With change being the only certainty in life, one would imagine that wed be able to become comfortable in this state of constant reformation.
But no. Instead, we anticipate that the bad moments are going to last forever, and we try to stop time when we find a warm spot in which to rest.
Learning to accept uncertainty is a Buddhist teaching, but theres no need to climb a mountain in order to challenge oneself with this lesson.
In fact, theres a very real-life ritual we go through every month that shows us quite quickly how we lack in this area.
Its a humbling little event along the path to great wisdom that I like to call pay day.
Pay day really takes you on an emotional roller coaster, doesnt it?
One minute youre planning your route via the most downhill roads as to not hit empty, and the next minute you have a big fat cheque in your hand and your boss is suddenly a pretty likeable guy.
One minute your situation is so dire youre ready to sell all your worldly possessions and move into your dads camper van (please dont sell that yet, Dad) and the next minute youre justifying that $4 coffee.
Its not the money that makes you feel safe, because, lets face it, youre still one unexpected expense away from the camper van. The thing that makes you feel safe is that youre grasping onto that moment in time.
And then say that unexpected expense does pop up the thing that makes you feel so desperate is that you believe your new normal is a state of lacking.
Why can we not exist outside of the realm of something as worldly as money?
I know that might sound simplistic, but, seriously, we go through the drama every month and we cant separate ourselves from the false sense of security and insecurity we feel?
Your challenge: When you feel comfortable financially, still make an effort to find the gas-saving hills.
And when you feel like youre destined for the street, resist the effort to pick out curtain patterns for your dads camper van. Just try to accept that both states will not last, but you will.
Jamie Schaab for FitnessGoop.com
