O.K., so maybe I lied. I know I said last time that Part II was my favorite part, but actually I think this is my favorite part. For me this is where we experience what I believe Abraham Maslow was referring to as 'peak experiences' or what Joseph Campbell called 'following your bliss'. It is the joyous experience of life as I ride the momentum of the upward spiral. It is the recognizing and trusting of the inspirations I get when I am on the upward spiral.
So, let me back up a bit and piece this together. Last week was about believing in what feels good/WIRA, because the more I believe in WIRA, the more I am on the upward spiral. This post continues from there because the more I am on the upward spiral the more ideas/inspirations I will have about the things I want to do that are in alignment with WIRA. These inspirations are the true expressions of WIRA; my genius self. There is a natural internal rhythm that happens in life as I get in the groove of following these inspirations.
When I was young, I once asked my mom how one knows when they want to get married. Her wise answer, although extremely profound and accurate, was incredibly dissatisfying and frustrating. She said, "You just know." I am now going to be as equally dissatisfying and frustrating and give the same answer to the question, "how do I know when something is inspired and true for me?" You just know! Knowing is the experience we have when we are on the upward spiral and we are solid about a decision, a direction, an idea, and we no longer need to turn to others for agreement because we recognize it is authentic for us -- it is WWRA. We just know it is true for us.
The catch here is we need to be on the upward spiral. Most of us make decisions and take action in our life in order to move from the downward spiral to the upward. That is backwards. LOP is about switching that around. LOP is about getting to the upward spiral first (which is what we practiced last time), and then trusting the decisions and actions that organically arise/are inspired from that perspective. That's how I know you won't eat everything in site and just sit on the couch all day if you follow the preferences of WYRA, because doing those things long term are not from the upward spiral, they are an example of being on the downward spiral trying to get to the upward spiral.
The 'miracle' in this (it's not a miracle, it just sometimes feels like it) is realizing the choices I make from the downward spiral are completely different from the ones I make from the upward spiral. My perception of a situation turns 180 degrees. The choices I make from frustration just create more frustration, and the choices I make from curiosity or excitement or love create more curiosity and excitement and love. My work is not to figure out what to do to feel better, my work is to feel better (be on the upward spiral) so I will just know what to do.
The tripping point here can be what I refer to as "Essence Versus Form" in the LOP book (chapters 7-12). I can get to the upward spiral. I can feel the fun momentum of it and the inspirations are flowing. But sometimes I can mistakenly get locked onto the form of it (how I think it should be) versus the essence of it (being on the upward spiral). Because I am focused on the form I lose my way/guidance/good feeling and start heading down the spiral. If I don't catch it I can turn into a control freak and try and make the form/goal happen, which never works because it was never about the form, it was about the essence. But the answer is always the same. 1. Remember what I prefer/WIRA. 2. Find the thoughts and beliefs that support WIRA which moves me towards the upward spiral. 3. Listen to and trust the flow of the inspirations.
So, this week we are going to practice baby step inspirations. I define a baby step inspiration as something that feels like a whole lot of fun and that I can do today, tomorrow, or within the next week. First ensure you are feeling good -- you are on the upward spiral. Then make it easy for yourself and pick simple things, things that won't take very long, or things that really don't seem to matter in the big picture of life. Just make sure that you pick things that you love, that perhaps feel playful, maybe something you have enjoyed in your past, and then spend a little time in that activity. Watch that you don't turn this exercise into a 'have to', another obligation on an already very long list of things you think you should be doing. Be aware of becoming like a dog on a bone and not setting it down when it no longer feels good. If not one true inspiration/baby step comes to mind all week that's fine too. Just be honest with yourself.
Grab your paper and jot down any baby steps that come to mind right now, if there are any. (eg. I'd like to go for a walk, watch my favorite movie, connect with a dear friend, read a book, have a glass of my favorite wine.). If you are inspired, pick one of them to follow right now and see how it goes. Was it really fun and exciting or were you just trying to complete the exercise? Did some of your other beliefs get too loud in your head about what you should be doing? Did you immediately end up back on the downward spiral? Whatever happens as you take your inspired baby steps, no worries. Be kind and gentle about the whole thing, this is the practice, this is LOP.
Part III is the area that provides the most practice for me right now. It takes practice to recognize what I prefer (Part I), it takes practice to get really good at recognizing the upward from the downward spiral (Part II). It also takes practice to trust the inspirations (Part III). It takes practice to be in the flow of what sometimes can become a fast moving river/momentum. But for me, there is nothing more satisfying than playing around with clarifying WIRA/what is most important to me, and moving in the direction of it to see what is going to inspire me next. One inspired baby step after another adds up to a very inspired life.