The Amusing Life:

I’m getting a little abstract and deep with this one, I think. That’s me. Welcome to my brain. I’ve been seeing a lot of posts on social media about Lent this week. If you aren’t familiar with Lent, it’s a season of prayer and fasting in the Christian liturgical calendar. There are similar seasons of meditation and spiritual restoration in many religions, but let me pause here. This challenge is not about religion, and I am NOT asking anyone to give up anything. Haven’t we given up enough? The past year has been full of loss. We are grieving the loss of gathering for holidays and birthdays and standing around the Keurig at work and taking our wives to dinner and a movie. We are grieving lost loved ones and lost chances to say goodbye. We generally associate Lent with deprivation. You hear, “What are you giving up for Lent this year?” I don’t want to give anything up. DO NOT take anything else from me right now. If I can’t hug my friends, I at least want my pizza and beer and trash TV. But I am somehow fixated on this idea of a season of renewal and focusing on what’s important. It’s got me thinking about letting go and inviting in. What do I need to let go? What do I need to invite into my life?  What is stealing my focus, and what would stir my passions? 

For this challenge, let's examine ourselves. What is standing in your way? Maybe you do need to give something up. If chocolate is keeping you from being your best self, quit chocolate. Sometimes it’s that simple. However, I dare you to go a little deeper. What’s holding you back? Negativity? Lack of self confidence? Oppressive ideologies? What can you do to stoke the flames of your ambitions? 

 

This is where you have to get creative. Once you’ve done a little soul-searching and uncovered things that are holding you back or that you need more of, then you need to begin to practice letting those things go or inviting those things into your life. How you do that is entirely up to you. However, I will offer up some suggestions.  

If you are stifled by feelings of unworthiness, you could write a list of “I am” affirmations to repeat to yourself whenever you don’t feel like enough.  

“I am kind.” 

“I am brave.”  

“I am smart.” 

“I am capable.” 

 

If you need to give up negativity and self-pity, you could write a gratitude list.  

If music motivates you, make yourself a motivational playlist.

 

 

 

 

I’m letting go of fear. Y’all, I was a brave kid. I climbed trees and played football and did flips. And I was a brave young adult. I went to college not once, but twice at a school where I knew no one. But I have found fear. Fear creeps in through all of the everyday traumas of life. You hear a lot about the autonomic responses of fight or flight, but we often forget freeze. Sometimes I feel frozen; unwilling or unable to make any move lest I upset the delicate balance of the status quo. Of course, some fear is good, but other fears keep you stuck doing a job you hate because you’re afraid to pursue a new career or sitting alone on a Friday night because you’re afraid to ask out that girl you like. Then there are the stupid little fears. “Should I text my friend, or will I be bothering him?” “Should I post that pic on Instagram, or is everyone tired of my dog?” These are the kind of big fears I want to confront and small fears I want to step over. I don’t want to worry about what others think. I want to dare greatly.  

For the challenge this week, think about what you could let go or invite in that would enhance your life. Get creative. Journal about it. Draw it. Write a song. Express it in some way, and if you can, invite a few friends into that space with you, and share it with them. I’m going to be writing down some of the fears I need to let go. One night this week (weather permitting), I’ll have a small bonfire and let those fears be consumed by the flames.  Be sure to follow The Amusing Life on Facebook or The Amusing Life on Instagram to find out when I'll be going live from the bonfire.