Today I received an email with a link to an online class, "The Science of Happiness." It is an eight week course on positive psychology. It sounds amazing and it's free and it has great guest speakers and it's on a topic that I love to learn about and did I mention that it's free???
I got excited.
I just finished going through a book with three months of weekly tasks. Homework that would help me listen to my creative side. The book was done last week, so why not?
Here's why...
I have come to the realization that I use knowledge as a distraction to the actual living of life. I love knowledge! I love learning about human behavior. I love reflecting and thinking. I love having something to work on and being held accountable.
So... the idea of this class is something that feels safe.
Instead of taking a risk and signing up for a painting or dance class, I would have an excuse. And isn't it good to "work on yourself?"
But there are only so many hours in the day and I get to choose how I want to spend them. When I start to feel that there is some space in my life, I find a way to fill it with something familiar and safe. These books and classes are just that.
It's an old pattern.
This class came to see if I would take the bait. It came to see if I have learned anything from all of the knowledge that I have attained. It came to test and tempt me.
I looked up the course description and even clicked the register button to find out more and then I turned away from the computer. I went to my daily reading and the feeling that I needed to say no was confirmed. The title was "You know too much." Ha!
It reminded me that information is not wisdom and asked "how can you think clearly if your mind is stuffed with undigested information?" Yes. I need time to digest and then let the space be open for something that feels a bit scary, but is really what I am longing to do.
Distractions are everywhere. I am on the lookout. I am going to be vigilant in this endeavor and know that sometimes things that sound good and look good still might not be what I need.
I got excited.
I just finished going through a book with three months of weekly tasks. Homework that would help me listen to my creative side. The book was done last week, so why not?
Here's why...
I have come to the realization that I use knowledge as a distraction to the actual living of life. I love knowledge! I love learning about human behavior. I love reflecting and thinking. I love having something to work on and being held accountable.
So... the idea of this class is something that feels safe.
Instead of taking a risk and signing up for a painting or dance class, I would have an excuse. And isn't it good to "work on yourself?"
But there are only so many hours in the day and I get to choose how I want to spend them. When I start to feel that there is some space in my life, I find a way to fill it with something familiar and safe. These books and classes are just that.
It's an old pattern.
This class came to see if I would take the bait. It came to see if I have learned anything from all of the knowledge that I have attained. It came to test and tempt me.
I looked up the course description and even clicked the register button to find out more and then I turned away from the computer. I went to my daily reading and the feeling that I needed to say no was confirmed. The title was "You know too much." Ha!
It reminded me that information is not wisdom and asked "how can you think clearly if your mind is stuffed with undigested information?" Yes. I need time to digest and then let the space be open for something that feels a bit scary, but is really what I am longing to do.
Distractions are everywhere. I am on the lookout. I am going to be vigilant in this endeavor and know that sometimes things that sound good and look good still might not be what I need.
Are there things in your life that keep you distracted from doing what you really want or hope to do?
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