Whether you are a sports fan or could not care less, bear with me here. Our lives are often mirrored in the games people play, and my entry today reflects one of those times.
Watching the Vikings game on Sunday and now reviewing the plays, I am struck by the dodging and weaving so many of us do without realizing that our best play may be missed in a reaction to our past. Our best play may come from the "hit" we are so adeptly dodging, if only for the moment.
If you didn't see the game, I'll just review that near the end of a tied game, the Vikings quarterback, Brett Favre, threw a pass that went off target and subsequently led the Saints (!) to win in overtime - and to clinch their first trip to the Super Bowl.
Favre had a choice. The choice he did not make - to run and make some yardage - some said, was a reaction to his age, knowing that keeping the ball and moving forward would result in his 40-year-old body taking the 13th hard hit of the game. This may or may not be true, but we could understand if it was the reason he did not make the play that would have given the team safe field goal range - and a probable win.
Favre had suffered such brutal punishment in the game that I was amazed that he was still standing and playing in championship style. I am amazed at so many people I know who remain on their feet despite the punishing blows life can throw at us. We have courage. The question is, how do we face the repetition of life's challenges?
We all make choices, often reactions based on experience that says, "Dodge and weave and avoid the impact." The trouble is, we have to live with the choice. Even though we dodge and weave repeatedly in similar situations, we may actually gain some perspective. We give ourselves the chance to change the reaction (default) into an intentional action that moves us forward to a win. We get to see the situation through new eyes if we breathe when we find ourselves in a situation we realize we really want to change. And, thankfully, we are not usually under the pressure Favre was on Sunday. Usually, we do have time to breathe.
Living in a default energy causes us symptoms of anxiety. We know that anxiety is always the result of giving our power away to some person, condition or situation. Wisdom says this is true, and my experience affirms it. We can change the condition by paying attention to instances of anxiety and breathing to reveal our own Wisdom. The Truth may be revealed in a position similar to Favre's on Sunday. The choice may be difficult, but the payoff is huge. The payoff is a life free of looking back and wishing it were different; a life moving forward to the win.
As we Breathe, we Know. I am breathing with you as we all move forward to a life of ease and joy, and I celebrate our courage to stand and breathe. The wisdom will always serve us well.
Until next time,
Phyllis
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