“Do you work here?” a woman asked me. I said I did. “Why?” she asked. “You look like you should be in an office. Like at Snap-On.”
I was working at an orchard a few years ago when this scene took place. If you know me even a little, you know this is how my life works. This was the Universe saying, Hey, toots, go apply at Snap-On Tools.
But it didn’t stop there. A week later, another random woman gave me her card. “Snap-On Tools is hiring,” she said. “You should apply.”
So I did. And I made it through five (five!) rounds of interviews and… didn’t get the job.
WTH, Universe.
I know what Sprit was trying to tell me. I let my ego get in the way. I’m flattered when I’m asked to do something or offered an opportunity. And I’ll take it whether it’s the best thing for me or not. Do what’s for your highest good was the lesson. Did the job sound interesting? Not really. Did I like the hours? Not in the least. But I considered living with the unhappiness just to do a Sally Field impersonation. You like me! You really like me!
How many of us have done this? Someone asks for advice, and we give it because we’re tickled–You value my opinion!–not thinking that we may be attaching ourselves to a drama queen. We agree to go on a date with someone we don’t care for enough to see a second time. We might even accept a marriage proposal from someone we’re not crazy about. We purchase something we hadn’t intended to (and don’t need or even particularly want) because the salesperson knew just how to compliment us.
Our egos can make us contradict reality. Our egos can lead us to things that are not for our highest good.
Like an actor in a new role, we need to ask ourselves What’s my motivation here?
Or pull some cards.
The best way to do that is to break a decision down into options.
- Probable outcome if I take this job
- Probable outcome if I don’t
- … if I take it and keep looking
Or
- What are the pros of going on this date?
- The cons?
- The probable outcome?
Or
- How can this purchase serve my highest good?*
- How might it feed my shadow?
- What else do I need to know?
Our highest good is what keeps us growing, learning, and walking steadily towards our soul’s purpose.