Some Assembly Required: What Happens when we TOWANDA Our Lives...a little too Much!?

 

 

 "Faith, culture, structure and guidance are good things."

~ Bethenny Frankel

 

Have you ever bought something that required you 1) read the instructions, 2) find all the parts and pieces (some provided and some not), and 3) required that you carefully followed the steps until completion?  I am sure that is a silly question, of course you have. Now, think about how you approached this task, did you follow said process? Or did you, like me, many more times than I would like to admit, start to assemble all the pieces having NOT read or even so much as glanced at the very clearly written instructions?

What happened after all of your hard work and effort?  Did the thing you bought come out perfectly constructed or was it jacked up, crooked, and bent?  Did you use all of the parts and pieces that you were provided, or at the end of completing the build, were you left with extra parts that you were not expecting to have?

This has happened to me personally one time to many in my life. It leaves me frustrated and at times feeling like a failure. I tend to ask myself in these moments as few vitally important questions like, “why didn’t this work?” how come the end product looks NOTHING like the picture on the box? Why is it that I have all of these extra parts? And more importantly, what the hell is it that I missed in my planning?

Ironically, this is the sad ass crap that we sometimes do to ourselves in life. This is also what happens when we attempt to control God’s or the Universe’s plan for us. Many times, we fail to read the directions, and we simply move to jump feet first into the building phase of our life’s projects.  What is the byproduct?  Often times we are left with too many extra parts and crooked as hell outcomes. What we fail to understand is that the directions we are provided are there for a reason; ultimately, they help guide our path. I know from personal experiences that sometimes those instructions can be confusing, as well as can produce a lot of stress that can lead us to become frustrated. Breath, its ok…it is just part of the process, I promise!

Consequently, what I have come to also understand is that if we slowdown and read them [ the instructions], section, by section, as they are written, they start to make better sense. The end product, although possibly imperfect, is now based upon a sturdier construction, and having taken the time to engage in this step of the process, we are rewarded with less headaches for you and/or anyone or thing within a 50-foot radius of your wrath and frustrations.

Life, you see, is nothing but an ongoing project of which you will ALWAYS need to be ready to read the plans, search for tools, and ultimately be ready to assemble (and maybe even disassemble, if need be, at various times in one’s life).  My advice, start to pay better attention to the visual illustrations you are provided in your life.  Stop more often to read or if warranted reread the instructions given to you by God and the Universe. Lastly, try not to be so damn eager to JUST complete the tasks; that you forget the value in the steps you need to take to level up your experiences.

What I have also come to understand is the price we pay for failing to adhere to these very minimal steps in the process of our assembly. Think about this, what happens, for instance, if you put a piece on to tightly.  Could it break?  Absolutely! Moreover, that part could be critical to the design and construction of what we are trying to assemble.  So, if we are careless with how we apply pressure while screwing it on, we could end up permanently damaging what we are seeking to create.

As an alternative, if the instructions require that we apply only light pressure, STOP and THINK! Then take heed of this advice and do not get out the power tools to ensure that it fits. Again, as an alternative, begin to work better at slowing down, reading the advice provided, and take your time to apply only the amount of pressure you will actually need to tighten the screws and get the job done.

 

Moral of the story today folks: Do not always seek through your lack of proper preparations to work harder then you have to at life. Work smarter, enjoy the journey, and reap the rewards of the efforts you are applying to your life by following the steps. Some days we just need a little less TOWANDA!

 

With that have a blessed Saturday & remember to always let your gratitude fuel your attitude!

 

Sincerely,

 

Carol

 

Carol Hill, Owner/Lead Happiness Ambassador

 Carol Hill is a mom, a long time nurse, certified professional  life and leadership development coach, a consultant, and Lead Happiness Ambassador and the owner/operator of Just Chill Custom Gifting By Carol. 

 

The Showroom North, Homer, NY