right?
Then I thought about it some more.
Wouldn’t I just be trading in one set of temptations for another?
Snow might cover the grass, but what would be more fun for a curious puppy than pawing through the white powder to find what’s under this new fluffy stuff?
And those tall grasses would still be visible with only a few inches of snow (I’m not crazy enough to ask for 2-3 feet of snow…although we did get that one September).
How often do we wish our own temptations and challenges would simply disappear?
I hate to admit how often I try to wish away distractions or chastise myself for not having more self-control: mindless phone scrolling, the third brownie, “learning” instead of doing.
But instead of resisting and trying to control our temptations, what if we embraced them?
What if we thanked the Universe for putting them in front of us now?
How different might we feel if we approached the frustrating circumstance or person with this perspective:
“I’m ready to embrace the lesson in this temptation now because I trust it is preparing me for future challenges.”
It isn’t easy to shift our way of thinking.
But when we “practice” on the small temptations, we build our awareness and self-control…
And we will be better prepared for even bigger temptations and challenges.
I guarantee they are coming.
For my puppy, Harper, learning to respond to the “leave it” command when she’s tempted to chase a bee might only mean she doesn’t get stung today…
But it also might save her from eating something she shouldn’t or chasing a ball into the street tomorrow.
What are the temptations and challenges you are resisting today?
How might you embrace them?
Instead of using your energy to wish away your temptations, use it to find the lesson before you experience the temptation. This allows you to prepare a response that aligns with the person you want to be.
Welcome the temptation of:
📱Picking up the phone…but call a friend you’ve been meaning to talk to.
🏡The second and third brownie…bring them to a neighbor.
👩🏻💻The newest non-fiction book or online class…revisit the lessons from the last one and apply them today.
Then celebrate the growth and strength you gain from facing and embracing your temptations.
