I was looking back at my old blog which I'm glad I still have because it serves as a journal and a record of where I was in a certain time. I see where I've come, and I see patterns of my ruminating some of the same thoughts about things.
One post I looked back on referenced an article by David Whyte. The article entitled "The Questions that Have No Right to Go Away" can be found here. Because I'm naturally curious and love asking questions and answering them, the title caught my eye, and of course because David Whyte is one of my favorite poets.
What I wrote about in 2012 as inspired by the article and a good discussion I'd had at the time was about the delicate balance between asking questions of ourselves and not overanalyzing getting to the answer. Asking questions gives opportunity for us to become more self aware and in that create steps forward. What I also know about myself is that too much time pondering equals my overthinking which can potentially keep me stuck. So I make a practice of sometimes just underthinking. I even have a sticker displayed front and center on my sticker wall, thanks to my good friend David, that says "UNDERTHINK IT" to help me remember that sometimes it's a really good thing to stop thinking so much and do whatever it is I'm thinking about doing
Now, so many years later I wanted to reread the piece just to remind myself of these questions that have no right to go away. After reading through the10, I found myself especially pulled to a one in particular because its timely and because the question lends itself to my coaching work.
#2, What can I be wholehearted about?
I've asked a similar question of myself recently as I shared in my last post, and like to ask it of my clients. I ask it and add on;
Where do I want to put my whole heart in?
Why?
Where do I get inspired?
Or as David Whyte wrote "What do I care most about—in my vocation, in my family life, in my heart and mind?"
How often do we give ourselves the chance in our work lives and lives outside of that to stop and ask this question, to reflect on how we're feeling about what we're doing and why.
Try it. Ask yourself What can I be wholehearted about? Why?
Perhaps, its what you've already got going on right now; or perhaps your thinking about something new. I'd love to hear.