Over Thinking

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 Over Thinking

A Sixty-Word Short Story:

Jeff had checked off all of the right boxes, so it seemed for Sally, but she was still not sure about what her future with him might be like. She considered his age, health and overall disposition and point of view on life. They agreed on so many things, but still she ruminated on the “what ifs” and walked away.

And more…

All of us have faced a decision once in a while where we thought and thought and thought some more about our choices – sometimes to the point of so worrying about the outcome and possibly making a wrong decision about the future, that we ignored what was happening in the now, forgetting what we were originally attracted to. Like Sally in our story, we imagine a future fork in the road and therefore choose to get off of the path altogether. In essence we mentally manufacture a scenario based on imagination which may or may not be true or ever happen at all.

In these situations, it’s very human to rationalize that our mental makeshift story, like Sally’s, portends potential harm, or discomfort, so we walk away. But what if we get it wrong? What if we talk ourselves out of a good outcome because of some unfounded speculation that somewhere down the road this might be a bad decision? The answer is simple: nothing. Put another way, the things that we decided against are quickly forgotten and we move on. However, sometimes – rarely for some and common for others – we feel regret because we’ve thought ourselves out of an opportunity and only later do we feel its sting.

In life there will always be some regrets, which fall into two categories: One covers those experiences where we tried and failed and the other is where we didn’t try at all. The latter is the harder to live with because we literally don’t know what might have happened. At least if we tried and failed, we did something and can gain solace in the effort. Whereas not trying nets nothing. The point being is that we have the ability to over think, rationalize and worry ourselves right out of a good outcome. But consider this, like in our story with Sally, if the choice is not so absolutely clear and we have some doubts, we may be missing an opportunity of a lifetime; or not.

The Final Thought: Decision making is best when the choices are completely clear and inevitable. If not, perhaps we need to know more and taking a chance might be our best option.

* The Premise (Opening short story): Always 60 words. No more. No Less. For more stories like this and information about my books, please visit www.szenzone.com

 

The Call to Create

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 The Call to Create

A Sixty-Word Short Story:

The first grader was handed a pencil and a piece of paper. Sally was instructed to grasp the pencil in her right hand and then told to press gently but firmly and to use cursive to write her name. And after some struggles she finished. It unfortunately resembled a Richter Scale. Sally switched hands and tried once more: Instant art.

And more…

We’ve all tried to accomplish something that seemed easy and clear enough in our head, but getting that vision to gel proved elusive? How many times did we try to create something that just didn’t want to come together? It’s always the same: We can’t find the word, or the color or the stroke or note that nets the masterpiece we see in our mind’s eye. So what do we do when the gem we seek to manifest is stuck somewhere inside us and can’t seem to find its way out? The answer is going to be different for each of us, and it might be as simple as what Sally discovered – Change something in the process.

Creating something new is always magic to me. And we all have our own magic wand to help us bring new ideas and beauty to life. I’ve observed the artist using pen and ink or watercolors or clay, and the writer with pencil and paper or keyboard and the guitarist sitting at the piano. All of them have the tools to let what’s inside them, out. And it’s just as true for the coach scribbling a play on the chalkboard. The delivery of our creative thinking has to have a way to be channeled into reality. It can be whatever helps us share what’s in us. It’s the sharing that brings our ideas to life.

And the easiest of all tools we might want to use when we feel creative and want to share, is our own sense of purpose. Knowing why we’re here, and our calling, creates the desire to make an impact and difference, which is at the core of creativity. It’s the driving force for all things new. It can turn a Richter Scale scribble into the word Sally, our ideas into reality and change our creative expressions into life changing moments.

The Final Thought: We all are called upon to create. To envision what does not exist and let that vision find its way to life through us.

* The Premise (Opening short story): Always 60 words. No more. No Less. For more stories like this and information about my books, please visit www.szenzone.com

Destiny Awaits

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Destiny Awaits

Three Things to Know Before You Go

On the path to our own future, we have the options and chances to change direction, make a turn, change our course or modify the destination. Or we can just stop in our tracks and wait to see what happens next. I suggest we use our free will and nix the waiting game option. Waiting is only fun when we are anticipating something good is about to happen. Like the fox in the Little Prince who totally loved the idea of waiting for his friend and found great joy in the anticipation of seeing him versus not knowing. Ultimately, we can’t know everything and change, of course, is a primary constant of life, but with some foresight, conviction, and a dash of faith we can start to see that proverbial light at the end of the tunnel. Here are a couple of ideas that might help the journey along:

– Look forward. Destiny does not occur in the past tense and neither will the rest of our lives. Dwelling in the past diminishes our view of the future. The past might provide some hints or tools, but it’s still up to us to set the course from here.

– Dream the big dream. Setting off to our future is often the path to what we’ve already witnessed. When we craft our course based on what we believe we can actually accomplish it usually includes a lot of what’s already happened (see above). I’m not planning adverse but why limit ourselves before we even get started.

– Last and certainly not the least: Move toward the dream. Once we lock in we need to move. Take action as if your dream is imminent. If we immerse ourselves in the belief that our dream is actually happening, we create the energy we need, and we invite others to also believe. Recruiting others attracts like-minded believers and the collective energy generated can catapult us to our destiny in high fashion.

May your dreams and the path you choose bring to life that which you seek. And we all must seek until we find. Safe travels.

The Final Thought: When setting our destination be mindful that there may be more than one way to get there. So let those unforeseen ways emerge and rest assured they will provide the wind to our sails that we seek.

Szenzone – Stories of life and the power to change yours – is sent via email by request and is published weekly or thereabouts. For back issues or to receive this publication directly please email [email protected]  © Gary Szenderski 2025 All Rights Reserved. Gary is an author, branding specialist and teaches at the University of California in Irvine. He specializes in helping people and organizations navigate change – if you or your company needs assistance contact Gary directly.  Gary resides in Southern California and welcomes your comments.

 

 

Can You Hear Me Now?

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 Can You Hear Me Now?

Have you ever studied or tried the concept of mindfulness? This is when we concentrate or meditate on staying in the present moment. It enhances one’s sensory perception and allows the physiology of the body to quiet and helps us focus on what is right in front of us and not on one of the million things we think about every day. This form of meditation works best within the presence of Mother Nature. The birds and the breeze and the sounds of the ocean or whatever nature setting you find yourself in is a good place to try it.

I tried this recently and was amazed at how simple it is to do and how frustrating it can be when we slip into one of those thoughts that fight for our attention. It can be just thinking about a plan or some upcoming event to nearly every story or memory stored up in our memory banks. So, it’s not easy to stay in the now. Our mind and our lives are packed with distractions, and they all fight for our attention. But if we can stay in the moment and really hear the sounds around us we can enjoy a sense of calm and perspective like no other.

People use yoga and mantras and lots of things to help them reach the “now” but that’s not the only time the now is apparent. Through my practice I learned how to listen better and give full attention to whoever was talking. I learned that it is a form of honoring another to give them your ears and what’s in between them. If you’ve ever been really listened to you know what I mean. And the cool thing is it’s easy to do and actually makes both the speaker and the listener closer. And in the moment and power of the now that closeness can be catalytic.

Next time you get a chance to pay your respects through listening, give it a try. You’ll be amazed at how much you’ve been missing.

The Final Thought: Gratitude and appreciation have proven powers that help us see what’s important and will cause us to pause. That pause keeps us in the moment where all good things happen.