The analogy that I heard Bob Goff use recently regarding stress relief was one that I had never previously heard. Only it was not an analogy for him; it was describing how he lives. Bob is an attorney who lives a missionary life, helping people around the world by building schools, orphanages, and other humanitarian projects in the name of Jesus. He is a self-professed eccentric, and I might add a happy one at that.
Think about that for a moment. You can be a happy eccentric or a miserable eccentric. Bob is a happy one. He laughs while telling about his prize log home burning down and much more. That is how the unwanted things from his right pocket get over to his left and then out of his life by falling to the ground.
His formula for relieving stress was demonstrated and talked about on stage. According to Bob, none of his slacks have left pockets. When his right pockets get full, he prioritizes and keeps what is necessary or essential, and the rest goes into his left pocket. And then whatever he moved into his left pocket falls immediately to the ground. I had never heard that analogy or seen that demonstration before, and it reminded me of another decree: if the shoe fits wear, if not, throw it away.
There are multiple applications for moving something from the right pocket to the left pocket and wearing the shoe if it fits and throwing it away if it doesn’t. The first book that I read in January of 2017 written by Bill Hybels and titled Simplify. In the book, he suggests ten practices we can incorporate to simplify life and reduce stress, exhaustion, confusion, and feelings of being overwhelmed. He uses the word clutter frequently to describe the non-essentials of life that we so often believe are important to us. The clutter included “stuff,” behavior patterns, that which we chase and more. The gist of the book was to reduce many of those things that we consider essential because without them we can live better than we think we can. Rather than accept a breakneck pace of life that has become our usual we can create a new normal that is far less tension-filled. I recommend reading the book if you are feeling at all overwhelmed or caught on a proverbial treadmill, going nowhere fast.
Famous singer Neil Diamond sang “Comin’ To America” that contained the lyrics “Traveling light today in the eye of the storm.” He was singing about immigrants coming to the U.S. with very little and beginning anew. In today’s possession-oriented society in our country, we find that approach to living very foreign. Since I have taken Bill Hybels’ suggestions to heart, I often use those lyrics to describe my perspective and a new standard of living. And I can tell you that for me less is more. Less stuff, less commitment to schedules, and a less hectic pace have provided me more freedom, time and relaxation than I can ever remember having. I am still a work in progress in this regard, but isn’t that life? How about you? Have you given yourself space and freedom to evaluate your circumstances to the degree that you can assess what is less and what is more?
The addition of the phrase “if not, throw it away” added to “if the shoe fits wear it,” adds an important twist to the notion. Too many people hold onto things whether habitual, material or emotional that impede their progress. The idea of “throw it away” is a powerful practice that creates more of that freedom that I talked about earlier. I think we sometimes “own” way more than we should, and that fogs our clarity of thinking and becomes clutter as suggested in Simplify. It doesn’t indicate that we shouldn’t wear the shoe that fits or accept responsibility for our actions. It does point out that the remainder, whether accusations, others’ projections, labels or different values should not become ours if they do not fit who we are or what we are doing.
These are a few examples where the right to the left pocket illustration that Bob Goff used are applicable. I am not suggesting that you cut off any of your pockets. Mine serves as a holding place for my handkerchief which is one thing I not yet willing to turn loose. But the picture of a chute to deposit unwanted stuff can help provide impetus to release some burdens and free you up for a new healthier life normal.