The IF World

​We live in a world of uncertainties, whether we recognize them or not. A large part of our day is spent in the IF world. The word if is a very conditional word. It is a word whose very implication makes known that something must happen before another thing can happen. Sometimes it is just the natural scientific cause-and-effect; if this then that – in other words - if I flip this wall switch, then the light will come on.

Then there are the ifs that require a bit more interaction. A simple phone call for information usually sounds like this – if you're calling from a touchtone phone press___; if you were calling to inquire about ___ press ___; if you know your party’s extension, you may enter it at anytime; if you wish to hear these options again…these are the harmless yet often necessary decision-making nuisance ifs!

Then we move to a more intensive, interactive form of if called the if only’s. Here is where we have the propensity to spend a lot of time. If only is often a lamented state of mind that serves little or no purpose. There is a past and future aspect of this word to park in.

The if I had only from the past puts you in a hopeless state of thought. You spin and spin in thoughts that have no life, no way to propel into any action, or no way to move forward to another thought. As you sit and idle your engine in the past, you are stuck in neutral – going nowhere. You could also choose to place all of your thoughts on the what if’s of the future. You and your overactive imagination can get stuck in worry about future anxieties (Just Sayin’ – you can’t worry and pray – I choose prayer in those times of the unknown.)

Instead of bemoaning either, try to restate your ifs in the affirmative. It could sound like “I will work out the best way to _____,” or, “Since I can’t change the past, I will accept it, and move on to more healthy, restorative thoughts.

The darkest part of the what ifs world is that it robs you of the what is world. While you are trying to figure it all out, you are missing the beauty of the present moment; the what is that’s right before your eyes with a possible answer in the clear gift of the sunrise, sunset, or caring friend.

So, let's try to reframe our thinking from the what if world to the what is world, and renew our energy in a more constructive, affirming way for others and ourselves.

What if the world lived in the what is???

Ha! Gotcha! Sounds hopeful – but without a call to action it is a still a hopeless state! Try this – “I WILL BE THE WHAT IS WORLD WITH ALL OF THE LOVE THAT I KNOW HOW TO BE!”