The Flexibility Of Reality

How flexible are you? Your length of life may depend on it.

Grasshopper Notes are the writings from America's Best Known Hypnotherapist John Morgan. His podcasts contain his most responded to essays and blog posts from the past two decades. 

Find the written versions of these podcasts on John's podcasting site: https://www.buzzsprout.com/1628038

"The Grasshopper" is the part of you that whispers pearls of wisdom that  seem to pop into your mind from out of the blue. John's essays and blog posts are his interpretations of these "Nips of Nectar." Others have labeled his writings as timeless wisdom. 

Most of the John's writings revolve around self improvement and self help. They address topics like:

• Mindfulness
• Peace of mind
• Creativity
• How to stay in the present moment
• Spirituality
• Behavior improvement

And stories that transform you to a wider sense of awareness that presents more options. And isn't that what we all want, more options? 

John uploads these podcasts on a regular basis. So check back often to hear these podcasts heard around the world. Who wants to be the next person to change? 

Make sure to order a copy of John's new book: WISDOM OF THE GRASSHOPPER – 21 Days to Creativity. These mini-meditations take you inside where all your creative resources live. And you'll come out not only refreshed but recommitted to creating your future. 

It's only $16.95 and available at BLURB.COM at the link below. https://www.blurb.com/b/10239673-wisd...

Also, download John's FREE book INTER RUPTION: The Magic Key To Lasting Change. It's available at John's website  https://GrasshopperNotes.com

Transcript

The Flexibility of Reality

Today, I'd like to address something that might twist your brain a little . . . in a good way.

Many of us like to think we’re driving the car of life. Hands on the wheel, foot on the gas—we're in control. But the truth? Life’s driving us. We’re just along for the ride, and at best, we get to make some route suggestions.

Now, I know that might sound like predestination—that everything's mapped out and we’re just passengers—but that’s not what I’m saying. Predestination is rigid. Reality? It's flexible. It doesn’t come with a blueprint. It just shows up. And how we respond to it—that’s where the magic happens.

See, people who believe they’re fully in charge of life often carry lots of frustration. You can easily spot them by the amount of angst they display by the number of antacids or tranquilizing drugs they take, not to mention the amount of alcohol or illicit drugs they consume. When things don’t go their way, they fight reality like something broken. But it’s not broken. It’s just not theirs to control.

On the flip side, some people accept that life is in charge, but then use that as an excuse to do nothing. “It’s God’s plan,” they’ll say. Or, “It was just meant to be.” That’s predeterminism sneaking in the back door again.

Reminds me of a story . . .

My stepdad was a dreamer. Big ideas, giant appetite. He lived like the buffet was always open. And eventually, his body paid the price—he died relatively young. My mom, who regularly said, "He eats like he has two assholes," blamed heredity for his early exit, and was quick to add "The man upstairs just took him because it was his time." She would never let herself believe he helped write that ending, one plate at a time.

I’ve heard the same from countless smokers who developed serious lung diseases. “It was God’s will.” No—sometimes, it was Marlboro’s will. We can't blame fate for choices we repeat on autopilot.

I look at life from this angle: Life is energy. It moves us. It doesn't come with tactics or a timeline. But when reality hits—because it always does—we get a choice. React like we always have, or respond differently.

Reactions are predictable. They keep us on the same path. But responses? They open up new roads. That’s where we see the flexibility of reality. It bends when we show up with awareness.

Remember Star Wars? “The Force” doesn’t care how it’s used. It just flows through us. Life is like that too. It animates us. And what we do with it—that’s on us.

Look, sometimes people don’t see this until they hit bottom. Reality shakes the walls and lets a little light in. But here’s the good news: you don’t have to wait for rock bottom. You can make a choice now. You can say: “Enough.” And start responding instead of reacting.

Reality is gonna land in your lap, ready or not. What happens next is up to you.

Let me leave you with this idea: we all come with a battery. It’s gonna run out one day. But how we use it—that shapes the quality of our ride. If raging against reality is a way of life for you, you’ll burn out fast. If you respond to reality, you still don't get a guarantee on how long you'll be here, but you'll make the best of the life that's living you.

So I'll end with a mantra I truly believe is worth adopting: “I choose flexibility every day that life lives me.”

All the best,

John