Cup Half Full?
Hey Gang!
Awesome momentum started in the last topic. Thanks to EVERYONE who contributed. Count on your online family here to be a continued source of encouragement and inspiration to keep striving to be your best at whatever you may be attempting.
Thought for the week: Most of the folks I meet in here are pretty optimistic people. I think most of us would define our cups as being half full. But full of WHAT?? Perhaps it's time to take a look in the cup and empty it out! Often when I experience a loss of some kind or a change impinging on my comfort zone, I'll have to remind myself it is a good thing to "empty out the cup" because you need to make space for fresh new energy in your life and you can't fill a full cup! Sometimes we have to empty out the cup ourselves. Is your cup full of stagnant old feelings, beliefs, and baggage? How long has it been since you have taken a look in that cup of yours and cleaned it out? I'd be willing to bet you've defragmented your hard drive and done a couple of spyware sweeps of your computer since then. Well isn't an optimized life as important as an optimized computer? Maybe it's time to defragment your HEARTdrive! When can you take some time to be still enough to really take inventory of your spirit and purge some outdated grief, worry, guilt, or insecurities? Maybe there are still a few unresolved issues in there relegated to "someday" - well I just checked the calendar and Someday is Today! Go figure!!
Just like your computer, your life operates on a system of rules based on abstracts that a programmer creates. Some of us are still running our lives on the "operating system" we developed as children. Is your life running on an operating system programmed by a child?? If you have bugs in your system, you alone have the power to reprogram it...TODAY!!
All Things Possible!
Chris (Version 9.0.2)
Awesome momentum started in the last topic. Thanks to EVERYONE who contributed. Count on your online family here to be a continued source of encouragement and inspiration to keep striving to be your best at whatever you may be attempting.
Thought for the week: Most of the folks I meet in here are pretty optimistic people. I think most of us would define our cups as being half full. But full of WHAT?? Perhaps it's time to take a look in the cup and empty it out! Often when I experience a loss of some kind or a change impinging on my comfort zone, I'll have to remind myself it is a good thing to "empty out the cup" because you need to make space for fresh new energy in your life and you can't fill a full cup! Sometimes we have to empty out the cup ourselves. Is your cup full of stagnant old feelings, beliefs, and baggage? How long has it been since you have taken a look in that cup of yours and cleaned it out? I'd be willing to bet you've defragmented your hard drive and done a couple of spyware sweeps of your computer since then. Well isn't an optimized life as important as an optimized computer? Maybe it's time to defragment your HEARTdrive! When can you take some time to be still enough to really take inventory of your spirit and purge some outdated grief, worry, guilt, or insecurities? Maybe there are still a few unresolved issues in there relegated to "someday" - well I just checked the calendar and Someday is Today! Go figure!!
Just like your computer, your life operates on a system of rules based on abstracts that a programmer creates. Some of us are still running our lives on the "operating system" we developed as children. Is your life running on an operating system programmed by a child?? If you have bugs in your system, you alone have the power to reprogram it...TODAY!!
All Things Possible!
Chris (Version 9.0.2)
posted by Christopher Showerman @ 4/18/2006 08:31:00 PM
14 Comments:
At 1:38 AM, April 19, 2006 ,
Anonymous said...
Hey Chris (version 9.0.2)!
Long time no speak!
Your post this round has a really freaky timing! I'm at a point at the moment where maybe it is time to refresh the cup of life! The only aspect holding me back is the memories and the thought maybe refreshing things isnt the answer. I have to adit, the idea of turning the page would be nice...but there's always the thought of leaving the people who once had a large portion of the cup once before and gradually loosing it's concentration...i have no idea if this is making ne sence.
Anyway, how do you know if its the right time to refresh the cup of life and turn the page into the next chapter?
Cheers
Matt from down-under
At 8:22 AM, April 19, 2006 ,
Christopher Showerman said...
Hey Matt, great to hear from you! You know, there are no coincidences - everything happens for a reason. So if this topic seems to resonate with you, it is probably not an accident that you happened upon it! Change is rarely easy because it always involves going into the unknown. But then again, life is constantly moving forward - it is up to us to keep up with that momentum. A friend of mine suggested that this is a good "Spring Cleaning" topic. (Do you still consider it Spring in Australia right now or is this Autumn for you guys? I don't know how that works!) So allow me to encourage you to boldly take a look at what feeds your life - keep those things! All the other stuff in there that may bog down your spirit or your joy or keep you from attaining your true potential, scary as it may seem, go ahead and let it go. Your baggage today must have served a purpose for you in the past but you are a new person now. Every day we evolve and grow so embrace that change in yourself. Acknowledge the things that use to work for you, then trust and let go.
Ahhh, freedom.
All Things Possible!
Chris
At 11:05 AM, April 19, 2006 ,
Anonymous said...
Hi everyone!
Good topic, Chris. As always, I might add.
