Direct Life Coaching

It has been a little over a month since I uprooted my family and moved them half way across the country to St. Louis. The last few weeks since beginning my assistant soccer coaching position has given me little time to unpack or spend time with my wife and kids, let alone find time to blog. Also hanging over me are two freelance projects I agreed to take on - so my time has been a little tight. I don't know what is waiting for me and my family at the end of these couple of months, so we will just have to wait and see.

It has been awesome diving back into the world of soccer. It was my first passion in life, but for the past 5-6 years I have had little connection to the game as either a player or coach. Step 1 was getting back in decent "soccer shape" with my fitness, and Step 2 was regaining my "owe so deft" soccer touch (okay, that might be a little exaggeration). Step 3 was reacquainting myself with the tactics and knowledge of the game, but it is cool to see how quickly it all comes back.

The season has started pretty decent thus far. It is a talented team who had a very successful season last year - so expectations are high. The toughest part for the team to grasp onto is the overall effort needed to really compete at a high level. It needs to be there from the opening kick - and if it is not - good teams can quickly become average. That has been our problem at times this season. This past week we played a very good game against a good team - and we are hoping it is a sign that we have turned a corner.

Soccer has been called "the beautiful game." For me, it is beautiful because it is such a fluid game with little interruptions or stoppages of play. It requires all of the players on the field working for each other and making sacrifices, and much like a domino effect, when one player moves on the field it opens up space and opportunity for another. For many reasons - this is one of the most mature aspects of the game that doesn't always come naturally. It has been a struggle for us to this point - but there have been signs it is getting better.

There is never really a time in a soccer game when you are standing and doing nothing. The game keeps moving. If you have ever watched a game on TV - there aren't even any commercial breaks because the game has no time-outs. Since it requires constant moving, it puts a lot of pressure on each player to keep running and creating space on the field. If a player wants to receive a pass from his teammate, he can't expect to stand there and wait for the ball to show up on his foot, he needs to "check hard" to the ball. "Checking to the ball" means making a 5+ yard sprint either to the man with the ball or to an open spot on the field where your teammate can pass you the ball. The sprint is crucial because it allows you to create distance between you and your defender so that you can receive the ball. By making this "hard check" you create space for yourself, as well as your teammates, because the space on the field that you just left is now open for a teammate to move into. This is how the game works. You leave a space, and now you have created space.

Unfortunately, the temptation for a player is to "check hard" to a ball, and if he/she doesn't get the ball, they stop and stand there and still call for the ball. In doing so, they no longer are an option to receive the ball and they have made it easier for the opponent to defend. Players might think, "I did my job and they didn't give me the ball. My work is done." But to play the game, it requires non-stop checking and moving.

When a player checks to the ball and doesn't receive it - the best thing they can do is keep moving to another part of the field and then wait for another opportunity to check to another ball. It is rigorous and constant. In fact, for every 4 or 5 times a player checks hard to a ball - he/she might only get the ball passed to them once. The idea is that if everyone is moving and everyone is checking hard to the ball - there will always be someone on the field who is open - and it makes it miserable on the opponent to defend.

So, what in the heck does this have to do with life?

Well, I figured that the longer I kept writing I would think of something ;)

Actually, there is a valuable lesson to be learned from "checking hard" to the ball. From my experience, you never know when that next great opportunity is going to come along. Now, life wouldn't be so humbling if we actually knew what opportunities were going to work out (and which ones are duds) - so we are forced to treat all of them with the same energy and effort.

"Checking hard to the ball" in life for me means bringing your best to whatever you are doing - because it is the right thing to do. By bringing your best effort you guarantee that you will be ready for the bigger opportunity when it shows up. On the flipside, if you "show up" from time to time, or whenever you feel the event is worthwhile, you not only lessen your chance of taking full advantage of every opportunity - you also will be less prepared when it comes along.

Bigger picture, I think we all can realize that our effort affects not only our own fortune, but everyone around us. As in soccer, by living selflessly and doing the right thing in everything you do, it creates great opportunities for those around you - whether you know them or not.

You never know when the ball is going to come your way - so all you can do is your best all the time in everything you do. If the ball comes - you will be ready. If the ball does not come, you just keep moving, and get ready for the next check. There is no time to stop, sulk, criticize, or argue - just keep on moving and get ready for the next opportunity.

