Hide and Watch…

Yesterday, we talked about taking back our destiny.

What now? Do we run out and start attacking the market, demanding that we be recognized, demanding our share of the jobs and the profits? Not by a long shot.

It’s true, for many the drama of the hunt – running out and stalking the prey, knocking on doors and begging for work  – may  be just the thing. And for many others, in the midst of desperation, having lost their jobs, dealing with foreclosure, and crushed by inflation, it may seem the only alternative. But, it’s not the only way for us to get where we’re going. There’s another tactic that can be highly effective…and a whole lot less stressful.

We don’t hear much about this tactic. But, if we just hide and watch, we see it employed effectively everywhere.

Gardeners and farmers are masters at this tactic…and outstanding role models for us, especially now that planting season is in full force throughout the northern hemisphere.  They’re out there, cleaning up the fields and flower beds, planting seeds and getting ready….

Do they expect to see harvests tomorrow? Of course, not. They do the preparation and then they go about their business…waiting and watching…and being available ….

Eventually the seeds do what seeds do naturally…and a harvest results.

On a more elementary level, we see the same behavior in the Venus Fly Trap and in the lowly spider. They gussy themselves and their surroundings up… and they go about their day-to-day lives… And they wait….

Eventually a fly is lured into the Fly Trap’s clutches and another is lured into the sticky web of the spider …and … dinner is served.

How do we apply this principle to our lives as we take back our lives? Simple. We define what we’re looking for and where we hope to find it…We put out feelers…. and, then, we get busy.  We write our memoirs, remodel our homes, get involved in a craft or a hobby we’ve put off for years. We learn a new language or build a website. In short, we get involved in things that interest us.

I have yet to see it fail. There’s something about a busy person – a person who is actively pursuing something they are passionately interested in  – that is irresistible. More often than not, even before you can complete that special project, things start to happen…surprising, wonderful things.

Sure, we can panic, rush out  looking for prey (er, work), complain and raise cain because things just aren’t right. All that does is put others on the defensive and make us all the more desperate (and vulnerable).

Given a choice, I much prefer to play Hide and Watch.