If you are like me and you
have interest in things like personal growth, inner inquiry and
self-reflection, it is likely that you are constantly being bombarded with
messages like this: "Live your best life NOW!" or "You only get
one chance at living this day. How are you going to make it GREAT???" or
"No matter what has happened before this moment, you can always start
fresh and commit to living your dreams!!!!"
 |
| Ugh. |
Do you ever just feel like,
get off my friggin' jock?
I do.
When I hear messages like
this, the feeling that used to come into my body was one of inspiration. Maybe
I’m jaded, maybe I’m just over saturated, but lately when I hear these messages
they irritate me like a buzzing fly that I just want to swat.
When someone tells me to
live my best life, it indicates the assumption that I am in some way not living
my best life already - that something is missing. It instantly puts me into a
state of the feeling like I should be doing something more in order to validate
or earn my existence. This leads to a
perpetual state of dissatisfaction and self-doubt. If I wake up in the morning and think: “How
am I going to make this day GREAT??
Like, so great that all other days that have come before it will be ashamed
to have ever existed!!!” - I am so fucked.
Why? In my opinion, when life is approached
as a never-ending episode of Extreme Makeover Home Edition, it is exhausting.
Renovations are necessary every now and then, but when done on a constant basis
all you end up with is a house that is constantly under construction - not very
relaxing, or seductive.
This is installment 4 of 5
in the Seduction Series, a series of blog posts designed to offer insight on
living seduction as a lifestyle and spiritual practice. This week, our topic is
mastering the Art of Seductive Timing. Let’s begin.
Last
week I assigned the task of taking an inventory of of the things in your life
that you are dissatisfied about not yet having achieved, such as a house, or a
new lover, or to lose ten pounds.
Usually when we want something and do not have it, we take on one of
several philosophies:
- I’m so lazy. I should be doing more to achieve my dreams.
- I’m a loser, if I was smarter and more determined I’d have my dreams by now.
- I’m working on it, I’m in process, those things will come someday, I just know it!
Now, try this one on for size:
4.
These dreams? Well, yes I’d like to have them, but they have simply not seduced
me yet.
 |
| Dance goals! Dance I said! Photo Beth Mayesh |
Imagine
saying “I’m sorry weight loss, but you are just going to have to get sexier if
you want me to give you the time of day.”
“Come
on now new house, you can do better than that.
Make me want you. I dare you.”
Feels
a bit different, huh? It takes you out of the role of playing jester to your
dreams and into the role of a Queen or a King, demanding that your dreams dance for you if
they want your approval and attention.
For
example, last night I planned a big day for myself today that included going to
a coffee shop to write this blog, getting my hair cut and running a bunch of
errands around town. I had planned to leave the house around 10 AM. At 11:42 AM I was sitting at my dressing
table painting my nails. I started to
call myself lazy and feel like a wuss for not going out into the cold
weather. “You’re going to be stir crazy
later if you don’t go, just tough it out!” my brain said. But instead, I chose
to just be honest with myself. If going out had really seduced me, I would be
gone by now. So here I sit in bed,
under the covers all bundled up in layers, drinking ginger tea and listening to
the Dixie Chicks. My cherry red
fingernails are dancing across the keyboard as I write this, sparkling in the
afternoon winter sun, and I am happy as a clam.
Haircuts and laundry can
happen another day. I trust in the tides
of seduction. I trust that this morning
I had a plan for what I thought a productive day would look like, but seduction
had another plan for me. I refuse to
doubt myself or think that I am not realizing my full potential because I have
not crossed 8 things off my to-do list today.
I trust that what I have right now must be what I really want, and that
is all I really need.
 |
| Reporting from my office |
What I’d like to know from
you is: Can you envision yourself trusting the tide of seduction to be your
inner metronome? Do you get overwhelmed with all the messages out there telling
you to live a life better than the one you have? Tell me in the comments below.
This week’s assignment, the final in the Seduction Series: Take a moment to practice savoring. You see an email you’ve been waiting for in
your inbox, take a moment (just one) to savor the anticipation before opening
it. Before you take a bite of food, look at the food for one second and feel
yourself want it. Come back next week
and I will tell you what continued practice of this can create. (Hint: it involves making everyone want you)
PS –If you are wondering if there is a way to make your goals appear more seductive so that you tak action, there ABSOLUTELY is. I will not be teaching about it in this blog. Not just because I am a tease, but because it is something that must be learned in person. Seduction Is A Spiritual Practice on the first weekend of February is almost sold out. If you felt a whoosh of wanting more after
reading this blog, trust the tide.
