Got a Small Problem? Here’s How to Overcome It

    Big and little, in momentous and in less earth-shaking ways, my mind body spirit practices have transformed my life. Some of my experiences with these practices are not earthshaking – but demonstrate how much they’ve changed my everyday perspective on life.

    Several months ago, I had a three-hour drive to a speaking event in southern Colorado. All my props and books and CDs were safely packed in my car, and my daughter was driving so I could get a little shuteye before going onstage. We had brought snacks, and I had a huge bath towel – no, it was more like a beach towel – to cover my clothes while munching on slices of apple, cheese wedges and crackers. I didn’t want anything that would mess up my elegant crocheted dress. I didn’t even hug the dog before we left, because he likes to put his toenails in the crochet holes and pull. But, no. If you’re thinking I ruined my dress that day, uh uh. That’s not it.

    When we arrived at the venue, I stepped out of the car and looked down. My feet were still in my bedroom slippers! I immediately realized that my strappy shoes, the ones that go with my elegant crocheted dress, were still waiting by the door of my bedroom, instead of in the trunk of my car where they should have been. These bedroom slippers are not the kind that could pass for shoes – they’re the fuzzy kind, the dirty fuzzy kind. I’m fastidious about making sure everything is flawless for my gigs and this was a major slip-up. 

    I’m proud to tell you that all I said was, Oh, dang.

    And here’s what I mean about how I’ve changed. Formerly I would have said, OH DAMN!! all caps, maybe 16 exclamation points plus a few choice expletives. Perhaps I would even have stamped my fuzzy-slippered foot. Worst of all, I would have held onto that negative feeling, allowing myself to go down into the rabbit hole of bleakness. That would have thrown off my pace during my talk and believe me, audiences notice that kind of thing.

    Instead, I did one of my quickie practices to center myself and ask for divine assistance. Then when I got inside, I took off my dirty slippers and my socks (those fuzzy slippers are too wide so I wear them with socks) and I gave my talk in bare feet. Sort of bohemian-style. Even got a standing ovation.

    It was a good reminder: maybe those things I think are so important aren’t really so crucial, after all. Like being perfect. Like never making mistakes.

    If you have a small problem and you want to overcome it, take these steps:

1.    Pause and close your eyes.
2.    Focus your attention on your heart.
3.    Breathe through your heart for about 30 seconds.
4.    Surrender your problem to Spirit and ask for peace.
5.    Open up and allow God’s peace to calm you.
6.    Say, “Thank you.”
7.    Smile.