Please allow me to be the turd in your pity party punch, and I invite you to see that your greatest angel is bad news. Being greeted by bad news is like being visited by the angels of change. Because when have you or anyone you know fundamentally changed because things are going well? We usually wait for disaster to strike to evaluate or evolve.

 The good news is that the closer terrible news gets to your doorstep, the closer you are to fundamental change. I keep hearing that people want change. I hate to say it, but we still need it to be personal. Think of how many people are killed by texting and driving, drunk driving, overdosing, or violence. Has it changed you? I have seen people know they need to learn to fall, but they leave class when we practice it. Then they come in with a busted-up face realizing they should learn to fall. We all possess this trait somewhere inside us.

USE WISDOM, AND GET AHEAD OF IT

Life and the news are full of cautionary tales. However, wise people make changes without needing awful news to hit them before making corrections. We do this by being humble enough never to say, "Nah, that'll never happen to me."

Blow the dust off that wisdom, like a treadmill, under a pile of laundry and old taxes. Wisdom and discipline are potent tools to make change without the need for bad news. It's when you are in flow and always making small changes according to life's feedback. Like riding a wave vs. tumbling in the surf and banging up against a rocky shore of knowing that you knew better. 

The way that I always envision wisdom is as follows:

I imagine that there's a community meeting in my head. I am at the front of the room, and all my thoughts, emotions, and desires have shown up with something to say to me. 

Wisdom stands up first and starts to walk up to the podium, but then my insecurity stands up, then my fear, my sadness, my bills,  my guilt, and wisdom is so damn cool, courteous, and patient that it lets each person in line ahead of it. 

Wisdom is patient, speaks softly, and is perfectly fine not being heard. Have you ever met a master? They don't need attention.

You could also think of wisdom like a Ferrari. When was the last time you saw a Ferrari commercial? Yeah, they don't need your attention. You have to want it, then earn it. (I don't really want a Ferrari, this is a metaphor)

When I journal, I first make sure that I have exercised and connected with my body. Then, I write from each place that holds me back, and then I write from a place of wisdom. This is Rant Rave Report. That's it.

Do you want to exercise? Do you want to get in shape? Rant, Rave, Report. Now use the GOOP Loop. Try flipping your script and then use the "turn on your light" exercise. To feel what it would feel like to make decisions from that place of wisdom.

This is just one way to use The Journal Journey to tune into your inner teacher. I had excellent teachers that made me do this work because I was a kid in shambles, trapped by my rage, fear, and desire always to escape. As a teacher now, I get it; it's annoying to see people walking around, not knowing they have a Ferrari in their garage.

YAMASTE