Keeping My Word
About 2 weeks ago, I was reading a coaching feedback form (More To Life coaching course) in which a friend of mine had decided to give up playing spider solitaire on her computer – and how much time and creativity that had freed up for her. I was so inspired, I decided not to play Free Cell (another computer game) until the end of the month – just to see what difference that would make in my life. (Upon occasion, I have found myself at 4am, playing Free Cell, feeling well and truly bored. OK … on too many occasions!)
I have not played one game of Free Cell since then – keeping my word… and feeling smug. So I decided to see what her attraction to spider solitaire was. Yep, you guessed it. I played until the wee hours of the morning, figuring out the game.
It hit me a couple of days ago. While technically keeping my word about Free Cell, I just supplanted one addiction for another – not really freeing up my time. That little AHA! Moment got me to think about where else that pattern is alive and well in my life – the pattern of being literal about keeping my word, and not really handling my life. Oh, yes, there are other places … like keeping my word about sugar, but allowing health macaroon cookies that have honey in them. And there are more.
I call it obeying the letter of the law, but not the spirit. Another term is sneaky. So now I am committing to give up all computer games until June 15 – just to see what happens – a little present to myself.
Hi Ann,
Great notice.
This is one of my “addictions” as well – playing free cell and spider solitaire “too much” – minesweeper is another for me. I’ll follow your example and commit to myself not to play any computer games until June 15 as well. I’ll notice how I stay awake to these commitment for the next two weeks!
Thankyou for your words and thoughts in these blogs. They are a great inspiration to me.
Much love.
Scott Hunter
Thanks Ann for the post. I can really see myself in this in a slightly different way. When I first became self employed when ever I got stuck or ‘troubled’ about something I just didn’t want to handle I played spider – I would play it until I won which (early on) could take hours. I got what I was doing and supplanted it with “I’ll just give myself a treat and let myself play” – and Hours later…..you KNOW the picture.
I see the pattern now and occasionally play – but it is very freeing NOT to. Because underneath all of that treat – the ‘trouble’ was still brewing and waiting to be dealt with and the ‘relief’ of playing or the ‘treat’ of playing didn’t get rid of the ‘trouble’ (the stuck) underneath.
Sue