This
afternoon, Honda® issued a recall notice for several models of their vehicles sold
in California because there is a defect in the air-bag/air-bag deployment. I am
sure that this announcement is probably frustrating and frightening for owners
of these vehicles. In addition to their concern that the problem may endanger their
and their passengers’ lives before the car goes in for service, needing to get
this repair done is probably an inconvenience (and stress) they could do
without. Welcome to the world of having to take responsibility for and taking
care of the things we own.
Responsibility
follows us everywhere we go. If we want to drive a car, we need to have a
driver’s license and car insurance. We need to be responsible drivers by following
the rules (laws) of the road and making sure that our vehicles are safe and
serviceable. We need to make sure that we have enough gas to get us where we
need to go and regularly check the car’s oil/brakes/tire-pressure.
The
same is true if you own a home. When a water pipe breaks or a toilet overflows,
it is up to you to repair the problem or call someone to do it for you. You may
need to repaint the outside of the house or replace the shingles on the roof
from time to time, to ensure you will be protected from the elements during
inclement weather. If you own a lot of land, you are responsible for cutting
down weeds or tall grasses and trimming dead branches off trees to safeguard
your property from fires (and reduce fire hazards).
The
responsibilities multiply quickly when you take care of other people or animals
in your family, and they can be overwhelming. Rather than consider them in
terms of “work” you need to do, try this to lighten your load: turn your
thoughts into attitudes of appreciation or gratitude that you have these
privileges in your life. Lisa Machenberg, one of my favorite instructors at the
Hypnosis Motivation Institute (www.hypnosis.edu), shared this insight (attitude-shift) with my
class during a case conference many years ago. Acknowledging and expressing
gratitude for something you “must do” not only symbolically pay for the privilege of having that object in your life; this new perspective actually
adds relief or even joy to doing that activity. You or I would go right to the
doctor to set our (or our child’s) broken leg, or call a veterinarian if one of
our pets was sick. We probably wouldn’t even think twice about doing this,
either, because the physical comfort of setting the bone would equal the
emotional relief of knowing that this procedure, while temporarily
uncomfortable, will prevent future inconvenience down the road.
The same is true
of fixing and maintaining your home, car and every other object you value. When
we change that mental script in our subconscious mind from owning and
maintaining (“when necessary”) something to a script which values, cherishes
and takes care of that object, we start to appreciate its true worth. A car isn’t
just a car: it is the equivalent of a magical carriage that literally carries us and/or our family
to a specific destination and makes sure we reach it safely. The house or apartment
in which we live isn’t just a structure but the home that provides shelter from
inclement elements and safety from perceived threats. It is the place where we have
made (and keep) our favorite memories, and will make many more.
I am grateful
for the opportunity to give the people and home I adore, and the car and other
objects in my life that make my life so convenient, a little (or a lot) of tender,
loving care when they need it. In fact, it is a privilege to do this. After
all, where would I be without them?
Sara R. Fogan, C.Ht. is a
certified hypnotherapist based in Southern California. She graduated with
honors from the Hypnosis Motivation Institute in 2005. For more
information about Calminsense Hypnotherapy®, please visit http://www.calminsensehypnotherapy.com/.