Don't worry - it will come - just keep checking hard.

Have a great week!

Much love,

Travis
561.676.4583

Labels: direct life coaching, soccer, travis thomas

We are a world of choices. 200+ TV channels. 10 different kinds of Coca-Cola (Coke, Diet Coke, Coke Zero, Lemon Coke, Vanilla Coke, Lime Coke, Cherry Coke, Smoked Coke - well, not yet...but give it time!) And for your spaghetti sauce lovers - Ragu offers over 20 different kinds of sauces - seriously.

As the product of growing up in a family fast-food restaurant - I know all about choices. As a matter of fact - there were thousands of different hamburger combinations you could order based on the condiments offered - yet I still order it like I always have...ketchup, mustard, and pickle ;)

You might say we have CHOICE OVERLOAD!

How many times have you heard someone say, "I don't know - just order for me - I can't decide."

Decisions...decisions...decisions!

Recently I have been cherishing an idea that has come out of trying to intentionally live more on purpose. So, if purpose to me is living more from the core essence of who I am - and connecting deeper to my genuine and authentic self - it means that life's decisions should naturally flow out of my living on purpose. I like the word choice of "flow" because it represents a harmonic yielding to my natural expression of who I am.

In order to feel this flow, it requires that I get Travis (ego, self, opinions) out of the way as much as possible - and recognize that there is a Divine harmony always present - and my job is to align myself with this harmony - instead of trying to "figure it out."

Case in point - my wife and I are moving the family to St. Louis for a little undetermined adventure. We are renting out our home in Florida - and looking to find a home to rent in St. Louis. Our home here in Florida rented out in a manner of 10 days - Yahtzee! But, we were struggling to find a place that met our needs in St. Louis.

A few months ago I took on a new 100 day commitment to write vision statements about important parts of my life. So, for the past month or so I was writing a vision statement everyday about finding a home in St. Louis that perfectly met my family's needs. That meant the home would be comfortable, convenient, spacious, and affordable. So, I saw these qualities as being spiritual qualities - and I was willing to cherish these and surrender the rest to the Divine. I knew the house we found would meet this criteria.

But, with time ticking - none of our options were fitting this criteria. Instead, there were options that were requiring us to make "pros and cons" lists so that we could CHOOSE which place was a better fit.

You choose - you lose!

I wasn't feeling at peace with our options. We had to choose between two apartment complexes - but neither one was giving us the sense of abundance we had been cherishing. So, instead of trying to figure out which would be best - I decided to let it go for the night - and trust that the house or home we needed was out there - and that is what I was sticking to. I knew the law of the Divine was much greater than my limited perspective - so I needed to quit trying to force my will - and just align myself with the flow.

The reason I knew I needed to step back was because I was beginning to feel anxiety, stress, and worry. When I am on purpose - I feel none of these. So, "hello" - these feelings were an invitation to get back on purpose. On purpose, I will never have to "choose" - but rather let the harmony of the Divine unfold. When I let it unfold, the need to make a choice disappears - because the solution is crystal clear. Again, the solution is not coming "from me" - rather I am allowing the solution to flow through me. BIG DIFFERENCE.

So, the next day - my wife and I remembered that there was one more house on craigslist we had not looked at yet. I called to set up an appointment - and my sister (God bless her) agreed to drive over and look at the house for us (she lives in St. Louis and had been doing this for us all week). I had resigned that if this house wasn't a good fit - we would move forward with one of the apartments that seemed like a better option. My sister called me after looking at the house and said, "It's perfect - rent it!"

So we did.

I never had to make a choice. The choice was made for us. It was crystal clear. There was no weighing options, comparing lists, or "figuring it out" - the solution was so harmonious that the "human element" of making a choice was eliminated.

Choose you lose!

I don't want to say that "having a choice" is bad - but rather the idea of having to "make a choice" based on human limitations and reason will never bring us the peace we yearn for. The only way to do that is to connect deeper with our purpose (the Divine, etc.) - where the impossible is never impossible ;)

This is an ongoing learning and growing process for me. I see it as surrendering more and more my human ego in favor of seeing and listening for guidance that comes from a much deeper and powerful source. A source that surrounds each of us all the time - whether we are tuning in to it or not. I am committed to continue in fine tuning my antennae - so I will keep you posted!

