Between a Rock and a Hard Place

     As I sit here between a rock and a hard place, I think about duties, the “shoulds” of our daily lives, the “wants” and the dreams, and debate inside my head, what makes one choose work versus play.  Of course, those two categories can be very different for each person.  For me, I can technically manipulate the “shoulds” into “wants” and the duties into dreams.  Or can I?  Can I really shuffle them fast enough, so I can get past the work items and focus my energy into the play fun stuff?  Or maybe I can convince myself that I really want to finish this technical work so I can get to read my for-pleasure book, so in theory, finishing the job/chore is a priority, something I must master well and fast, so I can get to the “want” pastime.

    The question you should ask yourself is why are you doing what you are doing?  As you weigh the pros and cons of each task at hand, it can be a straightforward type of answer.  Are you comparing apples and oranges?  Should you literally pick an apple over decadent chocolate (the kind which has a tendency to sensually melt in your mouth and give you hmmm-sounding sensations)?  Or is it a career change that you are contemplating?  Or maybe a relationship change?  Are you weighing financial stability against a risky dream venture you have always fantasized about?

     Life decisions are not easy all the time.  Sometimes the simplest decisions are the hardest ones to make.  And you should ask yourself: what makes me happy?  What makes my heart sing?  Is my decision going to impact others?  If so, how does it impact me?  Should I sacrifice myself in the process?  Is this decision perpetuating a continuity of a vicious cycle?  What is the best course of action?

     These are all great questions.  And the decision scale needs to tip more to one side than to the other.

It all comes down to two things: you being proactive and you being in balance.  When you are working towards those goals (and they complement each other beautifully), you are going to make a decision that is right for you, for your peace of mind, for your balance to reach full potential, and ultimately for your health.  When you are confused, or feel like you are going down the wrong path, you need to look within and evaluate your ingredients.  Are they all healthy?  Are they in sync?  How do you feel about it?  What is your gut telling you?

    When making your pros and cons list, pay attention to your intuition and not just what’s on the piece of paper.  Never stop questioning and know that the right answers are always the ones that make you feel whole in the end; they are always the ones that remove you from the rock and the hard place into a place of complete health and freedom, where you heart sings in perfect harmony along with the chirping birds.