up, UP, and away
April 3, 2009 at 11:33 PM 
the hubs recently handed me the mini-book, "the dip," and stated plainly, read this now. he was so right, it was exactly what i needed. the book states there are endeavors in life that look enticing in one form or another so we jump in... until we hit a dip, which could be defined as any obstacle that makes our endeavor less fun, less enticing, or more difficult. this is when most people quit, but it's not when we should quit, because once you push through the dip you're on a whole new field.
the book states that successful people quit often and quit quickly at the things they can perceive are truly not getting them to the next level. he calls these endeavors cul-de-sacs, things that we are chasing but aren't getting us anywhere, hence the phrase, "dead-end job."
i've been taking inventory of my pursuits and i've spent some soul moments thinking about the worth of my time, my passions, and all the stuff in between. what am i holding onto that can or should be let go? what is worth the extra level of commitment to push through the dip and reach that higher level?
i want to be the best mama to my chillins
the best teacher to their individual minds
i want to be the best wife to my husband
more thoughtful, encouraging, kind, and sexy
i want to be the best mixed-media-realism artist
to create beauty and evoke emotion through color and paper
i want to have a better relationship with god
to trust in his guidance and love for me
i want to be the best friend
to give and take in ways to strengthen, nurture, and buoy
these are worthy pursuits. they are worth my time, my sweat, and my intense struggle to achieve them. making it through the dips, that will inevitably occur through these relationships, will be worth it. and i'm still going to have fun in the process.
this line of thinking has helped me to see that pendant making is not my love, it's not my passion; it's fun, but not worth my time. i'm not going to be the best pendant maker this world has ever known and i don't want to be. i need that headspace, that time, and that devotion to shower on my very best pursuits.
for the next week i will be running a huge sale on all of my handcrafted yummies in my etsy shop. when the week is up, i will pull all items out and let them rest. i will focus more of my time and talents on the things i truly love. and i will probably stop wearing pants when i'm home, jeans are a total cul-de-sac.
Reader Comments (14)
I must read this book!
I am all over the place with my interests and desires. I have this yearning to experience it all and leave no stone unturned. But then I don't excel at any one thing.
Jeans are a cul-de-sac eh? I need to re think some things here.
I'm off to get this book...and some new clothes while I'm at it !!
thanks :)
I love the brick patio in the last pic
Have you read "the Alchemist" by Paulo Coelho? That is another good one to help you with your goals.
so your gonna run around in your skibbies when you are home? tee hee- just kidding.
I think finding the things that really fuel us is a fantastic idea and just writing the things that you want and feel will fill your heart and your soul are the first step to having them happen.
(although I am sure you are probably many of these things already)
hugs-
Thank you Jenica....this should be required reading...I've been told more than once "you have too many irons in the fire, and none of them can get hot" Thank you for the "jeans are a culdesac...three times fast becomes cuddle sack, and thats what my jeans are, a cuddle, comfort, sack, time to break out of that comfort....it's not working for me :)
Colleen in NH
Thank you for this post Jenica... it's a much-needed reminder and reinforcement. I look forward to hearing more about your journey and I might just check out that book too!
Hugs to you,
Steph :)
xox
So interesting that I should come upon this, because I have been pondering these very things... what to focus on, what to get rid of, what is it that is sucking all of my time... I may need to pick up this book. Something's gotta change or my book will never see completion, and I will cry.
I loved this post. It is always such a refreshing feeling to de-clutter - whether it be in our physical environment, to rid the junk in our head, our bodies, or just to streamline our activities.
Thanks for sharing... I agree about jeans being a cul-de-sac, by the way!
As you know, I'm a huge advocate for not wearing pants. I support you fully!
I grew up on a cul-de-sac and I've always loved them. It was comforting to know that we could play there and (most likely) not get hurt, at least not by a fast-moving car. It was fun to play hopscotch and jump rope there, to ride bikes around and around in circles.
But this is a whole new way to think about the idea of a cul-de-sac. It's a good reminder to take a closer look at the risks inherent in getting stuck there on that dead end. Sometimes I wonder if I'm still that little girl, riding around in circles, not sure at all what I want to do or how to grow up and become the me I want to be. Thanks for the reminder not to stay stuck!
xo
everyone: thanks for supporting my walk out on pants!
amy, i think that could be the point of having cul-de-sac ideas, they're things that keep us safe. like our gremlins. ;-D we don't want to take the leap to being something great, instead we stay in the safety of our own little nest, which also keeps us from making progress.
xoxo
At my house jeans are a lofty pursuit...
Oooh, sounds like a good book. I'll have to check it out. You have such a way of puting things. Thanks for sharing, you bless others by doing it.