Maintaining Flexibility in the Face of Truth

The Pillsbury Dough Bull?

Maintaining Flexibility in the Face of Truth

Some things are just common sense. At least that's what I always think. Yet, there are times when the truth is right in front of my face and I don't see it. One morning this week I discovered that, just like everyone else, I assume a lot and don't always take the time to look for the real truth and see things how they really are.

I got up early one morning so I could enjoy the cool of the day and do a little work in my field. It was the perfect temperature to be outside working. The sun hadn't charged over the mountains yet, but there was good light. I remember thinking things were just right as I walked with my dogs at my side and my horses just up ahead.

And, there was one other animal in the picture. It was the Pillsbury Dough Bull. He's pretty shy and likes to keep his distance for the most part, but since I feed him hay all winter he's willing to walk up to a fairly close to me. This happened to be the case on this very morning. I had a shovel in my hands and my eyes were darting around, near the feet of Pillsbury, as I looked for thistles to dig out of the thick grass.

As I was looking around I caught a glimpse of something hanging beneath the cow. I wasn't really looking for anything but thistles so I wasn't sure what it was. Still, I knew that something wasn't right so I bent down a little lower and looked specifically at the underside of my prized bull.

That's when I saw it. The truth was hanging right in front of me! It was an udder!

Now, I can see you thinking, where's your common sense Lynn! What's wrong with you!

Well, the truth is that I never really looked. Yes. I do know the difference between a bull and a heifer.

But in this case I don't even remember why I thought she was a bull except that someone, I think the guy who sold her to me as a calf, said she was a bull. No matter. I just didn't take the time to really look to see what the truth was! Now I was faced with the task of adjusting my thinking so it's in line with the truth. And it's made me wonder what other beliefs I have that I just haven't taken the time to examine in depth. So, here's my suggestion to you and me.

Take the time to list your core values, the principles by which you live your life. Then begin a process to examine each one. Study the concepts from their very roots to see what you discover. I'm in the process of reading a book entitled "The Five Thousand Year Leap," so as to allow me to inspect the basis of my roots as a freeman, and its effect on me has been to stir the very depths of my soul. Through it I've discovered truths that have caused me to adjust my beliefs as a result of seeing the truth. I'm sure I'll have the same experience as I begin to review my other core beliefs as well; and so will you.

I hope you'll join me and make some discoveries of your own. And, when you do you may find that you need to change what you do and even perhaps what you call some things. So, here's my first change: The Pillsbury Dough Bull is now officially the Pillsbury Dough Girl.

Creating Strong Roots

"If the roots are strong, it will come back."

• Wade Anderson
  

Creating Strong Roots

I have some trees in my yard called Mimosas. They're a tree whose leaves are very sensitive to the touch and the sun. During the day, the leaf clusters open fully to the sun in an effort to capture as much of the light and warmth as they possibly can. In the evening , as the sun begins to fade behind the mountains and the air cools, the leaf clusters close in on themselves as they try to try to hold on to the sun's warmth.

As the warmth of the summer grows they flower pink in globular clusters. The flowers are very delicate and they wave in the air as if they were single strands of a spider's web. I'm sure that's why these trees as also called "Silk Trees." In the summer my trees with their showy pink filaments have an intoxicating scent. I really look forward to seeing them each year.

They're always the last trees to leaf out each spring and since I wait with such anticipation I worry each spring that they've died over the winter. This year my fears proved to be true and I lost two of my eight trees!

I was in distress, but I after a month I was resigned to my loss. So, I went to my friend Wade Anderson, the owner of Tooele Valley Nursery, and began to look for replacement trees. As we walked through rows of trees we talked about my trees and why they may have died.

Wade said, "Lots of trees died this year because it got warm too early and then it got cold again after they trees budded. If the roots [of your tree] are strong, it will come back. "

With this new sprig of hope, I decided to wait before I purchased a new tree and began to watch. The roots of my trees were indeed strong! Not long after my conversation with Wade a new sprout began to spring from the base of both trees and now they're well on their way to becoming a new main trunk for these two trees. I'm delighted and I've learned something of great value to share with you.

Everyone will have challenges in life and one can never tell when they'll hit. But, when you've created strong roots within your soul, they'll withstand major challenges that will surely try to break you. I know this to be true because I've experienced it.

If you're being challenged right now please know that I believe you have the strength within to overcome anything that will come your way. Draw on your education, faith, and experience to weather the challenge. You can do it!

Then, when the storm is over, follow the example of my trees and use your roots to push new branches toward the sky and new roots deeper into the earth. Never stop learning, never lose your faith and always ask the question, "What lesson should I learn from this challenge," so your experience will be used for your benefit and the benefit of others.

Regaining Confidence

"He's lost his confidence now, so we need to build it up again."

• Wayne Quarles
  

 

Regaining Confidence

 

I sat at the side of an outdoor riding arena as Wayne Quarles coached three girls and their horses. It was a bright sunny day with a little breeze and puffing clouds floating above. I looked up and watched as a hawk floated through the cotton speckled blue. Then I looked a little to my right, back toward the horses and the girls.

