109: A Compelling Question to Ask Yourself Now and Every New Year as You Age

The dialogue makes me want to ask: "what kind of question is that?"

I mean, the answer seems obvious in context.

Here's the setting (spiritually inclined or not it's a compelling and thought provoking story):

• Jesus is in Jerusalem and encounters a guy lying by a local pool of water.
• The guy is one of many sick, blind, or lame people who frequent the pool believing it to have healing qualities.
• This particular guy has been coming there...get this...for 38 years!
• Jesus sees him, understands his longterm health condition, and asks him a simple question:

"Do you want to get well?"1

Given the circumstances, the question seems as strange as the answer appears obvious.

I realize the circumstances for this guy involved a longterm illness.

In principle, for you and I, the question can be applied to something other than illness or other physical challenges.

Before you go down that path think about the question in a broader context.

Here you are at that beginning of a New Year just like every previous year.

Considering how many years you've been at the turn of the calendar from December to January - 38 years, 48 years, 58 years, 68 or more - the answer (in principle) to the above referenced question seems obvious until...

You begin to confront your current obstacles or challenges.

You desire to shift your mindset.

You want to reset your expectations.

At least the guy at the water's edge had an answer: "...there's no one to help me... (into the water)."2

Living at the water's edge of a New Year creates excuses or expectations as you age

"Do you want to...?," seems the perfect compelling question to answer however many New Years you've experienced.

Let's expand on this idea of getting "well," - however you apply it - by asking yourself some deeper questions.

• Are you in a place of comfortable excuses?
• Are you in a place of defined expectations?
• Are you in a place of renewable potential?

Push your comfort zone

Routine is good, until it grinds your hope into a rut of complacency and compromise.

I like to think the guy-by-the-pool believed his routine had potential but something tells me that 38 years of same-ole-same-ole had done a number on his hope.

You can sit comfortably in whatever circumstance you find yourself in day in day out, month in month out, year in year out.

Sure, some circumstances in which you've become comfortable and complacent are beyond your control.

But it's on you to determine whether you have the capability (believe it or not) to push the edges of your comfort zone and stretch yourself.

• Stop waiting for the perfect moment to take action - push the edges or be pulled into a deeper rut of complacency.
• Get comfortable with change instead of fearing its outcomes.
• See your circumstances with fresh eyes - squint if you have to.

Just because something or someone made-your-bed doesn't mean you're destined to lay in it.

Redefine your expectations

The QBQ (Question Behind the Question) here is: "what did you expect?"

It helps to ask that question whenever stuff isn't going your way - especially if a decision, a denial, or a defeat has screwed your life up.

You can sit or lay at the water's edge expecting one thing and end the day having a much different experience.

On the positive side, call that a redefining moment - a moment when you begin to reframe your expectations regarding your age, life, and any related circumstances.

Redefine aging on your terms, not what culture, media, advertisements, or the ageism-crowd says.

Set realistic expectations but not according to a standard that prevents you from exploring new growth, discovering new potential, or setting more audacious goals.

Take renewed action

Sometimes the next best thing you can do (like the pool-guy) is, get up, pick up whatever is in your way, and walk.

That's a prescription for active hope however many years you've been down, even 38 more or less.

Action has no shelf-life - it has limitless possibilities and potential.

Whatever is or has been keeping you down - get up.

Whatever is or has been an obstacle in your way - pick it up.

Whatever is or has kept you tethered to inactivity - walk.

You're here at the water's edge with an important question to answer - what will it be?

• Push your comfort zone
• Redefine your expectations
• Take renewed action

Press on...

Eddie

Sources:

1-John 5:6, The Bible, New International Version.

2-John 5:7, Ibid.