Stop Sleepwalking!

For a month’s worth of posts, I (Scott) am critiquing my own past blog posts. I’m viewing this as an experiment in being willing to admit when I’m wrong, change my mind, and to do so publicly.

How do we stop trying to regain control in such destructive ways?

I am, obviously, not an expert.  I can only pass on some things I've been taught but haven't yet learned.  

We cannot sleepwalk through life and expect to see any progress in our relationship to unconscious living.  Diligent attentiveness paves the path forward.  Attentiveness to what?

We'll start with triggers.  This has, unfortunately, become a politicized word.  Some seem to find pleasure in boasting about how strong they are with the implication being they do not experience triggers.  

We all experiences triggers.  When your reaction to a circumstance, or something someone says to you, or some such thing far exceeds what is rational for that specific circumstance at that specific moment in time then you have experienced a trigger.  

Looking back: 2021 Scott TAKES DOWN 2017 Scott

I have nothing negative to say about myself here. It’s true- we cannot sleepwalk through life. It’s important to know our desires. It’s important that we know what kind of life we want to live. It’s important to know what kind of life we can realistically live- and create. It’s important to accept the limits we may have in pursuing the life we want to live. And it’s important that we stretch ourselves to grow and continuously add new things to our lives so that, no matter what life throws at us, we have things that help life feel as if it’s worth living.

Seek Positive Experiences

The past few days we’ve talked a little bit about thriving, and whether we see ourselves as people who deserve to thrive. I’m not talking about getting everything we want in life, or having no pain, etc. What I really want each of us to consider is that we are each valuable people, loved by God, who have the capacity to experience a full life- a life that encompasses our sufferings but is not defined by them.

It’s important, I think, to ask ourselves if we’re doing what we need to do in order to experience life as being worth living.

What types of things do you do that make your life feel like it is worth living?

Or, what types of things did you used to do that helped you feel life was worth living? Perhaps you’ve gotten away from some of these things and may want to get them back, so to speak.

What types of things have you always wanted to do but felt you just did not have the time or emotional resources? Do you want to learn to draw or paint? Do you want to learn to play an instrument? Do you want to read more books? Do you want to get counseling? Do you want to spend more time in nature, or see your friends more often, or cook more meals?

Our lives can be about a lot more than our hardship and, sometimes, we have to intentionally seek positive experiences to add to our lives in order to experience that fullness.

7 So Jesus spoke again, “I assure you that I am the gate of the sheep. 8 All who came before me were thieves and outlaws, but the sheep didn’t listen to them. 9 I am the gate. Whoever enters through me will be saved. They will come in and go out and find pasture. 10 The thief enters only to steal, kill, and destroy. I came so that they could have life—indeed, so that they could live life to the fullest.

John 10:7-10, CEB