The Need to Get Away

Have you ever felt a burning desire to take a vacation from your life? It can be easy to convince yourself that you NEED the break when everything seems to be going wrong. Over the past couple of weeks, I have been toying with the idea of taking a trip south to ‘get away from it all’. There was no shortage of support from others who are tired of the weather, the stress of work and relationships, and life in general. Everyone can understand the desire for a break from routine and the draw of warm beaches when all around is snow.

I didn’t go on vacation last year. I remember remarking last spring that I didn’t feel the common spring-time urge to go south for some fun in the sun. I was feeling quite satisfied with the balance in my life; I didn’t feel the need to ‘escape’ – the feeling that starting creeping up on me a few weeks ago. The last couple of weeks have been fairly tumultuous for me due to a number of personal challenges. It seemed like a reasonable solution to hop on a plane and drink and dance my cares away on a tropical island for a week. But then I really started to question whether my problems would be solved when I returned or if I’d just be sunburned, hungover, and $1500 in debt.

I asked myself if it was possible, that the way I was BEING was actually creating the need for space, as opposed to the circumstances I was facing. Perhaps I should just PAUSE; I should pause, accept what is, understand the lesson, see what is possible and embrace my potential.
If you have ever felt like you need to escape from the realities of your life, gain insight through questions like these:

· What is the biggest stressor in your life? Will it be gone when you return from your trip or will you be taking it with you??

· Will the cost of the trip weigh on your mind or do you consider it an investment in your well-being?

· Will you feel the cost was justified in the end because of the impact it will have on your life when you return?

· Is there something else you can do to gain the same result without the expense?

· What is the real issue here?

Working through these questions can really help to clarify what needs your attention. Once you deal with the issues, and you feel like taking a vacation, DO IT. You’ll be in a much better frame of mind to ENJOY it!

As for me, I’m back to embracing my potential… I’m never too far from it but I know when I’m triggered, the answers always come when I PAUSE.

For more on this, visit my website at http://embracingpotential.com and sign up for my first newsletter being released March 15, 2010.