G'Day Matt. You asked, when do you know it is time for change. Well, I can tell you only about myself. For me usually something happend that set things in motion. Like I had a job that I liked that over time changed in a way that it literally made me very sick. So, after coming back I decided I really needed a new job. That took some time but when I had found a new position it was an easy transition, as it was something I really wanted and looked forward to. The beginning was not easy, no question, as I came from a position where I had worked for 12 years and knew (almost) everything to something completely new that made me feel like I knew (almost) nothing. But that changed quite quickly and I never regretted it for a second. So, my advise is, think about it for a while and don't be only rational about it, but try to figure out how you feel about it, too. That way I always find out when it's time for change, I come to the point when I just know. Good luck!
Actually, I see every new situation as a new cup for which I decide is it half full or half empty and do I like what's inside. I definately have changed immensly since I was a child. I used to be very shy and quiet when I was little but thankfully I have grown self-confident and self assured over the years. One of my good friends who met me only a couple of years ago calls this "The Legend of Shy Ute" as she finds it hard to believe that I was so different then. But there are witnesses! :)
I try every now and then to step outside of myself and look at me, my behaviour, from the outside - as much as that is at all possible. Just to see if I am still on the right track, of if there are things that maybe I don't really like that much and want to change, like manerisms you take on from those around you or stuff like that. I find, that as soon as you identify something that you want to change and pay attention to how you are, being aware of it, can help you change that. And so much changes around us so fast these days. I don't know how it is for you guys, but in my job so many people come and go, colleagues and superiors, that you constantly need to adapt to new situations. Plus, I get a lot of input from books, friends, tv and so on. Also, sometimes, I have little sort of revelations, that something that has been puzzling me or something I never really thought about suddenly makes sense or I can see the meaning of it. So, to me life is a constant upgrade. Live and Learn or - as we say - the school of life.
All the best and keep learning!
Ute (Version 420.4)
At 1:05 PM, April 19, 2006 ,
Anonymous said...
Hi Chris
The timing of this blog could not have been more perfect as i am in the process of cleaning out my own cup and the build up of old baggage that has been weighing me down. The cup without even realizing it began to overflow with anxiety, stress and past regrets. When i finally turned my attention back to the cup i stopped overfilling it as it served no positive purpose.The time came to execute a course of action neccessary for me to let go of all the junk build up as it was of no use to me now. I have accepted the lessons for what they are and try not store it back in the cup to dwell on later. Its job is done and served its purpose.
Speaking of cleaning.. my room could use a good one.Argh..
At 6:38 PM, April 19, 2006 ,
Anonymous said...
Hey Chris!
Your right on about that! Maybe you really were meant to bring this up! Man you have a way with words! Your reply made soo much sense! It really is a whole lot healthier for one to replace the flat contents in their cup for some fresh and fizzy stuff instead and also, trusting in the decision of replacing it. It will be an interesting transition... Thankyou! It really is nice to hear a perspective from someone else that your heart speaks every day yet the mind difer's the messages into irrelevance. I guess it comes down to confrontation and going through with what you feel is right and beneficial for YOU! In relation to seasons, we're about half way through autum and heading into winter down-under. Its the type of weather that can bring even the brightest happy chappy into a slow slump. Bring on the summer already! We need warmth and the beach! When we hit winter in Melbourne, your guarenteed your not going to see the sun in a few months...and you will be living in a jacket and coat for the entire time. What are you guys in at the moment? If you say summer i will literally get on the next flight out lol!
Ute, thank-you soo much for your insight and your advice. It actually was a few things that set the emtional wheel's turning. It just started hitting me that really, i do need to open the next door and walk through it. Cheers!
Changing the topic briefly, i was just wondering if you got my cd? I sent it a while back but knew the file may have been to big to post. Good news on a singing point of view: I recently came third in my first kareoke competition! Prize was this bottle of vodka and a bar tab for a while...to an 18 year old...its the prize of our dreams! I'll keep you posted on the upcomming evets...this year shall be interesting.
Cheers,
Matt from down-under
At 3:17 AM, April 20, 2006 ,
Anonymous said...
Hey all. Wow, this must be by far the most intellect discussion we had going on here so far; awesome! And indeed, where do you come up with these things Chris?! Talking about a Spring cleaning, and what a way to put it.
Chris, that line of yours 'There are no coincidences -everything happens for a reason.' has been one of my own guidelines in life for some time. Amazing to see you think alike. :)
As for cleaning out the cup: I think it's something people should do far more often! Right now most people don't take the time to look at the way they live their lives (actually, they don't take the time for lots of things these days!) and they usually find out they don' like the way things are the hard way; when they get an eyeopener of some sort. Not always a happy occassion, and it's a shame it needs to get to that before people start making changes.
Of course sometimes circumstances -anticipated or not- force your life into a different direction and not always for the better. (A point where I find myself now.) I believe we always come out stronger in the end..(as everything happens for a reason..although we may not always know the reason).
