May 2014 Blog - Are you encumbered by old nonsense?

by Susan Myhre Hayes on 05/05/14

May 2014 Blog - Are you encumbered by old nonsense?

As mentioned in my last post, a review of my tracks in the snow have led me to rediscover a strong connection with the writings of Ralph Waldo Emerson. His quotation percolating in my mind now is, "Finish each day and be done with it. You have done what you could. Some blunders and absurdities no doubt crept in; forget them as soon as you can. Tomorrow is a new day. You shall begin it serenely and with too high a spirit to be encumbered with your old nonsense."

While there are many meaningful aspects to this idea, it is his particular use of words that reminds me not to take myself so seriously.  As with all of us, I have had my share of "blunders and absurdities," but Emerson's chosen terminology of the things we need to shed each day contain a much gentler untertone than mine. I would say mistakes and contradictions instead.  Mistakes are more blaming and shaming than blunders, and contradictions beg more explanation than do absurdity.   Blunders and absurdities seem almost comical and, thereby, easier to forget and move on as he suggests. Beating ourselves up with the blame and shame of calling something a mistake puts us in a downward spiral of blame and shame.  Ruminating on the contradictions of life we have experienced, doesn't allow for action.  Both are old nonsense which focus us backward rather than forward. And forward is where our growth to become our intended self takes place.

The words we choose to use matter, and using the words blunders and absurdities allows me to forget the nonsense of the day and find the serenity I need to be my intended self the following day.

Are you encumbered by old nonsense? Maybe you need to dust off your mental thesaurus, how we choose to say things can be just as impactful as what we choose to say, even to ourselves.