If you need some more help wrapping your head around this - give me a call or drop me an e-mail.

Have a great week!

Travis
561.676.4583

Labels: coaching, Coca-cola, craigslist, direct life coaching, halo burger, Malcolm Gladwell, purpose, travis thomas

The summer movie season is upon us - and no - "Gone in 90 Seconds" is not a Nicholas Cage sequel to "Gone in 60 Seconds." The theaters definitely aren't short on sequels right now.

If anyone has been listening to any of the Oprah "Soul Series" interviews, you may have come across a woman named Jill Bolte Taylor. Her video from the TED Conference has been sent all over the Web, and she is the author of a book based on her experience titled, "My Stroke of Insight."

Jill is a brain scientist, who ironically, woke up one morning in 1996 to discover that she was having a massive stroke. And, since she was a brain scientist, she was able to experience and understand firsthand what exactly was going on. Now, I am not a doctor, nor do I play one on TV, but when you hear her tell the story of what she was experiencing as this took place, as well as what she experienced through the recovery process of 8+ years - it will change how you think about your life, body, and thoughts.

One cool factoid that I took from her interview with Oprah (and there are many) - is when she describes that from a physiological standpoint - when we feel ourselves getting angry - from start to finish the physical effect that takes place in our body lasts about 90 seconds. We all know what that feels like - increased heartbeat, tension, warmth, etc. She is talking about all of the cells in the body that kick into action whenever we have an angry thought.

Gone in 90 seconds.

So I was thinking to myself - why does it feel like some of my anger experiences last a lot longer than 90 seconds?

I guess that is a common question, because Jill read my mind. Her answer was that we choose to repeat this thought, and by doing so, we keep having our body repeat the physical defense to it. So, what should only last 90 seconds...might sometimes last 10 minutes, 3 hours, a few months - and maybe even years.

Yeah...I know...you are trying to think of things that continually make you angry - and you are wondering why you can't let them go.

As you can imagine - this perpetuating process is not great for the body either.

90 seconds - that's it.

I have been thinking about those 90 seconds - and what it takes to let an angry thought come and go in that time frame. I believe that the key in allowing for this quick recovery is in not identifying these angry thoughts as "our thoughts." Meaning, just because we think them - doesn't mean we need to own them and hold on to them.

As my friend QL would suggest, when these thoughts come into our head, you observe and notice them and then think to yourself, "That's interesting." There is no need to personalize these thoughts as part of our identity, or to feel like we have to carry them around, we can simply observe them and then choose whether they are serving us or not - and whether we want to keep them.

As Jill mentions, we extend the 90 seconds because WE CHOOSE to replay these thoughts in our head. No one else is doing the choosing for us. She adds, "Pay attention to what you are thinking, and then decide if those are thoughts that are creating the kind of life you want created. And if it's not, then change your thoughts."

If you have been reading Eckhart Tolle, Wayne Dyer, and now Jill Bolte Taylor - they all agree that "we are not our thoughts." Just because you think it - doesn't mean you own it.

About 130 years ago, Mary Baker Eddy had this to say about thoughts, "A mortal man possesses this body, and he makes it harmonious or discordant according to the images of thought impressed upon it. You embrace your body in your thought, and you should delineate upon it thoughts of health, not of sickness. You should banish all thoughts of disease and sin and of other beliefs included in matter."

It sounds to be that Eddy would also agree that we all have a choice as to what thoughts we choose to play out. So, what body and life are you embracing in your thought?

The 90 Second Challenge!

So, this week, I challenge everyone to take the 90 Second Challenge. When you feel yourself entertaining an angry thought - how long does it take you to let it go? Can you let it go in 90 seconds?

If not, why? What is preventing you from doing that?

One saying that Jill loves to share is this, "Peace is just a thought away."

Simple but powerful. No matter what you are feeling right here and right now - peace is just a thought away.

So, what is your next thought going to be?

Have a great weekend everyone!

Travis
561.676.4583

Labels: Eckhart Tolle, Jill Bolte Taylor, mary baker eddy, My stroke of insight, Oprah, Science and Health, Soul Series, TED Conference, Wayne Dyer

I am in the last week of our 3-week family adventure in northern Michigan. It has been a terrific trip hanging with family and relaxing in the "not south Florida" summer weather. People have commented about certain days here being humid - haha - if they want to see humidity - I WILL SHOW THEM HUMIDITY!

