A friend of mine confided, "My cat LIVES on the counter.  She spends all day and all night sitting there.  She won't get down."  After asking more questions it turns out that after an outbreak of fleas in the carpeting of the home the cat suffered from PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder) - a funny feline brand - and the cat was now terrified of what he believed would happen if his paws hit the Berber.  


But the fleas were gone some time ago.  The problem didn't exist anymore.  Sadly, to this poor kitty, those fleas were alive and well - still tormenting him every minute from high atop the cupboards.  My girlfriend had tried everything, from forcing the cat off the counter - only lasting a few seconds - to gently easing the cat, a half hour at a time onto the living room coffee table.  


The cat's reality . . . "I can't go there.  Something's going to hurt me."


Don't we all do that in certain areas of our lives?  Passed trauma and hurt cause us to live funny, illogical, quirky; to avoid perceived pain.  It limits our freedom, our mobility and our view.  


What is the cost of living on the counter my friend?  Where in your life are you living in paralysis of the past?  Where are you sitting on the fence, trying to hide?


Instead of being a light on a hill, when living on the counter we are as effectual as Mr. Coffee and a baking mitt.


I'm going to challenge you to come down off the counter - even for a half hour at a time - and see what it feels like.  Acknowledge the demons of yesterday and then realize today is a new day.  


Living on the counter limits a whole lot of joy you could have.  It also limits a whole lot of joy you could offer others . . . if not today, when?


Say goodbye to Mr. Coffee and come play with the rest of us cool cats  : ) 
  

I stumbled across a very cool website.  It's called Fiverr.com.  For five bucks you can find people who will do everything from singing your company slogan in the shower, to building a website.  Anything you can possibly imagine . . . $5.

One of the posts there however brought me to a very sad realization.  For five dollars this man will make a decision for you.  http://fiverr.com/vaughnonmovies/make-a-tough-decision-for-you

Yep.  He'll weigh all of the facts and decide so you don't have to.  He'll decide your life direction - online by proxy.

Who to marry.
End my marriage.
What logo to use.
Finish my degree or not.
Quit my job.

Anything.  Just send him the details and he'll decide.  Just send the cash.  Five bucks and you've got your answer.

Wow.  Why would anyone do this?  Hmm.  Two reasons.  

#1.  We hate making decisions.  We avoid it, run from it, ignore it and hide from it.  Making decisions requires us to stand up.  It requires us to be accountable.  

#2.  If a decision must be made, it would sure be nice if we could BLAME someone else if it went south.  How much easier is it for us emotionally when we can point the finger at someone else?  


Ask yourself - where am I losing personal power through indecision?  And secondly, where am I passively and actively blaming others for my outcomes?

Raise the personal power in your life by standing up and making your own decisions.  Weigh things out for yourself and take accountability.  Fully.  Completely.  Confidently.  

The cost of failing in life is far greater than five bucks.  The cost of playing small, running from reality, avoiding necessary growth . . . definitely more expensive than a five dollar bill.  No matter how to cool a cyber-life-decision-maker, no proxy techno-geek will hurt like you will hurt if the decision is a bad one.  

And the value of success, the value of love, the value of self-confidence . . . far greater.  Own it all for yourself, the decision, the blame, the success.  And hey, it'll save you five bucks  : )