If, however, we stop and think about it and take the reins in our own hands before things get really bad, we would be much happier altogether. Some people still seem to think health is only a state of the body, not a state of mind too.
Like you Ute, I also experienced a strong protest of that little voice deep within (connected to a physical breakdown), that tells us what is good for us but that is so often neglected. It is learning the hard way but all worthwhile if it makes you realise what it is really all about.
(I'm amazed we have so much in common, Ute -the more I get to know you the more we seem to be on the same 'wavelenghth'. See you next week! XXX)
Matt, if it's any comfort to you; we're just coming out of a really long and wet winter. I thought Spring would never get here! So you know which direction to travel to get some sunshine this time of year.. ;) *sends happy vibes your way*
Signing off with a couple of song lyrics that crossed my path just now (yes, because there are no coincidences..) Happy Spring cleaning everyone!
'Does it feel like we've never been alive.
Does it feel like it's only just begun..'
Be Inspired! XXX
At 10:21 AM, April 21, 2006 ,
Christopher Showerman said...
I love you guys!! What a wonderful collection of spirit and insight. Thank you so much.
Matt, well if you were wondering, you obviously have a powerful team behind your moving forward now! Keep us posted on your progress. And NO I did NOT receive a CD from you. Perhaps it got lost in the mail? I'm glad you mentioned it. I'm looking forward to hearing it. Congrats on the Karaoke win – don’t forget that you won’t be able to see the sun from inside the bar!! ;-)
Ute - the legend! I loved your insight and that you are on your 420th version! That is a lot of reinvention!! I like your always learning always growing approach. Nature reiterates this law - when things stop growing, they die! I applaud your courage to break from a job that was breaking you!
And you too, Lara! It so excites me that your Sufi studies were covering the EXACT topic with the EXACT metaphors that we were using here. Thank you so much for reaching out and being a force for global and cultural embrace! All the best to your little Giant!
Kathy, what a beautiful way you described your overflowing cup. It can be such a cathartic event to release that energy. How do you do it? Cry? Dance? Work out? Scream? My personal favorite is hitting the gym or hitting a heavy bag, but then it's off to the next step - filling the cup back up - lest it stays empty too long!!
Jaschenka, you write as wonderfully as you draw, definitely the heart of an artist. Sending you courage and strength in your new direction. If you find yourself with a fragmented Heartdrive, like any other muscle that is broken down, it ALWAYS repairs itself stronger that before. BTW, I was in a local store here, called Trader Joes, and they had mini Stroopwafels!!
ALL THINGS POSSIBLE!!!
Chris
At 6:49 AM, April 23, 2006 ,
Anonymous said...
Hello everyone...what really excites me about this forum is the positive mind set that you all seem to have about tackling life's challenges. It is so inspiring, when facing challenges of my own, to be able to check in to the web forum that Chris has so graciously provided. Hearing all of your stories gives me a boost every time I log on and hear from a familiar voice or discover someone new is posting. It always helps to know that others are going through the same things, oftentimes, that I am. And getting all the perspectives from different places, along with the amazing insight that Chris gives, brings joy to my HEART-drive and a little more bounce to my step each day. Thanks Chris....it's been fun following the forum this week....Here's to new things springing forth for everyone. I'm looking forward to some springtime renewal...and a newer, better version of myself, as well! ATP...Sue
At 4:47 AM, April 24, 2006 ,
Christopher Showerman said...
Thanks Sue! Here's to a great springtime spring forward for all!
ATP!
C
At 8:13 PM, April 25, 2006 ,
Christopher Showerman said...
Hey Sue!!
What great energy you bring to the forum. Thanks for the support and good luck on a newer, better version of you too!!
ATP!
C
At 9:20 AM, April 27, 2006 ,
Christopher Showerman said...
Hey Tom!!
Great to hear from you! You have taken on a life changing responsibility by taking care of your father. As Goethe says, "That which does not kill us makes us strong" and he's right! See if you can't look back at the most difficult ordeals of your life and appreciate how they have shaped who you are today. I love how you choose to "empty your cup" in the form of massage. What a great way to purge that low energy. Keep up the awesome humanity, Tom!! You are a fine example of compassion we could all strive for.
All Things Possible!
Chris
At 2:16 PM, April 28, 2006 ,
Anonymous said...
Damn another Tom? but not french ... i will change my forum name soon :-p
At 3:53 PM, April 28, 2006 ,
Christopher Showerman said...
All you Tom's should form an alliance!! Team Tom!
ATP!
Chris "TOM" Showerman
At 6:30 PM, May 01, 2006 ,
Anonymous said...
I've discovered that it's also easy to get so busy with "stuff" that you forget to take time to clear out the clutter that keeps building up around your life until it actually runs it. This idea of a personal "spring cleaning" is certainly a valuable one. We can't really change much about how we were "programmed" but that's the great thing about free will - it's never to late to change!
Dave
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