by Cathy Lloyd, Essence Practitioner

PLANT INSTEAD OF SHOULDER

Shoulder

The shoulder is the physical part of the body that is often responsible for carrying weight...purse straps hang from the shoulder as do backpacks, computer bags, and diaper bags.

Paradoxically, the shoulder is also used to carry non-visible weight. There are people who seem to carry the weight of the world on their shoulders, or choose to shoulder the blame, often unnecessarily.

The shoulder has become a weight-bearing structure, subject to weakness when exposed to constant stress.

Should

A quick anagram of the word shoulder reveals the word should. By definition, the word should is a verb used to express obligation or duty. Is there a relationship between the use of the word should and the life of the person who experiences shoulder pain? Quite possibly, after all, not all baseball pitchers have shoulder problems, not all students who carry backpacks have shoulder pain, and not all spouses feel like they carry the weight of the world on their shoulders.

The excessive use of the word should places non-visible loads upon the shoulders, thereby creating stress on the joint which can lead to pain and immobility (referred to as frozen shoulder).

A pitcher may feel he should have pitched better his last game or the coach may feel the pitcher should pitch consecutive games because there is no other way to secure a win for the team. The pitcher's contract may have a pitching expectation that should have been met; hence he carries this unmet obligation as a stress on his shoulders.

A student may not be surpassing her academic expectations. Should she have studied more than 4 hours for her last test? Or perhaps her parents have high academic goals for their teenager and their underlying message is "You should focus on achieving academic perfection." The shoulder pain may not be due to the weight of the books in the backpack as much as the weight of the academic expectations being shouldered by the teenager.

A Unique Approach to countering the weakening shoulder effects of the stress created by use of the word should is to substitute the word plan for should. Plan makes up the basis of the word plant and with respect to the body, plantar is the sole of the foot. Instead of carrying obligations on your shoulders, with each step you take as the plantar area of the foot makes contact with the ground; plant your new intentions, like seeds.

This concept will move thoughts from regrets and shouldering what cannot be changed, to planning and moving forward with new goals.

Instead of feeling like you should have spoken more clearly at the last business meeting, allow yourself to move forward in your thinking, and plan to give a better presentation at the next meeting.

If you find this article rings true...who are you?

Are you shouldering your way through life with high expectations and unmet goals?

Goal: I Plan To Be Content With My Past Achievements & Focus on Planning My Next Goal

Apricot: supports focusing on things in life that are fulfilling and productive

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Are you the league baseball coach whose best pitcher is showing shoulder problems? Do you feel he should pitch every game so you can have a winning season?

Goal: I Plan To Value All Team Members and Help Them Reach Their Full Potential

Ponderosa Pine: seek and give support, sense of honor and empowerment

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Are you the employee who stresses about work all day, every day, because things are not going like they should?

Goal: I Plan To Take Allotted Breaks, Lunch, & Weekends to Engage in Non-Work Topics

Goldenrod: brings enthusiasm, abundance, and cooperation

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Are you caught in the game of "pass the shouldering"... listening as your manager tells you what you should be doing and you go home and tell your spouse and children what they should be doing?

Goal: My Manager Will Listen To My Plans and I Will  Listen to My Family's Plans

Ground Ivy: awareness of behavior patterns

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This simple goal of choosing to use the word plan instead of should will initiate great changes in your life as you un-shoulder your burdens by planting your new ideas with each step you take.

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Copyright 2006 Cathy Lloyd, Essence Practitioner, www.auniqueapproach.com

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