I HAVE said it on numerous occasions that to help understand the deeper aspects of life, that it is far better and dare I say, much easier, to ask the right questions rather than looking for the right answers.
May I say at this stage a huge congratulations to Tralee Today on celebrating its second anniversary and here’s wishing them continued success.
That means that I have contributed two years of articles and I’m sure you’d agree that many of them are dealing with delicate subjects like anxiety, depression, anger, suicide, all types of emotional and life issues.
That is what really the job of a lifecoach is – to bring awareness to these issues to help understand them and then work on the playing field that will help bring a resolution to these issues should the need arise.
Now that is an interesting image – the playing field – what do I mean by that?
Very simply the area and environment whereby these issues can be solved should the need exist.
To get on the playing field to resolve such issues like emotions, I believe the best place to start is as I said above – to ask a Key question.
The key question is ‘Is Abstract important?’
Now to be honest I have asked many, many people over the years and very often I am met with utter confusion – like what do you mean, I don’t understand abstract etc.
But that is the very point and intention of the question – Abstract by it’s very nature is very difficult to explain, nevermind understand.
If you look it up in the dictionary you will get.
‘Existing in thought or as an idea but not having a physical or concrete existence.’
“Abstract concepts such as love or beauty”.
My own simple explanation of abstract is – Something that you cannot see, hear, taste, touch, or smell! So again I ask, ‘Is abstract important?’
Almost inevitably when I ask this, I get what I call wishy-washy answers like – I don’t really know, or I’m not so sure or what do you mean? So I can conclude if I get these kind of answers that abstract isn’t really that important. I might also add that I seldom get a straight forward Yes or No answer.
As this is a key question I believe (at the risk of cracking you up !! ) that it deserves to be asked again, ‘Is Abstract Important??’
Well like a typical Kerryman I am going to answer the question with Six more questions!
In a vacuum style environment
1. Can you see Air? Answer No
2. Can you hear it? No
3. Can you taste it? No
4. Can you touch it? No
5. Can you smell it? No
6. Can you live without it? No
Air is vital to our existence and air is abstract, therefore in my eyes that makes abstract vital. So if something is vital to our existence, just like air is, then there is no time for wishy-washy answers.
All of our emotions and senses are abstract but are vital for our existence. The treatment and effect (job loss etc) of anxiety and depression costs billions every year to the economy, but if I asked you to show me depression or give me a bucket of anxiety you would not be able to do so!
When we change something from being wishy-washy to being vital, I’m sure you’d agree that that is a major shift in thinking.
That is what one of my favourite authors and life Guru Wayne Dyer meant when he wrote; “When you change the way you look at the world, the world you look at changes.”
When we make abstract things important in our lives like air, energy, love, happiness, sadness, taste, touch, sight , hearing smell etc., then life can take on a whole new meaning.
We are now on the real playing field. As human beings, they are what we all have in common and it doesn’t matter what colour or creed we are.
It is vital to really appreciate this. Just like air they only take on real importance when we are in danger of losing them.
Next week I am going to write about Love