That is about as macho as I get.

Anyway, recent and exciting news for me is that I will be expanding my coaching this Fall as the assistant soccer coach at my old college Alma mater. This will be an amazing opportunity for me to get back on campus and connect with young men while coaching the game that I love.

The only problem is - I am not exactly in college shape.

Not that I need to be as fit as I was when I was a student, but the last thing I want to do is show up and be the "old man" that can't keep up. So, with training camp starting in roughly 4-5 weeks, I have been trying to step things up.

Now, I often blog about how often I run and it is usually a time I find my best inspiration. But, going for a jog a couple times a week is apples and oranges compared to running around a soccer field with 20-year olds for 3 hours.

You need to run the hill!

So, for the past three weeks or so - I have been running everyday in attempt to get myself in better shape. I have run longer distances, as well as mixing it up with sprint runs and plyometric strength training. Yeah, I am still sore.

But, none of those compare to running the hill! The dreaded hill (seen in the picture above). I knew the hill was waiting for me here in Michigan - and there was nothing I could do to escape it. The hill waits, it taunts me - and I know I have no choice but to run the hill.

So, for the last 8 days...I have run the hill. Okay, so the hill is part of a dirt road that overlooks Lake Bellaire. The hill itself is about 1/4 long, maybe less - but it feels like a lot more. It is steep, with soft dirt most of the way, and it gets steeper the closer you get to the top. The hill comes about 1/2 mile into the run - and then once you get to the top - you still have over 2 miles left. But, at that point, the worst is behind you.

I am loving the hill!

Knowing I was coming up here for a week and a half - I had been dreading the hill. The first couple of days were tough, but now that I have completed the 8th consecutive day - I am loving the hill. I need the hill. The hill has been pushing me - and each run the hill has become less and less intimidating - less scary. The result is that I know I am a lot better off than I was 8 days ago - and it has been a huge boost for my confidence.

What is your hill?

I will be completely honest here. When I was in college, I didn't have the discipline to get in shape to the level I needed to be in. I talked myself into thinking I was really in shape, but I really never was. It was never glaring on the field - but I knew. Back then - there were plenty of hills in my life I was too scared to climb. The goal I wanted to achieve as a player was important to me - but there were some hills I needed to climb (literally and figuratively) to be that player, and I didn't do it. Ouch!

My guess is that there are plenty of us out there who would love to do something special with their life - but there may be some hills that appear too scary. It is much easier to say, " That time has passed," or "It's just not that easy right now." We all have valid excuses like bills that need to paid, taking care of our kids, work obligations - etc. etc. etc. etc. etc. etc.

These are just hills. They look real scary and daunting - and maybe they really are - but what lies beyond those hills might be worth the climb. And even if you don't achieve your ultimate goal - you will still be a better person for taking on those hills. And remember, you don't need to take on all of those hills at once...

Just pick a hill - and start running!

In his book "The Inner Game of Tennis," Timothy Gallwey describes the true benefit of competition and what it means to embrace the tough challenge of a competitor. He writes, "Reaching the goal itself may not be as valuable as the experience that can come in making a supreme effort to overcome the obstacles involved. The process can be more rewarding than the victory itself." He later adds, "In the use of competition it is the duty of your opponent to create the greatest possible difficulties for you, just as it is yours to create obstacles for him. Only by doing this do you give each other the opportunity to find out what heights each can rise."

That is why I am loving my hill!

In reality, the hill I have been running up here is nothing to write a book about (just a blog), but it has allowed me to look up at bigger hills and think, "Yeah, I could do that!" I need these hills to make me better. These hills are making me better. If I got a call tomorrow telling me the soccer coaching had fallen through - it doesn't take away the little lessons I have been learning over the past few weeks.

The outcomes may change - but the lessons we learn in taking on the obstacles will never leave us empty-handed. So what are you waiting for?

I have one day left here in northern Michigan - so I get one last day to climb the hill - and them move on.

Bring on the next hill!

Much love!

Travis
561.676.4583

Labels: direct life coaching, life coaching, life coaching Travis Thomas, The Inner Game of Tennis

I can't help but be impressed with Intel's slogan, "What's inside you?" It's a great question, isn't it?

