Moving our Buts -

It’s a little word that has the ability to cause a lot of suffering. A word that doesn’t allow us to accept things as they are.

It’s the word ‘but’.

I went out to garden but it started to rain.

I have lots of time to start a new hobby but I have no energy.

I tried to write but my child fell out of a tree.

I tried to learn online but the video won’t load.

Two separate incidents connected… one being canceled out by the other.

However, does that have to be true? What if you untangled them?

What if we phrased them like this:

I went out to garden and it started to rain.

I have lots of time to start a new hobby and I have no energy.

I tried to write and my child fell out of a tree.

I tried to learn online and the video won’t load.

All of a sudden the garden and rain have nothing to do with each other. Neither does time and your energy; writing and your child or learning and a video.

Once you see your situation as it is, new possibilities have a chance to appear.

The garden is there and so is the rain. What are you going to do?

The writing is there and so is the child. What are you going to do?

A video that won’t load doesn’t have to stop your ability to learn. You can try to reload, you can try another video on the same topic or you can access an article or eBook instead.

The choice is up to you. Introducing the word “but” stops you from looking for other options.

Don’t try to fight what is. Don’t focus on how the situation should be.

Work with what you have.

It’s more than you think.