[vc_row unlock_row=”” row_height_percent=”0″ overlay_alpha=”50″ gutter_size=”3″ shift_y=”0″][vc_column column_width_percent=”100″ overlay_alpha=”50″ gutter_size=”3″ medium_width=”0″ shift_x=”0″ shift_y=”0″ z_index=”0″ width=”1/4″][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/2″][vc_column_text]You came to Earth to play, but sometimes things get in the way, sometimes life gets hard. If you are feeling stuck, and want to get to that next level, it’s going to take some courage and persistence.
And you will have to eat some dots. I’ll explain.
Pacman
Ever play Pacman? If you haven’t, then Google’s got you covered.
It’s a simple game. Your job is to eat all the dots without getting eaten by one of the four roaming ghosts. You can turn the tables on the ghosts if you eat one of the four power pellets located in all four corners of the maze.
After eating a power pellet, the ghosts turn blue and you have a limited amount of time to eat them. For every dot, every piece of fruit, and every ghost you eat, you rack up points.
The game gets progressively difficult as you complete each level. The monsters move faster and the amount of time after eating a power pellet is also sped up, decreasing your chances of eating all of the ghosts.
So what?
Here’s the point. Pacman’s goal is simple. Eat every freakin’ dot. He can’t go on to the next level until he eats ALL of the dots. Every single one of ’em.
If you feel like you’re in the same place, the same space, on the same level in your life, then I can guarantee you one thing:
You’re not eating all your dots.
Maybe you got all comfy or lazy with your life.
Maybe you’ve been taking a break (too long a break), and know you need to jump back in and play but haven’t made the move yet.
Or maybe you’re afraid to get eaten by one of those ghosts, i.e. facing your fear, resolving conflict with another, looking for work that makes you feel alive, or tackling a challenging goal because it will make you vulnerable.
If you FEEL stuck in any way, or if you FEEL you’re NOT making progress in your life (or very little), or if you haven’t initiated a major life event in the past 5 years, then it’s time to get up off your behind and eat some dots.
Cheatcodes
You think you’re so cool.
You found a way to hide off in the corner of the maze, and because of a flaw in the game, the ghosts will avoid you indefinitely. You call your friends over, and show them your new trick. You make your move into the corner of the maze and say, “Watch this!”
They all sit there and are astounded that no ghost is coming to eat you. They gasp when one gets close enough, only to turn in the other direction. One minute passes. Two minutes go by. The ghosts can’t seem to get to you – your friends see that now. You feel so proud of your discovery, but now they’re bored. “So, you wanna catch a movie?”
You may have found a way to cheat death. You may have found a way to avoid pain. You may have found a way to mitigate any substantial losses.
But now the game sucks. It’s boring. You got your cheatcode, and it excited everyone for two whole minutes.
Yeah, you won’t get eaten, but you’re not getting anywhere either.
Twenty days later…
…and you’re still playing with your cheatcode. All of a sudden, one of the ghosts breaks protocol and eats you.
You visibly shudder when it happens, because you weren’t expecting it. You thought you were so safe. You thought you had it under control.
But you were never safe, were you? You never REALLY had it under control. It was only a glitch. So, what will you do now?
Eat dots and take more risks? Or play it safe and hide some more? Your call.
Vulnerability = Feeling Alive
It’s time to get out there. Each dot is a challenge, and ghosts are wandering, roaming around, and waiting for you. Fear of failure? Check. Fear of rejection? Yes. Fear of death? “HERE!”
Each time you avoid your fears you take yourself further away from “leveling up”. And for every dot you leave on the table, you will feel LIFE slowly slipping away. Your numbness is a sign that you’re not eating dots. Procrastination is another. Telling the same glory stories over and over again is another. Mindless consumption is yet another.
What significant events have happened in your life recently? Your favorite sports team winning the Super Bowl doesn’t count. What personal triumphs have you had in the past year? Sorry, but your kid’s accomplishments are not YOURS.
Not really feeling alive? Making little or no progress on your goals? It may be time for serious change.
Because what is life without growth? What is life without purpose? What is life without vulnerability? And what is life without, well, feeling alive?
I’ll tell you what it is.
It sucks. It’s boring. It’s meaningless. And who wants a sucky, boring, meaningless existence??
You? Didn’t think so.
Call To Action
Now go out, and eat some dots. Level up. And do it some more. Go eat some ghosts while you’re out there. Yeah, eating ghosts may not be mandatory to move on to the next level, but it sure is satisfying. Wait, satisfying? How about LIBERATING? Don’t you wanna be completely FREE? Yeah, eat them ghosts.
So go start something. Initiate a project. Work on YOUR passion and stop putting it off. You already know what needs to be done. You know what’s on your list. You know what sucks and needs to improve. And go and talk to that woman. Yeah! Look that man straight in the eyes. Let people know where you stand. Take a chance damnit!
Yeah it’s scary, but what else is there? Boredom? Mediocrity? A slow death? HELL NO! You gotta act while you’re afraid. Face it with all your heart. It’s called COURAGE. Have a side of GUTS with your courage while you’re at it, and throw some BRAVERY on top. And eat that, too.
And please, please, please! Stop being afraid of feelng afraid. That’s the REAL trap because it’s a total action killer. Fear is NOT the problem people. Fearing fear IS.
Seriously. Eat dots.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/4″][/vc_column][/vc_row]