Liz Strauss at Successful Blog

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April 1, 2007

7 Reasons and Ways to Leave the Center of the Universe to Come Back to Us Again

ME Liz Strauss wrote this at 12:10 pm

Why Me, Me, Me?

stellar rubble photograph

It seems to happen when we feel great, or maybe that’s when we notice it. Something comes along that pulls the rug out from under us. A domino effect occurs. What joy we had floats away. Our belief in good times, our hope gets stuck. We see people on their merry way and wonder why that isn’t us.

It’s just so easy to change how we think. Who wants to get hit by a bus crossing the street? Who wants to fall into another hole? We start filling in every blank with negatives. We start playing from weakness, not strength. After all, the world now seems such an unfriendly place.

We prepare for negatives, because positive things don’t hurt.

Self-preservation makes us think everything is about us. We unconsciously think that at the center of the universe we might be safe, and we hope that good things will find their way to us.

We’re defensive, at our least attractive, hoping without reason that positive things will be attracted to us.

7 Reasons and Ways to Leave the Center of the Universe

No one I know sets out to go to the center of the universe. In fact, most of us don’t know when we’re acting like everything revolves around us — but everyone else knows when we are.

The problem is that going to the center of the universe pushes away the very support we need to get back on the rug that was pulled out from under us.

Here are 7 reasons and ways to leave the Center of the Universe.

  1. People who live there are self-focused. Name an event from the Big Bang to a cat that had kittens, and people in the center will show you how it is really about them. No matter what trials you are facing; always remember to ask about the cat.
  2. It’s irritating and unproductive. Folks like to talk about something beautiful or compelling stories without constantly hearing about one person’s life. Constantly reviewing a problem doesn’t help solve it. Constantly replaying a past glory doesn’t give it more light. Listen more than you talk. Give people a chance to ask how you are and they’ll be more inclined to care.
  3. It’s the Boy Who Cried Wolf. Folks figure out that people in center of the universe have gotten themselves stuck inside the stories they tell. Soon enough they stop listening, because they know the person talking has to want to get out. Find the rewards for being part of the world where everyone interacts and come back.
  4. It’s the opposite of fun. Talking to someone who only sees fear and failure is like walking through land mines. Not much laughing happens when folks think they might set something off. Hang around positive people who look forward to positive outcomes. Get to know what makes them tick.
  5. It’s a waste of time. Worrying about what might happen never stopped rain from falling. Only taking control of what you can control will make a difference. Get back in the action. Do what you can to change what you can, that will change your outlook and makes friends.
  6. It’s looking in the wrong direction. ME, ME, ME is the wrong location, location, location and it won’t be heard, heard, heard. To beat the bad events that get us feeling defensive, we need a resounding success. See your future with your head and heart wired together. Make your success about helping other folks reach their goals. Nothing beats helping others as a cure for too much focus on ourselves.
  7. It attracts others who feel sorry for themselves. Like attract like. Misery loves company. Winners form a circle. Be the kind of person you admire and want as a friend and supporter.

At the center of the universe, we whine that the world doesn’t need us. We might need to go there for a few minutes when we’ve taken a blow. But to go missing completely is to give up and give out. It’s also not fair to the folks we leave behind.

When someone goes missing, there’s a someone-sized hole where that someone once was.

The universe does fine without us trying to change its rotational center.

We, on the other hand, miss you and your unique genius, until you come back home again.

–ME “Liz” Strauss

Related
The Top 10 Ways to Start Living Your Life





Filed under Successful Blog | 18 Comments »




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18 Comments to “7 Reasons and Ways to Leave the Center of the Universe to Come Back to Us Again”

  1. April 1st, 2007 at 1:56 pm
    John said

    A Liz rant has been spotted in the wild! And what a beauuutiful specimen it is.

    There are three basic ways you can deal with storms of negativity and pessimism (in my opinion, humble oh-so):

    1. Determine to ride out the emotional state, stick to your guns, watch for daylight (RECOMMENDED)

    2. Cower in a cave. While offering some illusion of safety, the drawback here is that when daylight comes, you may not see it. Prolonged yuckiness is likely.

    3. Climb into your storm cellar and lock the door, waiting for someone like Liz to break it down and drag you out by the hair. While this requires the least effort on your part, it’s not the best way to keep a friendship/hairstyle intact.

  2. April 1st, 2007 at 2:56 pm
    Carma Dutra said

    Liz, you brought tears to my eyes. Thanks.