The girls were riding through a "grid," in a line through a series of poles. Some were flat. Some were crossed and leaning against the standard. And, a couple of jumps were set at about two feet in the air. Things were going well and then things changed dramatically!

Annie was riding a young, "green" horse. For some reason as she approached the last jump, he (Marty) scared himself. He lost his confidence. He hesitated, almost stopping. He jumped.

As he jumped, much higher than necessary, I saw Annie come about two feet above the saddle and then settle with a thud on Marty's back. That's when Marty began to buck and bolt toward the fence almost fifty yards straight ahead.

As he twisted and bend his body I listened to a collective gasp from others as they feared for the safety Marty and Annie. Yet, soon after the gasps I watched Annie regain control and bring the gray-speckled pony back under control. Both were physically sound, but Marty was clearly shaken and had lost his confidence.

Wayne is an experienced teacher and trainer so he recognized this right off and I watched as he changed his priorities and techniques for the session. "O.K., Annie. Let's work with him so he can get his confidence back," he said.

Then they began to work more deliberately toward a needed restoration. As they worked the damage clearly unfolded and as Annie and Marty rode toward a black and white striped jump, Marty twisted violently to the left. That's when Annie exited her saddle and fell to the ground even while she still clutched the reigns with her hands.

"I'm O.K.," she said as she bounced up.

"Let's give him a break," Wayne said after making sure Annie was well.

That's when I said to myself, "There have been times I've felt like Marty before." So, I became more intent on letting Wayne teach me about rebuilding confidence.

The next day Annie and Marty came out to work with Wayne again and I had the chance to distill some steps to rebuild confidence I'll share with you.

First, Wayne had Marty follow closely behind another horse and rider so it would be easy for him to focus on copying successful behavior rather than on his fear. Second, he directed Annie to make sure Marty had good energy going toward each jumps as they approached. Third, he taught Annie and Marty that good energy produces the power needed to get over obstacles. Fourth, he reminded Annie to focus on creating and maintaining balance. Fifth, he worked with Annie to make sure that Marty kept only the next jump in view. And finally, he had Annie praise Marty with a gentle pat and voice as he succeeded. The results were remarkable!

In the end, I watched Annie and Marty complete and entire course with beauty and grace. It was wonderful to behold and nice to see that great advice does make a huge difference. So, next time you find yourself in need of rebuilding your confidence follow Wayne's Steps of Confidence Building.

Model a successful person closely. Have good energy going forward. Use the power of your good energy to overcome obstacles. Create and maintain good balance as you move ahead. Focus only on the immediate obstacle in front of you so you're not overwhelmed, and praise yourself every time you succeed.

A Trusted Advisor Makes a Difference

"When I just took two steps forward a whole new vista opened to my view."

• Quinn Header
  

A Trusted Advisor Makes a Difference

There have been times in my life when no matter how much I drew from my own experience and knowledge it just wasn't enough. Have you ever had those moments in your life? You know, the moment when you really wanted to know just what to do but didn't?

Such times have made me feel as if I were a hunter, out in the forest, without any map or ability to get up high and see the way to my goal. That's when everything begins to look the same, every turn, every path just takes me to the same place, no where!

I was thinking just that during a discussion with a couple of friends yesterday. We were talking about how there are times in life when we just need to draw on more knowledge and experience than we have at any one moment in time. That's when I brought up the old saying, "You can't see the forest for the trees."

As soon as I brought that up I saw a twinkle begin in the corner of Quinn's eyes. It was a kind of sunrise twinkle; I saw it begin in the outside corner of his eyes and watched its light move across his brow until it exploded in full brightness. He had reached a moment of epiphany.

"I remember deer hunting one time," he said. "We were in an area I wasn't familiar with. I was with a friend who knew the area but he wasn't well enough to go out with us. Still, he wanted to help so we decided to go to an area near his home where he could guide us through radio contact. You see, he had a telescope and could see the entire side of the mountain from a vantage point I couldn't see. I was too close to see the whole picture! "

He continued, "I was there walking around and couldn't see anything but sagebrush. Then I got a radio call from my friend who told me there was a herd of deer just up a head of me. I told him there couldn't be. I had a clear view and couldn't see anything up ahead."

That's when his friend said, "Take two steps forward!"

"I took the two steps forward and to my surprise a whole new grand vista opened right before my eyes. I could see the deer! I could see a whole beautiful valley laid out before me! All it took was literally two steps. I just couldn't see if before!"

Working with someone who knows the terrain and has experience in it makes all the difference. It's what I call "The Trusted Advisor Principle." You can call it anything you want, a friend, a parent, the local gentry. It doesn't matter as long as you're able to have a great relationship with someone who has the knowledge and experience necessary to supplement your own.

If you haven't begun to develop such a relationship take the time to observe the people around you. Find someone you'd like to emulate. Watch them for a while to see if they'll fill the bill. Make sure they're honest and of sound character. If they are, develop your relationship and then reap the reward together. You'll soon find both of your lives will be richer and more successful.

Here's to the new vistas that will open up for you!