Today’s Mandala Message: What’s Not Working?
This week I’m working through Principle #30 from Jack Canfield’s “The Success Principles” entitled “Face What Isn’t Working”. I set my intention today to ponder what’s really not working, and to stop ignoring it. Canfield suggests “Make a list of what isn’t working in your life. … Ask: what’s not working? How can we improve it? What requests can I make? What do you need from me? How can I help you? What do I/we need to do? What action steps can I/we take to get each of these situations to work the way I/we would like? … Choose one action and do it. Then keep taking another action and another action until you get the situation resolved.”
Here’s a rather mundane example from our household. My husband and I have had a horrible habit of accumulating “stuff” on our kitchen counters. Over the years we’ve made attempts to keep the counters clear but invariable and eventually the “stuff” creeps back. If my husband was the one to clear off the counters, then I usually ignored his efforts and then he’d give up and join in. If I was the to clear off the counters, then he usually ignored my efforts and then I’d give up and join in. In both cases we were both frustrated with the situation … because it wasn’t working.
About a month ago we came to an agreement that we would make a conscious effort to keep the counters clear. Thankfully it seems to be working. I think because we went in on it together it gave the effort greater value. I also think it’s working because we took a different approach that we could both honor.
A good mindfulness practice would be to embrace what’s not working and let _it_ tell you what needs to change.
So how about you? What’s not working? I’m serious, what’s not working? Are you ready to face it?
“Denial is a state
— Bill Kortenbach
of willful ignorance
used to justify inaction
at the precise time
when our senses
are clearly warning us
to make a decisive move
in our own best interest.”
Blessings,
Maureen
The Mandala Lady
All Things Mandalas
An Invitation
I invite you to color along with me this year as part of what I’m calling “The Year of Self-Exploration and Expansion” with all of my “Mandalas of the ___” (day, week, month, year). If you’re interested in more of a self-exploration approach to coloring, check out my “Coloring Mandalas as Meditation”. You can download this mandala at MandalaoftheWeek.com.
Mandala of the Day 