Sometimes I feel like a fire fighter. There are just so many little dramas, issues, problems and basically fires to put out. Some days I feel like I need a siren and a big red truck.
Doesn’t life get like that though? You just run around putting out fire after fire and there is no time to do the things you had planned or that really matter. I think Steven Covey talks about it in his book “Seven Habits of Highly Effective People.” It is something like – urgent/ important, urgent/not important, not urgent/important and not urgent/not important… but you know how it is, everyone, especially the kids, think it is all desperately urgent and desperately important.
Someone call the fire brigade!!!
So what do you do? Run around like a frantic fire fighter putting them all out, solving problems, deflating drama and managing mayhem? How do we get off this circus roundabout?
You know, when my kids were at kindy, they had the fire truck visit and each child was given a sticker and a very clear message…
If you are on fire,
STOP. DROP. ROLL
Pretty good advice I reckon. Think about it, in the middle of the “fire”, if the first thing you do is STOP, not only will you just jump into the fire, but you will not re-act. This will give you time to choose your action. Sometime the best advice is “don’t just do something, sit there”.
So then what? DROP. This means, get out of your head, your ego self and drop into your heart. By doing this the next thing you choose, will be chosen by your wise and soulful self, not a re-acting, menacing ego. Your choice will then be more authentic and serve everyone better. The simplest and most effective way to do this is to exhale. Like a huge sigh. Ahhh. Just let it out and find yourself in your heart space.
And then, ROLL. Roll with the punches, let the chips fall where they may and know you have done what you could. The outcome is what it is and it is because it is exactly how it should be. It may not be how YOU think it should be, but it is. So roll with it and see what miracles it brings.
So when “fire” breaks out in your life again, and it will, remember…
STOP. DROP. ROLL
Give it a go; I think you will be surprised.
From my soul to yours
With love
Chris Shana
