“Your prompt for #JusJoJan and Stream of Consciousness Saturday is: “close eyes and point.” When you’re ready to write your post, open a book, a newspaper, or whatever is handy and close your eyes and point. Whatever word or picture your finger lands on, make that the basis of your SoCS/JusJoJan post. Enjoy!“
The book closest to me was, The Language of Letting Go, by Melody Beattie. It’s a daily meditation book for codependents. Her first one. It’s my second copy because I wore the first one out. But I haven’t read it in a long time, so I’m surprised it was close by. Maybe I was going to lend it to someone.
Anyway, here’s what I pointed to:
“It may not happen the way we wanted it to and hoped it would. But our controlling wouldn’t have made it happen either. “ (July 23: “Making it Happen”)
Hmmm. Some things have actually turned out better than I hoped they would. Other things did not. Life is full of surprises. Trying to control things is a hard habit to break. The other day, I went out with my adult daughter and found myself telling her she should do this or that. She was relatively patient with me, and I need to apologize. It’s not like I was doing it a lot, but more than I should. Yikes! There’s the should word again! We are human.
When things don’t turn out the way we hoped or dreamed or did all that manifesting stuff, maybe it’s because God has other plans. God or the Universe, whoever. There are powers greater than us who know better what we need. And it aint over til it’s over. Maybe God has something even better planned!
All we have to do is our best. That does not mean perfect. My best is different on any given day. Sometimes my best is listening well, being kind, sorting a stack of papers, throwing stuff out, exercising and eating well, or maybe my best is just doing one of those things. Some days, my best is getting a load of laundry done and watching a movie.
We should can let God and the universe know what we want. Name our hearts’ desires, imagine the feelings we’ll have when we get what we want or something even better. We can go ahead and work hard for our hopes and dreams increasing the chances of them coming true. But God and the universe might have other plans. Maybe there are lessons we need to learn first, like I wrote about in my book. Maybe we need to walk the long and winding road. Or maybe our dream come true is right around the corner.
The point is, stop trying SO hard. Stop worrying SO much. Ask, do your best, and let it go. (Note to self.)
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Stream of Consciousness Saturday and Just Jot January is brought to us by Linda Hill. For more info, visit:
The Friday Reminder for #SoCS & #JusJoJan 2021 Daily Prompt – Jan. 23rd | (lindaghill.com)
January 23, 2021 at 2:30 am
Wow
January 23, 2021 at 9:56 am
I guess I got your attention. Thanks for reading! 🙂
January 23, 2021 at 5:40 am
A good message. Although I’ve always enjoyed hopes and dreams, I am reactive rather than controlling
January 23, 2021 at 10:16 am
Thanks, Derrick. I enjoy hopes and dreams too. My stream of consciousness does meander at times.
January 23, 2021 at 11:07 am
That is what it is for 🙂
January 23, 2021 at 7:19 am
Well done, JoAnna. Thanks for sharing a very good outlook (and some lovely pictures) with us.
January 23, 2021 at 10:23 am
Thanks, Dan. I’m glad you liked it. I thought is was a bit abstract so had to add the pictures.
January 23, 2021 at 10:30 am
You do a good job with these posts, JoAnna.
January 23, 2021 at 11:34 am
Thank you, Dan!
January 23, 2021 at 2:08 pm
Beautiful quote and post 🙂 I struggled with letting go of control when, seemingly overnight, my sons became men when we moved to the USA and started life anew. All my plans for a new life were hijacked. I still worry about a lot of things, but, like you say, I “ask, do [my] best, and let it go.”
January 23, 2021 at 11:31 pm
I’m sorry your plans got hijacked. I still worry a lot sometimes, too. Distraction helps, and focusing on the things I can do something about – my stuff. So glad you liked the quote. I need reminders. 🙂
April 6, 2021 at 5:27 am
This is a wonderful comment, I’m so glad I read it x
January 23, 2021 at 5:59 pm
Great thoughts, JoAnna. Be good to you. Hugs on the wing!
January 23, 2021 at 11:41 pm
Thanks, Teagan!
January 23, 2021 at 9:39 pm
All excellent advice. I find myself doing my best from day to day but that’s definitely not a static state.
January 23, 2021 at 11:43 pm
Same here! I frequently need reminders. 🙂
January 24, 2021 at 3:25 pm
“Man plans, God laughs.”
January 24, 2021 at 8:45 pm
Yep. That sums it up. Sometimes God says, okay, but always adds a twist.
January 24, 2021 at 7:48 pm
Good advice. 🙂
January 24, 2021 at 8:47 pm
Then, I hope I take it. 😉
May 16, 2021 at 3:44 pm
Thank you for sharing enjoyed reading this post🙏❤️
May 16, 2021 at 9:10 pm
You’re welcome. I’m glad you enjoyed it! Thanks for letting me know. 🙂