Seize The Day?

"Seize the day" is so passé. Find out more in this mini podcast.

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

Seize The Day?

I’ve come to the opinion that “Seize The Day” is so . . . yesterday.

It sounds bold. It sounds heroic. It sounds like something you’d stencil on a gym wall.

But when you really look at it, the whole thing is wrapped in this cloak of control — and anyone who’s paying attention knows control is an illusion.

Now, I’m a list maker. I love a good list. Listing makes what’s in my head visible. Actionable. It gives shape to the day. I can see what I want and sketch out a plan to get there.

But then I often have to remind myself of something Robert Burns said: “The best laid plans of mice and men often go awry.” Or as a fellow broadcaster once said in a commercial: Aw-Ree.

Translation? Stuff happens.

So yes — make a plan. But once you’ve made it, it might be wise to borrow an axiom from sports: Let the game come to you.

Instead, what do we mostly do? We charge. We bulldoze. We force. And we call that “seizing the day.”

What we don’t notice is that all that manufactured energy? It can wreck the very building blocks we need to make the plan work in the first place.

Seizing the day can lead to a seizure. It's a directive without direction. A bumper sticker that doesn’t stick.

It reminds me of a guy I worked with years ago — a bartender in a disco. Behind the bar, he was a one-man Broadway show. Dancing. Spinning bottles. Mixing drinks with flair. He was in rhythm with the pulsating music.

Problem was . . . people were waiting. And waiting.

There was a lot of action — just not a lot of results.

Eventually he got fired. The plan was simple: serve the patrons on time. But he seized the opportunity to show his stuff instead.

“Seize the day” carries that same runaway-beer-truck energy. Loud. Fast. Impressive. Slightly out of control.

By all means, have a plan for your day. But always grabbing it by the horns? That’s a good way to wind up covered in a lot of bullshit.

Perhaps you’ll get curious about exchanging the ancient Latin phrase “Carpe diem” for a mantra successful sports teams use: Have a flexible game plan!

That’s not passive. That’s responsive.

All the best,

John