Here, in northeast PA, we heat the home with a monster outdoor wood stove. We call it the Beast. It usually works like a charm, but the other day I noticed that the water light was off. It’s very important to keep water running through it. No problem, I just filled it.
The next day, Pedro had to go out at 5am. He barked at something towards the wood stove so I looked out. I saw huge sparks flying from the chimney of the Beast. Donning my robe, I pulled on my purple muck boats, and walked to the Beast. The water light was on. The blower was on. But the temperature was 100 degrees too high! I panicked. I would call the technician as soon as possible.
I called Wayne and told him about the water being out the day before, the sparks, and the high temperature. He didn’t seem too concerned. We chatted for a few minutes, and to tell you the truth, he wasn’t making much sense to me, and apparently, I wasn’t making much sense to him! He said he’d be by eventually but not to worry. He didn’t seem to think he needed to come and I couldn’t understand why. The temperature was 100 degrees too hot!!
I check that thermostat every single day. I know exactly what temperature it’s supposed to be. When my partner called from out of town, I recounted the story. Just like Wayne, my partner was confused and said, “But that’s the right temperature. It’s not 100 degrees too high.” I was suddenly quite perplexed. What? Really?
And it was the right temperature. It was the temperature I see every day. Somehow, between the water running out, sparks flying from the chimney, and an early morning daze, I decided that there was a problem; so I created one. I spun a crazy story. In my own mind I bumped the temperature up 100 degrees, so that’s what I saw on the thermostat. And even when talking with Wayne, I could not let go of that. I had created a belief in my mind and I was unable to see beyond it. That’s why my conversation with Wayne was so confusing.
And that’s why so many folks can’t hear one another, because we are attached to our own mind set, belief, assumption, or paradigm. We can’t see beyond them, especially those that have been with us for so many years. It takes great courage, support, and openness to step out of our limited view to a more expansive view.
I find it worth the effort.
Do you have a crazy mind story or a time when you came to understand that your way of thinking was actually very limiting?
{ 5 comments… read them below or add one }
Too many to share…may i always be looking/inquiring whether my current thinking is too limiting and open to hearing the other views…hard sometimes…ok often difficult
Carla. I know exactly what you are writing about. Over the years I have noticed that I too can imagine something is not right — when it is. Usually happens when over a short period of time, I am experiencing a sequence of stressful events (real or imagined) , feeling like I am being knocked about like a ricocheting ping pong ball. When my imagination tricks me into thinking, “not right,” when it is I realize this as a symptom of stress gone a muck. Sometimes my very confused actions can ultimately be so, off the wall, that laughter results shaking me into reality. Other times, I get past this by taking a time out for how ever long I need in order to get balanced again. This works for me.
What a great story. I can’t think of anything specific at the moment..but I’m sure I’ve been a subject of ‘crazy mind’ many times!!!
Oh, I hear that only too well: I am guilty of it myself and see it in many others. The mind can become so entrenched that it becomes impossible to get back up the slippy slope.
wow, that top image is really gorgeous!