There is pleasure when a sore is scratched,
But to be without sores is more pleasurable still.
Just so, there are pleasures in worldly desires,
But to be without desires is more pleasurable still.
- Nagarjuna
Consider Your Wild Card
What is the thing that absorbs your time and energy that is utterly personal and perhaps secret to you? It could be as private as an illicit relationship or as public as a need to witness every home game of the Chicago Bulls. Either way, it's probably something that you and I would never discuss if I were your executive coach.
Is it worth the investment in time and emotion that you give to it?
Probably you can't give it up immediately. But did I say, "Give it up?"
No. My advice - and this you easily can follow - is merely to consider it. Consider it as you enjoy it. Put it into clear perspective in comparison to all the other parts of your life.
Gradually, you may become a bit less interested in it... a bit less committed to it.
Feeling guilty and saying I'll never do that again is no way to ease your commitment to your Wild Card. You simply can't stop it "cold turkey." It means too much to you.
But drop your feelings of guilt entirely. Let this activity and your thoughts about it into your regular routine life. Think about your Wild Card in the very same way you think about everything else you do.
Watch.
As you develop objectivity about your Wild Card and matter-of-factly consider its actual importance to you in comparison to everything else in your life, you will probably see your compulsive need for this activity receding in importance.
Will you give it up? Should you? Will it stay precious to you, but just consume less of your time and emotional energy?
Who knows?
- John Lucht, Insights for the Journey
