The Flow Experience

I've mentioned this before but it is worth repeating (for my sake if not for anyone else). Csikszentmihaly (it took me four years in college to learn how to pronounce his name) developed this cute little theory that makes so much sense. It says that at whatever level our ability (I add interest) is at, if it is matched with the same level of challenge; then we can be in what is called the "Flow Experience." This experience is defined as when we are so engaged in a project that we loose all sense of time and space (video games for guys, shopping for girls). If our ability is greater than the challenge then we are prone to boredom, and when the challenge is greater than our ability then we can become stressed (kind of like shopping for jeans that don't make my butt look fat).

I like to make connections between what I learn in school and to the gospel. For me the flow experience is really when I am feeling peace and joy. Boredom means I need to find new challenges, and too much stress means I am trying to do too much or trying to deal with the challenges without God's help. I guess this can relate to what I said about relaxing. Getting in the flow experience is really a form of relaxation because I am matching my ability/interest with the challenge and it feels like I am floating.

Relax

It has come to me that there are times when I have to give more effort and then there are times when I need to relax and realize that there are just some things out of my control. There is a saying to "let go and let God." I have come to know that I suffer from a tendency to be overly responsible for things that are out of my control and thus I feel physically uptight. It is like I believe it is all up to me when in fact I can actually float in my Heavenly Father's love and care. I am finding it useful to exhale completely and release that uptight feeling having faith that it will all work out for good. Now just pass me a nice fruit smoothie to drink while I am relaxing.

Paths make my heart sing

I just visited my daughter in Kentucky and nearby was this little path through what looked like a sacred grove. There is nothing quite like a path to walk on that makes my heart sing. I love walking in nature where the feel, sounds, smells, and sights make it possible to discover the 6th sense of spiritual inspiration. It feels so good to know and to do what makes my heart sing. I want to always seek and enjoy that which brings me joy, and it's a bonus when it is calorie free.

Life is Good

You know, life doesn't always turn out the way we think it should but I know that life can always still be good because Heavenly Father is good, and He can make my life good. I just have to allow it. I continue to declare Life is good and be grateful.

Truth with a capital T

I just read this book in a day and found that Virginia Pearce completely articulated what I know to be true. For a long time I have known that what I believe drives my behavior, and if I want to change my behavior then I have got to change my beliefs. I know that understanding and coming to know the truth and aligning my beliefs with that truth is powerful. In this process, I have had to do a lot of repenting because I have developed behaviors and attitudes that aren't based on truth but on big fat lies. I am declaring to those lies, lier lier pants on fire (with a my tongue stuck out and a little head shake), because I am really mature!

Choices

My daughter-in-law posted this little dialog between my cute little barely-four-year-old twin granddaughters on her blog, and I had to share it:

"While diving home tonight I told the kids they had a "choice". They could either get their jobs done tonight so that we could just get up and go swimming in the morning, or they could do them in the morning and go swimming a little later. Here's the conversation that followed.
Aldey(with a very concerned, serious voice): Mom, I lost my choices. They are not in my room. I can't find them.
Mom: You lost your choices?
Adley: Yes. They aren't in my room. I can't find them.
Brecklyn: Adley, you can't loose your choices.
Adley: Yes you can. Where are your choices?
Brecklyn: I don't know.
Adley: That means you lost them Brecklyn!"

Isn't that sometimes true about us? I know that I have often acted like I have lost my choices and instead think that I have to be the victim. This little encounter reminds me that I always have choices. I only loose them when I give them away. I am going to hold onto my choice to be happy because it is always MY choice.

PS This cute picture of Adley and Breckly was taken the day of the royal wedding. Adley, the one that lost her choices is holding the veil. I guess she lost the choice to be the bride!

Possiblilites

I like this notion. Too often I can get caught up in my limitations and what I can't do or what I can't have. But... It is amazing the shift that happens inside of me when I start to think of the limitless possibilities that are available for me. It is like that school of fish that are swimming in one direction at a fast speed and all of a sudden they all shift simultaneously and start going in the opposition direction. I picture all of the cells in my body make a shift and that little nucleus (that's about all I remember from the science class) heads off into the realm of possibilities and all those other squiggly creatures follow, saying "I wanna go, I wanna go!"

Truth

This year I have been praying diligently for truth--the plain and simple truth. It is quite amazing that we really can get what we ask for, and I have been astounded at the significant nuggets of truth that I have received. It is kind of scary asking for and getting the truth, especially about myself. Sometimes it comes brutally. Sometimes it is in conflict with what I want to believe or want to accept. But ultimately it can set me free as I face the truth, accept it, repent if necessary, and seek a new course that will align with truth. I am realigning my life because of the truth that I have discovered about myself and already I feel free. I know that life is full of new possibilities as I embrace and have faith in living the truth.

Planting Flowers

Can I openly admit that there have been some weeds in my life that have made it hard. But late last night instead of focusing on the weeds, I planted flowers. Oh how good that felt to add beauty instead of focusing on and fighting what is ugly. Doing something that was physical and in nature was very healing at a really difficult time of worry. Often times there is ugliness that I can't do anything about and letting go and having faith to focus on beauty instead is a great lesson in life. I want to continue planting flowers not only in my yard but in my life. The more flowers I plant, the less room for weeds, and the more beautiful my life becomes.