Our minds can be the world's greatest stress-factories, can't they? Over the years, I've become aware of one particular type of thinking that gets us into trouble with amazing consistency.
The best way I can describe it is "collapsing your categories."
By way of explanation, we'll look at two short examples.
Example #1: You assume that because you've become aware of something, you're obligated to act on what you know. You've collapsed categories. Awareness and action are two separate steps. We've spoken about that before.
Yet the failure to recognize this distinction stonewalls a whole lot of awareness -- potentially lifesaving -- from coming through when it's needed. The person isn't sure they're ready to take a particular step in their life. To avoid the conflict of choosing what's next, they simply pretend they didn't notice the truth.
Say it's a poor marital relationship. Your friends ask why you stay in a relationship that disempowers you. You've got too many unanswered questions about managing life solo to jump into divorce proceedings. So you pretend the relationship is fine. This failure to acknowledge the truth may compromise you in any number of ways. Health, happiness, financial challenges, and more.
Divorce is not the only option in this situation, though. Naming the "bully" (marital stress) could simply lead to counseling -- or even a good honest talk. Either of which might resolve things more easily than you expect.
Acknowledging the truth is nearly always a good thing. Bottom line, this collapse of thinking can lead to a multitude of lifestyle compromises.
Example #2: You like your job, but it doesn't pay very well. You feel stuck between the proverbial rock and the hard place. Either you stick with a career path you find fulfilling, but suffer from financial lack ... or you take a better-paying job you hate and watch it suck the life out of you.
You've collapsed categories again. There are other ways to get money besides selling yourself to an outside employer. There are other ways to find fulfillment besides getting it from a job. For most people in our culture, life satisfaction requires both fulfillment and money. However you don't have to get them from the same place.
Just last week, I listened with interest as success coach Bob Proctor fielded this exact question from an audience member on Larry King Live. He cut right to the point and gave the young man something very interesting to think about over the next few weeks.
What about you? Do you have this part of your life compressed, too? I've just posted a poll on "Fulfillment and Your Income" over on the Healthy Living Forum. Stop by and share your 2 cents worth!
Elizabeth Eckert can help you explore how simple everyday choices create health — or undermine even the best of intentions. With a background that ranges from energy medicine to structural bodywork to developmental psychology, this "Stick-To-It Coach" has the experience to support you in creating the healthiest possible expression of — you!
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