This past weekend, for any sports fans out there, you got to see one of those special sports moments that will be talked about for generations to come - Tiger Woods winning the US Open on one leg. Now, not to be too dramatic, he had a second leg, it just wasn't much use. People questioned how bad the knee was really injured, but they are not questioning today with Tiger's announcement that he will have season ending knee surgery, as well as rehabilitation for a double stress fracture on his tibia.

The story is also being told today of how Tiger's doctor told him to not play in the US Open, but Tiger told him, "I'm playing in the U.S. Open and I'm going to win."

What's inside you?

Wayne Dyer is a favorite author of mine, and he uses this analogy of an orange. (I will paraphrase) Dyer says that when you squeeze an orange - orange juice comes out - because that is what is inside an orange. Now, when it comes to us, whatever we are keeping inside of us (i.e. negative or positive feelings and emotions) - that is what will come out when we get squeezed too.

This has been extremely helpful to me over the years, and it was one of the first pieces I included in my anger management workshop. I was thinking about this more today - and I started to extend this analogy of the orange a little further.

So, we take the orange - it's a simple orange. If we take the orange and put it in a traffic jam - it's still an orange. If we take the orange and we deplete its bank account - it's still an orange. If we insult the orange, ignore the orange, or try to change the orange into something else (maybe a candy bar) - it's still an orange. Orange juice comes out!

No matter what circumstances you place that orange in - you cannot change its essence. It is what it is!

Now, let's take out the orange - and put you in its place. You are in the traffic jam - you have a depleted bank account - you are insulted - ignored - and instead of changing you into a candy bar, someone wants you to think more like them. So, you are not an orange - but you are squeezed - so what comes out?

Whatever is inside of you - that is what is going to come out.

Most of us get it wrong. We still think it is the experiences that dictate who we are - and whether we are happy or not. So, if things are "good" based on what we think is "good" - we are happy, and vice versa. We let "what happens to us" determine our sense of peace.

Not the orange. No matter how you squeeze it - you still get orange juice!

So I challenge you for a moment. Take "who you are," and strip away the job title, your education, background, your bank account, size of your house or type of car you drive, and the number of friends you have. Take all of that exterior stuff away - and what are you left with?

Whatever it is - that is a closer representation of who you are!

What's inside you?

I catch myself all of the time noticing "what's inside of me." It happens when I am running late for something, trying to put something together, or listening to something on the news. All of these events create a stimulus that causes certain thoughts or feelings to rise to the surface - and they might show up as anxiety, stress, frustration, doubt, etc.

Now, the tendency would be to focus on the actual events - instead of the feelings these events reveal. For instance, since I don't enjoy nor seem to do well with "assembly required," I should probably avoid those opportunities like the plague. But, what is more important than the actual stimulus - is the response.

What's inside you?

For me, I have tried to embrace the idea of "being squeezed." If I were an orange, everyone would be well quenched :) I have come to realize more and more - that the squeezing is really just an opportunity to learn and grow. If we are feeling "squeezed" - it means some feelings are coming to the surface that might need to be addressed. Behind these feelings are often hidden some accepted beliefs causing us to feel squeezed. So, instead of getting mad at the events - dig deeper to the beliefs beneath the feelings. That is where you will find what is really inside you.

The event causing the squeeze is only "bad" because it is drawing out feelings and beliefs that we have not resolved. In reality, it's not "bad" at all, because without it, we would never grow. As Eddy says in Science and Health, "Through great tribulation we enter the kingdom. Trials are proofs of God's care."

Now, as I mentioned, we will not always like what we see when we get squeezed. That's okay - the important part is that we are seeing it and recognizing it. Embrace the opportunity to grow - and realize that it has nothing to do with the event - and all to do with you. If you don't like what you are seeing - it is probably time to look at some of those beliefs and decide how well they are serving you. If they are not serving you in beneficial way - maybe you're ready for a new perspective.

Nike brilliantly debuted a new Tiger Woods commercial on the same weekend of the US Open. It is the voice of Earl Woods (now deceased) talking about how he raised Tiger and instilled him with mental toughness like no other.

It couldn't of been timed more perfectly as Tiger demonstrated the depth of his mental toughness. Whether it was dealing with the pressure of needing to make birdie putts on the 18th hole on back-to-back days, or enduring the pain of his knee - Tiger's mental toughness was unbeatable. I actually heard him respond to a question about his hurt knee after his Saturday round where he said, (paraphrase) "Yeah, it hurts, but it's just pain."

