Transformative Practice of Choice

Rhythmically so, like much of life, sometimes we’re in flow and other times not. Today has been a long day and I find that tonight I struggled to focus through my short goal, and the stretch goal... is not going to happen. Rather than fight it, or judge it, I allow it to be what it is.

I’m guessing not everything you read, if even from a source you trust. Skepticism is the ingredient to make the mind work for it’s own answer.  I say... that is a good thing!

There are those with whom we can share with unflinching abandon. In others cases we must learn to practice discretionary expression without shutting ourselves down.

I’m learning that an editing practice has it’s own layers. The process has to attend to both the nuts and bolts of grammar and punctuation, and the reworking of ideas. The former is “easier” in that you accept the change or not. The latter requires reconsideration of the content in the way in which you want to present it.

Have you ever seen someone’s comfort zone shrink so drastically that they almost never leave the house? On the continuum of “being careful”, their fears take over, dimming their beautiful spirit, which seems to wither before your eyes like a flower in the dark.

Taking a tumble is a universal fear - for those of us who were not taught how to fall properly. Using athletics as a physical model, practice allows us to develop skill, overcome fear, and feel comfortable in the process. Translate this to metaphysics and imagine surrendering struggle with grace, falling in love, tripping over some words...

In this section I reframe & attempt to surrender the judgement we can often feel when not able to decide.  Snippet from a poem of mine to start the theme: “...the crossroads appear and beckon in the dark, I choose to stand until the light dawns and say ENOUGH“

Each of the sections within chapters has their own “big idea” to convey. Reviewing them helps galvanize the concepts around these central themes.

Each moment in life reveals our ability to respond. The choice is up to each of us to decide for ourselves if that capacity is sufficient, in need of bolstering, or over-used by default.

Choose to reframe experience, not be stuck in a story.

A central theme of TPC is the conscious practice of reflection on our choices, and distinguishes between what  we choose, and how we go about choosing.

Today’s snippet: “Choose to feel feelings, and process them, not stifle.”

I received the first “chunk” of my manuscript back from my editor with the expected line edits and developmental suggestions. It’s time to dig back into my book! Interestingly enough… While I’ve been “waiting” I’ve had several editing gigs of mine own, the last of which is coming to a close this week. My expectations around time are but a few reminders to let go. The work I’ve picked up in the interim… All speak to being in flow.

My manuscript has been passed to my editor. Wahoo!

Editing after my day job. Incorporating peer critiques and feedback. The last section clunking into place.  The fully sequenced manuscript will be off to my editor before I can say “April Fools!”