One morning this week I woke up in the middle of a dream in which a friend was sharing his long list of problems with me. When he finished, I responded, "Sometimes you have to just stop and smell the alligators." Then I woke up.
Pro Golf and Flowers
In golf legend Walter Hagen's 1956 autobiography he wrote, "You're only here for a short visit. Don't hurry, don't worry. And be sure to smell the flowers along the way." Hagen's advice morphed into the popular saying, "Stop and smell the roses."
My Alligator Version
Alligators represent your problems. They keep you up at night and give you agita. Issues and aggravations are bound to come. It's part of life in a fallen world. But we would do well to draw them out of the undefined swampiness of our thought life. Take a good whiff. Identify them. What's your problem? Specifically.
This Works for Me
When I experience anxiety, I do my best to name the source. Sometimes this takes a few minutes of quiet reflection. Once it's narrowed down, I pray about it.
Often the issue is a relationship. In that case, I start by praying for a blessing upon the person and their family. I ask the Lord to provide for their needs, protect them from evil, and guide them into the fullness of His plan for their life. If the anxiety is caused by a task, a deadline, or another problem, considering the noble end attached to this issue usually helps. I offer thanks for the opportunity. I once told a friend, "Man! You have your hands full!" He answered, "It beats having my hands empty." Gratitude is good.
An Inside Job
When angst becomes prayer, change happens. At the very least the heart of the pray-er is transformed. Sooner or later, clarity follows. And that's what smelling the alligators initiates - a clarification process.
In My Professional Opinion as a Musician
But don't take my word for it (even though I did earn an A in Introduction to Psychology last year.) Gretchen Rubin, the author of The Happiness Project, agrees, "Take the time to pinpoint the actual source of the problem, and you may be astonished at how simple a solution might be." Sometimes you have to just stop and smell the alligators. You'll be all the better at knowing what you're dealing with.
Gator Hunting
What strategies do you use to identify issues that hide in the swamp of your emotions? Please comment below.
Hi Angelo,
I find that different things work for different seasons. Lately I have to make sure my mind is really clear… and so I intentionally stop doing everything, do a half dozen deep breathing exercises (inhale 5, hold 5, exhale 7). Then, I listen to a few sessions on the ABIDE app (w/the gurgling brook background) and then read some scripture.
Now I’m ready to listen to God’s leading. And I’ve learned to wait until I hear. And then I do what I’m told. I‘ve also learned that I usually play a part in most of my struggles, so I review my actions & my contributions... if I hold any fault I apologize immediately (not one of those conditional…