ARTICLES: fertile ground
Articles by Penelope Brackett
EMERGENCY DISTRACTIONS
February 1999My client titled her email to me the other day, Emergency Distractions. She detailed the many things that pre-vented her from getting to the important work of her dissertation; her DMV registration, a really good work-out, family foundation work, a scheduled birthday dinner, a mouse kitchen problem, theater plans, other people's birthdays, bills... I fired off my response, ... "Happy Birthday to you, Happy Birthday to you, you're a swell gal with a clean kitchen, a firm body, a DMV registration, a foundation, a theater schedule, great friends, family commitments... and a dissertation. What a full life."
The underlying message was twofold:
the celebration of the joyous life she had created and the questionable place of her dissertation's priority. What occurred to me in the following day's talk is the importance of addressing her title, and the concept of emergency distractions. So, here I am.Emergency distractions, what a wonderfully familiar phrase. My American Heritage Dictionary says an emergency is an unexpected situation or sudden occurrence of a serious and urgent nature that demands immediate action. Distraction's number one definition started with the condition of being distracted, ..I went to distract:
1. To cause to turn away from original focus of attention or interest; di-vert. 2. To pull in conflicting emotional directions; unsettle. So pulling all that together, emergency distrac-tions would be an unexpected situation that demands an immediate action that pulls us away from our original focus.. .hmmm.... yes, unsettling.
How often do we feel there is an interruption to our most desired occupation that demands immediate action? How often do we meet that "emergency" with a relief to be taken from an effortful occupation? My first response to this marriage of terms was inherent contradiction. Emergency seemed unequivo-cal. It was a situation that, given who you were, demanded your attention. You would clearly and completely turn your focus there. And yet distraction seemed negotiable. They were unwel-come, unbidden. They would distract you from where you would choose to have your attention and intention. And yet, what of the phrase "welcome dis-traction"? Perhaps that is the more truthful coupling. An emergency distraction may actually be a welcome way of intruding on goals, an alterna-tive commitment that presents less fear and more satisfaction. The challenge then is to re-examine your original focus for it's value to you.
We often set goals in an effort to move ourselves forward. Those goals are fueled by an inner and possibly external accountability, a promise that we can push ourselves toward. If you find yourself consistently distracted, the question is whether these goals really serve your deeper vision . For instance, I can write this newsletter because I have a monthly goal, and a client expectation of receiving this newsletter. Or I can write this news-letter because it serves my greater vision of myself as a coach and a communicator with an intent to spread peaceful heart, a loving com-munity and the joy of freely exploring and sharing gifts. Even in the process of coming to those words I have gifted myself more joy in writing, and less guilt and obligation from the result.A client said to me, "I find it so hard to handle the business of being an ac-tor. I can't seem to re-interpret the work in any way but that I'm being personally rejected." I said, "Maybe the costs are too high. Maybe you want to act for fun and growth, not for money." He said, "but, I can't let go of it being my livelihood." I said, "You haven't embraced it being your livelihood." In a flash he recognized he neither embraced it as paycheck or a vision, worth moving past distractions, even strong feelings. It was serving as last year's resolution, an obligation, a vessel for unworthiness. It did not nurture the body (dinner on the table), or the spirit.
Except for the occasional "mental health day" and allotted vacations, emergencies that keep you from the office are clearly priorities. We find the strength to leave the mice in the kitchen, the DMV error, foundation commitment, even our own doubts and fears, to wait on the next cus-tomer, teach the next student, make the next presentation. The vision is what makes a job, paid or unpaid, a livelihood. It is what fuels you to go beyond what's required in your job, or distractions.
If your livelihood is self-propelled, that is a freelance oc-cupation, a new business, a dissertation, your vision will have to be that much clearer and sustaining. Building in support and inspiration is essential. You will not have the accountability of an outside bossman. You will have nei-ther the luxury nor temptation of a "job".
In either portrait, freelance or corporate, the joy is in the creation of a livelihood . In a full life of family, friends, fitness, and foundations, an exciting vision is what moves you to negotiate between a distraction enjoyed and emer-gency handled, given your reserve, and one denied given your commitment. You can appreciate the difference between an emergency that requires stitches or the fire department and one that can be handled through schedul-ing, say your kid's school play or the lunar eclipse or delegation, like the housekeeping, or a specific business project. You know the value of saying no not only to the stuff that drains you but also to the stuff that presents an enticing alternative. The care of yourself and your vision requires it.
Sow yourself like a seed.
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