Shifting Views

“Is That You, Santa?”

by Dale A Evans

One of my Shift-Tools is chalk. Once I’ve evaluated what it is I’m addressing, I’ll often write the word in chalk on my wall as a reminder. If I begin to feel confused about a situation I’ll look at the word and think, ah, right, I’m addressing that, and the situation will all fall into place.

A few years back I was addressing to my protection beliefs, my automatic association that everything was out to get me in one way or another. The Big Bad Wolf was after this Little Red Riding Hood/Little Piggy and I must constantly be on guard less I got eaten or my house blown down. I wanted to remind myself that I didn’t have to expect the Big Bad Wolf, that I could allow for the possibility that something wonderful could happen. What is more wonderful than Santa bearing gifts? So, I took out my chalk Shift-Tool and wrote “Santa?” on all of my doors. Each time I opened my doors that “Santa?” would remind me to pause and consider that whatever was on the other side could bear gifts rather than grief. Santa could be at the door rather than that Big Bad Wolf!

One of my clients injured herself on the job and was home on disability. She called me to say that the day before she had received a voice mail from her boss asking her to call as soon as possible. It was early evening and she decided to wait until the next morning when she knew her boss would be back at work. She told me how she had spent a sleepless night, tossing and turning, worrying about what the phone call was about. Was she going to be fired because she couldn’t work? Were they going to tell her that her injury wasn’t bad enough to warrant disability? Were they going to lower her benefits? Her thoughts went around and around in circles all night long, keeping her awake with expecting the worst.

The next morning she returned the phone call only to be told her boss was unavailable and to call back later. Again, the worrisome thoughts began. Another call later got the same results —her boss was unavailable. By now, her worry had begun to manifest hives. She was itching all over. And as much as she didn’t want to make another call, she also couldn’t wait to get it over with. On the third try, she finally talked to her boss. Her boss asked her how she was doing, told her how they all missed her at work, and that she called because as she hadn’t been at work, she didn’t get her Christmas present. It was in the office for her to pick up whenever it was convenient. She told me, “I was worrying about it being the Big Bad Wolf all night and all morning. I made myself sick with worry. Dale, you really were right. It can be Santa. It was Santa at the door. And he was bearing a gift!”

Dale A Evans is a Personal Reality Coach  
and Energy Worker at It All Begins Now.com.