The man was squeezed for five grueling, pain-enduring days - and look what came out.

What's inside you?

You are the one constant in your life - because wherever you go - you will be there :) Your happiness, success, and peace is determined by how you choose to show up and respond to all of life's experiences. You need you at your best - as does everyone around you!

If you are looking at yourself and need help with some of the things that are coming to the surface - I am just a call or e-mail away. I would love to assist you in bringing out your best and playing a bigger game.

The reality is, greatness and perfection is what is really inside all of us - even if our name is not Tiger.

Have a great week!

Much love,

Travis
561.676.4583

Disclaimer: I have a brother named Tiger - and he's pretty impressive as well ;)

Labels: christian science, life coaching Travis Thomas, mary baker eddy, Nike, Science and Health, Tiger Woods, Wayne Dyer

For awhile I have yearned to write a book that revolves around coaching - and if so, I think this would be the title:

All In: How a silly poker term transformed my life!


Now let me be clear. I have played poker maybe three times in my life - and let's just say I am not a card shark. For me, it was an accomplishment to know what cards beat what - and beyond that - I had no idea what I was doing. I know I am in the minority, considering the number of poker Web sites, weekly tournaments at sports bars, and television networks that have their own show - may favorite one being "The Poker Tour: Festa al Lago" on the Travel Channel.

Nothing says travel like poker!

All of that said, the one term and idea I do understand is when a player goes "All in!"

Essentially, going "All In" means a player is betting all of his chips on that one hand. If he wins, he wins big (usually) - but if he loses - his chips are gone - and he is done! At some point in most poker games - for a player to win he/she needs to go "all in."

High risk for high reward.

So as I was on my run today, I was praying and listening for inspiration and guidance. As many of you know, I am a life coach and an actor. I love both - but together - they don't make ends meet. That is just the reality right now. Doesn't mean it will always be the case, but right now it is. My wife and I have been grateful for over the past 3 years plus that we have been able to live and provide for our family, make radical life choices, without having what one would describe as a constant stream of income.

Contrary to popular belief, I am not a trust fund child ;)

So we are at a point in our life where things might seem to be a little "anxious." We are not panicking or getting desperate, but we have had to expand our openness to where we should be and what we should be doing. Those who know me know this is nothing new, but right now we are being more proactive.

Everyday I pray and listen for the right steps for our family. I pray to be led to do the right thing - and I try to get as much of my ego out of it as possible. This can be tough. On the surface, I have battled thoughts of frustration that things haven't always "taken off" like I would of hoped - or different opportunities didn't blossom better. Most of these lead back to the question of, "Am I doing the right thing?"

After much silence and prayer, the answer always comes back, "Yes, you are doing the right thing!"

All In!

So here I am on my run today, feeling a bit nervous and uncertain about the future, and this idea comes to me that "You need to be All In!"

"But haven't I?"

And as I listened to that question - the answer became, "No."

I haven't been "all in" - and I could clearly see how. For as much as I have claimed to be open to new opportunities and getting myself completely out of the way, I have been secretly creating parameters to what that must look like. I have been willing to be open, as long as it meant not having to get rid of "x." It also meant that my source of comfort and peace has been determined by things other than my true Source.

You are either all in - or you are not!

In poker, you don't say, "I am all in - except for these three chips I am going to keep under my palm - just in case it doesn't work out." It doesn't work that way. Yet, that is what I have been doing - and it was obvious!

A friend of mine sent me this quote from "A New Earth" by Eckhart Tolle, "Being one with life, is being one with Now. You then realize that you don't live your life, but life lives you. Life is the dancer, and you are the dance."

I am the dance - not the dancer! Bingo.

All this time I have seen myself as the dancer creating the dance - therefore making the decisions and outlining how the dance is going to look.

Not so. I am the dance. My opinion really doesn't matter - so my only job is to be the dance...the expression of the dancer!

Being "all in" means allowing the dancer (God, Love, the Universe, whatever you see as bigger than you) to call the shots - and all I need to do is follow - and dance!

So, for me, the big "aha" is seeing that I have still been holding on to things that have prevented me from actually being "all in." I haven't been "all in," but maybe 75%...or 90%...or 99.9% - none of which = "all in!"

