When Things don't go your way...

Does that still count as something it was a good idea to have said YES to?

Installment #1 of Ruby’s Very Good Thing can be found here.

Have you ever had it where you get the feeling that “there is something I must do”. It literally feels like something is calling you? Like a pull in a direction? I’m talking about the CALL TO ADVENTURE experience that happens from time to time in life.

Sometimes it’s a little Call like “I feel like starting a newsletter.”

Or it could be a big Call like “There’s a part of me that really wants to sell the house and do the nomad thing in Europe… for the rest of my life.”

Regardless of size, it feels like something you MUST do.

And maybe you REFUSE THE CALL because there’s no shortage of good reasons for not wanting to go into the Unknown. And, often times, the desire to stay with what’s Known can feel just as strong as the Call. Which makes for an inner battle of “Should I or shouldn’t I?” until… the Call is either squelched or embraced.

This is where we find Ruby in Installment #2. The ol’ Call To Adventure comes a-knockin’.……..

Ruby’s very content in the coziness of her physical comfort zone — the coat room of a night club that allows her to earn good money — with plenty of down time to do what’s in her psychological comfort zone — think up and write stories starring her alter ego (also named Ruby) who lives in a section of the Universe known as “The Fun Kingdom” (aka “The Fun-K”).

That is, the fantasy version of herself believes her Thing is music.

But one of the best things about Ruby’s coat check room is it’s a safe place to act out her fantasy-self. The lines get blurred and she turns into her alter ego as she sings along with great abandon to the music that’s always playing.

Although “sings along” is an overstatement. Ruby lip syncs along… with maybe a touch of sound underneath it. But she’s gotten so good at it she feels like a star. And, in fact, she is a star. Everyone loves the way Ruby gives up the funk as she check coats!

Then things get real….

Now, the band members all KNOW that Ruby is a lip syncher and isn’t going to be any good at singing FOR REAL in front of an actual audience, but…. in this story the band members are acting as Heralds of Change. It’s their role to get Ruby to move on, so they encourage her to do something that’s going to change everything…..

BERNIE:
Girl, you got a date with Destiny, and you’re about to give Her a big fat smack on the lips.

Ruby says “Yes!” to the Call……

Ruby stands on stage in front of a full house.

RUBY: Bern, it’s not how I thought it would be. It’s not fun, it’s scary!

BERNIE: You know what Bootsy did the first time he played with James Brown?

Ruby shakes her head ‘no’.

BERNIE: He pretended he was playing in his garage just like he always did along with James’ records. Only difference was, James was really there. So you just pretend you’re in your coat room and... have fun. It’s as easy as that. You’ll be great, you’re a star.

Ruby looks up at the colored lights. The band begins playing “Red Hot Momma From Louisiana”. Ruby steps forward and finds her light like a pro.

I knoooowwww.

It breaks my heart just telling it. Imagine experiencing it?

But…. that’s just the way a good Call goes sometimes. If feels f’ed up. It’s not until later that you’re able to say, “Wow, if that hadn’t happened I never would have ____.”

What’s better?

Bad as things can turn out when you YES to a Call, staying put in your comfort zone for too long is worse.

Staying put leads to stuckness, stagnation, life passing you by.

When what you REALLY want more of — growth, learning, transformation — those things aren’t going to happen unless you stretch, risk, take a chance.

So that’s what we’ll tap on today….

Comfort Zones, Calls, & Committing to Growth

But before we tap, let’s do a little check-in around how Calls to Adventure have shown up in YOUR life….

• Looking back, can you identify some of the Calls to Adventure you’ve received?

• Thinking about one you said Yes to, can you remember if you resisted it before you said Yes?

• Have you ever straight out Refused a Call to Adventure? If so, can you imagine how your life would be different if you had Accepted it?

• Have you ever Accepted a Call to Adventure that you wish you had Refused?

• Is there anything Calling you now?

• How much attachment do you feel to your current comfort zone?

Let’s tap…….

We’re going to acknowledge how much we like our comfort zone first…. and then move into feeling ok about going into our “stretch zone”…..

FYI - this recording is from a 30 Day Tapping Challenge I am offering within a year-long program, Diana Dunbar Place’s Quest Year…

Thanks for following Ruby’s adventure and for tapping to embody your own adventure! And remember……..

“It takes a special energy, over and above one's creative potential — a special audacity or subversiveness — to strike out in a new direction once one is settled.”
- Oliver Sacks

Join me in Installment 3 - Goal Trauma: what it is and why it haunts you where Ruby will deal with the fallout that comes from trying and failing.