A Watched Pot

The old saying goes that a watched pot never boils. The obvious meaning being that the more impatient we are with seeing results, the more time extends before their arrival.

Let’s dig a little deeper into the meaning and how it might apply to any given life situation. In fact, I was thinking this morning about how it might apply to my current life situation.

I’m not at all satisfied with my life right now. When one feels that level of dissatisfaction it’s easy to mistake those feelings for failure.

But am I really failing? Or, could it be that I’m just simmering at some temperature below the boiling point?

I believe the mistake I sometimes make, perhaps you as well, is that we evaluate present circumstances as if they have some sense of permanency. They don’t, or at least they don’t have to.

Now, don’t mistake the folly of persistent present evaluation with the positive aspects of living in the present. We should “live” in the present, but that doesn’t mean we should constantly measure our lives, self-worth, or happiness against the present.

The present is a wonderful place. It’s the place where we can truly find the joy in living. After all, we can’t go back or forward in time. We’re stuck in the here and now, so we’d better learn to enjoy it. Rather than constantly evaluating how the present might be measuring up to our expectations for the perfect life, we should just get busy living in it.

Getting back to how this might apply to me, as admitted, I am not satisfied with my life right now. I’m in the deep doldrums financially. My many aspirational “projects” have yet to become productive. I have allowed myself to accumulate a little too much me around my midsection. I could go on with other areas of dissatisfaction, but that would get boring. Needless to say, I’m in no way content with my life. But I am working on it, moving forward, and enjoying the process.

In other words, I may not be boiling just yet, but I’m simmering.

The trap I fall into, perhaps you as well, is failing to celebrate the discontent. Living in a state of “celebrated discontent” is one in which we patiently and joyfully simmer. When we strive diligently, patiently, and joyfully in the present we will experience even more joy when our lives begin to boil and release the steam of success. And we will have an inspiring story to tell about how we got there.

Yesterday I launched my Crowdsource Campaign, dubbed Looking for Light in a Dark Tunnel. That’s perhaps too gloomy a metaphor for the state of my life right now. Even though it feels like a “tunnel”, I know it really isn’t at all. There’s plenty of light all around me. I’m surrounded by the natural beauty of Costa Rica and by the unconditional love of friends and family. I am imbued with a strong sense of direction and determination. I’m motivated. I’m taking action. The results will come. The pot will boil.

If you’d consider helping me by turning the heat up a little, please check out my Campaign Widget below.

I’ll be writing about my progress in the coming weeks and months. I hope that my story can be an inspiration that might help you simmer with joy as you patiently wait for your pot to boil.

Check out the rewards section to see my various expressions of gratitude for your gracious gift of light.

image credit: Josh Sommers via Compfight cc