In Science and Health, Eddy writes, "Willingness to become as a little child and to leave the old for the new, renders thought receptive of the advanced idea. Gladness to leave the false landmarks and joy to see them disappear,--this disposition helps to precipitate the ultimate harmony."

Isn't that what I am looking for - ultimate harmony? So all of these attachments I am not releasing are the "old" preventing me from being receptive to the "new."

Not anymore - All in!

The point hit home even stronger today as I was reading for the first time "The Prayer of Jabez" shared to me by another friend (I have good friends). The author, Bruce Wilkinson, breaks down the short and often overlooked prayer of Jabez from I Chronicles. Wilkinson writes, "No matter how many sermons we've heard about God's power to work through us, we simply gloss over the meaning of that one little word through. Sure, we say we want God to work through us, but what we really mean is by or in association with."

Guilty.

So here I sit today - All In! For me right now, it means that I am asking for bigger blessings and opportunity to live the biggest life I can live, but more than anything, it means getting rid of any human attachment to any person, place, or thing that will prevent me and my family from experiencing "ultimate harmony." No more parameters or obstacles getting in the way.

I have no idea what is going to take shape or how it will happen - but that is really the point, isn't it! As the dance, it is not mine to figure out.

Do I feel like this has made a major transition in my life?

You betcha!

Much love,

Travis
561.676.4583

PS - If you need help getting "all in" - then give me a call!

Labels: A New Earth, life coaching, mary baker eddy, poker, Science and Health, The Prayer of Jabez, travis thomas

Despite living in Florida and going to the beach - I have never been caught in a rip current (commonly misnamed a "riptide"). I live in an area where these are pretty prevalent - and know plenty of people who have experienced its surprising presence.

Unfortunately, rip currents claim a number of lives each year from swimmers who get caught in the current, panic, and then drown in the process. Given the intense circumstances, it's understanding how this happens. One minute you are in knee deep water - and moments later you are being pulled out deep to sea. Not a pleasant experience.

In reality, surviving a rip current is quite easy when you know how to deal with it. Here is a diagram of what to do:



But, this blog isn't so much about surviving an actual rip current - but it had me thinking - how is this any different than life? What kind of "life" rip currents have you gotten caught in and almost drown as a result?

Think about it. You're doing your own thing, enjoying the surf, thinking you have things figured out - and the next thing you know you are getting pulled in a different direction against your will.

What do you do?

Well, most of us, myself included, often fight this change. We push back! We fight harder against the resistance knowing "we know the right way!" "I won't accept this because it's not fair!" "If I only push harder I can will my plan to work!" "I refuse to accept this change!" "This can't being happening to me!" "Not now!"

Sound familiar?

But sometimes, no matter how hard you push - it's not enough. It's a battle you cannot win - and in the process - it might even wear you down.

What would happen if you didn't resist and actually allowed the flow to carry you to this new place? Instead of getting pulled out to "sea" - what might you be able to "see" from this new perspective?

The goal or destination has not changed - but the path to get there might need a new strategy or approach. As with a rip current, the solution is not to be pulled out to sea and then stop and give up. The solution comes from recognizing that once we accept "what is," we can now see there are other options that provide much less resistance - and in this case - no resistance at all.

It's time to swim parallel.

Albert Einstein once said, "We can't solve problems by using the same kind of thinking we used when we created them."

Resistance, or change in life, forces us to be open to new solutions in order to progress. This is not a bad thing - but actually an opportunity to discover and grow in a new way. If we always try to stay where we are - how can we ever go anywhere new - or better - more exciting - and more fulfilling?

In her spiritual guidebook Science and Health, Eddy writes, "Who would stand before a blackboard, and pray the principle of mathematics to solve the problem? The rule is already established, and it is our task to work out the solution."

There is always a solution to each problem we are faced with - but it might require being open to a new perspective to see it. As I write this blog, I can admit that I feel I have been pulled out to sea in my own life rip current - yet here I am - looking at the shore and starting to swim parallel for a new perspective. I know the path is there - so I am going to keep swimming.

If you feel yourself dealing with your own rip current - I would love to help you swim with some coaching.

You know how to find me :)

Much love!

Travis
561.676.4583

Labels: Albert Einstein, life coaching, mary baker eddy, rip current, Science and Health