Saturday, September 17, 2016

“Don’t Let the Rear View Mirror in Your Story, Get You Stuck”


In my last column I shared that I was going to discuss the feeling of being “stuck” in life.  I say “feeling” because I don’t believe we’re ever really stuck, unless of course we choose to be.  Life may present us with challenges that feel paralyzing, but I am convinced with a change in perspective, we can embrace those challenges head on and learn to navigate and prepare for the next season. 

With the recent passing of my Dad, childhood memories flooded my heart and mind.  I didn’t grow up with my Dad, so the memories are few, but incredibly fond!  Every fiber of my being wanted so desperately to “go back” to those few moments in time.  I spent a few days living my life in the rear view mirror so to speak.  I wished things could have been different for my Dad and I.  My reflection soon became an abyss of hopes and dreams that would remain unfulfilled.  While I believe reflection is important and necessary to bring about change, usher in growth, and to gain new perspective, I also believe that if we look too long, we have the potential to get stuck!  What we focus on gets magnified in our lives.


Source:  lifechallengesemi.org

As I sat to write this month’s column, I chuckled to myself when out of the blue the song “The Wheels on the Bus” began to play inside my brain.  That was an oddity, and certainly unexpected during my creative time.  However, I’m one of those people that pay attention to my thought life, especially when something seems simple, like that song for example, because I know deep down there is something to glean.  So, I paused for a moment, smiled, and thought to myself, “Tammy, the bus was always moving!”   I think as human’s, we have this tendency to get so caught up in what has been, that we fail to look at what is, and what we desire to be.  Life is always moving.  It does not stop, simply because we do.  It continues on and we have a huge opportunity to embrace each day with hope, expectation, and possibility.  On the flip side, pausing in life does not mean we are stuck!  It simply means we’re refocusing on what is now important.  Just don’t stay there!
As we live our story, our priorities will change.  They should!  That means we’re growing!  Life constantly changes.  We can adapt to changes and make some revisions.  What we cannot afford to do is stop! 
Ask yourself the hard questions…
 “Am I stopping or pausing?” 
“Am I simply reflecting, or am I choosing to be stuck?” 
While the rear view mirror of your life is important, it’s not what’s most important!  Don’t let the rear view mirror in your story, get you stuck!  Use that rear view to propel you to your next chapter!
Inspiring YOU to Live Your Story Well....Rock YOUR Story,

Tammy L Dahl
www.info@tammydahl.com

Saturday, July 16, 2016

Rock Your Story - Column


“Rock YOUR Story” 

…Inspiring YOU to live YOUR story well

A monthly column by Tammy L. Dahl

July 2016

“An Introduction”

Our lives are a story!  A great story has grand characters, from the protagonists to the antagonists.   It often is marked by unexpected plot twists and turns that, I believe, are designed to be the catalysts that ultimately bring personal transformation.  As we live out our stories, we are taking a journey of discovery, where we become aware of who we are, and also of who we are not.  

We all struggle with many elements of our stories.  We all question the purpose for our struggles at times and often feel pain along the pathway of our personal journey.    We all have things we wished we could have done differently.  Our minds never stop processing the “could’ve, should’ve, would’ve” aspects of our stories.    I also believe that most of us take extravagant measures to hide the parts of our stories that cause us to be our own worst enemy and our greatest critic!  If we have developed the belief that we have somehow failed, we sometimes go into hiding.  We endlessly beat ourselves up in the proverbial battle-ground of our minds.  What if you could change that?  What if what you hide is really meant to be seen, and actually provides the meaning and purpose behind the life you’re living out?

My desire through this column is to help you “Rock YOUR Story” as you journey through this adventure called life. I want you to live a GREAT story!  We all need that someone who helps us discover what we’re passionate about and what drives us.  We also need that someone who can help us navigate the unexpected twists and turns, and help us interpret and re-evaluate those things we deem as “failures” and “mistakes!”  In regards to mistakes, my husband says it best…”a mistake in life is not a mistake, if you learn!”   I encourage you to take what you have deemed a mistake in your life, and re-conceptualize them as disguised opportunities!  They are your life tools!  What’s great about our life tools, is not only do they help us, but they can help someone else!  Author, Donald Miller says it best: “what will the world miss if you don’t tell your story?”

Have you experienced a “plot twist” recently?  Do you feel stuck in your story?  Do you want to change something about your story?  Got questions?  Let’s talk…..

Photo credit from blossomingbrands.com

Email me at info@tammydahl.com or snail mail me at Tammy Dahl | Attn:  Rock YOUR Story | PO Box 107 | Ferndale, FL | 34729
Tammy shares her story from main stream media to churches and various events and retreats.  She has been featured on numerous television shows:  “O’Reilly Factor, Fox News,  The 700 Club, Life Today with James and Betty Robison,  and Home Keepers,” to name a few.  Her autobiography “My Father’s Smile” is available through Amazon, Books-a-Million, Target, and others online stores.  This girl “Rocks Her Story” and she wants you to “Rock YOUR Story!”