    We might be safe at the center of the universe but we would also be alone. We are not created to be alone.

  3. April 1st, 2007 at 4:01 pm
    ME Strauss said

    Hi John,
    I was afraid someone would call this that! Now I’m laughing. This is a companion piece to The Top Ten Ways to Start Living Your Life. It’s been in the works for some time. :)

    Prolonged yuckiness is indeed a bad thing.

    I’ll try not to mess up your hair if I can possibly avoid it. You know that. :)

    Still laughing, :)
    liz

  4. April 1st, 2007 at 4:04 pm
    ME Strauss said

    Hi Carma!
    That’s kind of what I was trying to say . . . being alone is not how we’re meant to be.

  5. April 1st, 2007 at 7:24 pm
    Ellen said

    Liz,

    What a great post. It is what I needed to hear today. I tend to isolate myself and the line, “When someone goes missing, there’s a someone-sized hole where that someone once was” really hit home. I don’t want to be that someone-sized hole, I want to be someone in the world at large.

    And, you were able to bring me back to us again without having to yank me by my hair. Thanks!

  6. April 1st, 2007 at 7:29 pm
    ME Strauss said

    Hi Ellen,
    When you are missing, we do indeed miss you. You are a light that shines bright for us too. Thanks for coming back to say you’re around. :)

  7. April 1st, 2007 at 7:53 pm
    JohnC said

    …why…isn’t anyone saying what happened to the Cat?

  8. April 1st, 2007 at 7:55 pm
    ME Strauss said

    Hi John,
    Thanks for asking . . . from what I know. She’s doing great and so are the kittens. :)

  9. April 1st, 2007 at 8:53 pm
    Ellen said

    Thanks Liz. I’ll keep coming around and looking forward to SOBCon in May.

  10. April 1st, 2007 at 9:21 pm
    ME Strauss said

    Hey Ellen,
    It’s nice to know you’ll be around. You’re important. :)

  11. April 2nd, 2007 at 10:05 am
    Mike said

    Hi Liz,

    This was a lovely post. No irony in the fact that your standard signature starts with ME…;-)

    Mike

  12. April 2nd, 2007 at 10:10 am
    ME Strauss said

    Hi Mike!
    Thanks! Lots of Irony and isn’t it delicious!

  13. April 3rd, 2007 at 6:48 pm
    Sasha said

    You’ve raised good points, Liz. From experience, it is best to hang around positive people or ones who can edify your life (online and off) and you’re right to remind us that we should strive to be the kind of person we, ourselves, will like and admire. This is a great read. I’ve picked up a lot of useful insights and encouragements to have to strength to resist the pull of the “center of the universe”. Thanks, Liz! If only I can tell you how much this helped me. :)

  14. April 3rd, 2007 at 6:53 pm
    ME Strauss said

    Sasha,
    You have always been a light in my starry sky and a bit of laughter. It’s a delight whenever we get to talk. I’m grateful to know you.

  15. April 3rd, 2007 at 7:07 pm
    Sasha said

    Same here, Liz. Thanks for being so nice. /hug

  16. April 3rd, 2007 at 7:54 pm
    ME Strauss said

    Sasha,
    You make it easy. :) (((Sashs)))

  17. April 24th, 2007 at 11:06 pm
    Cheng Cheng said

    hi

    I agree with you. It is just so easy to stick our head in the ground and leave it there.

    One has to have the courage to take it out and look for what you want. We simply carry on doing what we have been told and learnt before.

    Don’t you think many of us go for what we think we can get rather than what we want? Why are we so fearful about getting what we want?

    Is it because we are afraid of what others think of us? Where do all these fears come from? Is it a myth that we had been told since we were born that even our parents are not aware of?

    Wake up now to find out yourself. Believe yourself and find out for yourself the truth.

    I am sure you will be amazed by the results. I read this articles by Bob Proctor about Attraction Accelerator and I am sure you will want to read it too.

    Grab it at http://www.visualizationexercise.com/theend.html

    Cheng Cheng
    http://www.visualizationexercise.com/rights

  18. April 25th, 2007 at 12:05 am
    ME Strauss said

    Hi Cheng Cheng,
    I can see you’re enthusiastic about Mr. Proctor. I’m glad for anything that helps folks understand they are valuable and that they don’t need other folks to make them any way than the best they be. :)

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