Do you Twitter? I’m just wondering how many Purposeful Pondering readers use Twitter. I’ve recently started hearing about it and I’m curious how popular it is. Seems so simple, responding to “what are you doing?” as a way to keep connected to your friends and colleagues.

I also wonder what a social networking community would be like that had as it’s basis the question: “Who are you being?” Are you being on purpose or off, are you being happy or sad, angry or joyful, creative or stuck, etc.

Anyone out there interested in creating such a site? Let me know. I’ll be your first member.

I have one other question for you today: Have you become a boiled frog? Now, please don’t take offense….read the article today and see what I mean.

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LIVING ON PURPOSE: Have You Become a Boiled Frog?
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There’s an old folk warning that if you throw a frog in boiling water he will quickly jump out. But if you put a frog in a pan of cold water and raise the temperature ever so slowly, the gradual warming will make the frog doze happily . . . in fact, the frog will eventually cook to death, without ever waking up.

While, indeed, this may be a ‘old folk tale’, it is also a helpful metaphor. Just like the frog, many of us have slowly, over time, developed a tremendously high toleration for suffering — needlessly suffering, I might add.

Now, don’t get me wrong, I do realize that inherent in the nature of life and being alive, there will be a certain amount of angst, anxiety, and sadness.

When a loved one dies, it’s only natural to mourn their loss for a time. If we’re diagnosed with a life-threatening disease, it’s not surprising or unnatural to become concerned and perhaps to become, for a time, worried or even depressed.

At the same time, so many people have taken on a lot more suffering in their life than they need to, and like the frog have steeped themselves in it to the point that they are for all intent and purposes — dead.

And it’s so not necessary to suffer this way.

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Numbing the Pain
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On top of all this, many people have also become really creative about finding ways to numb the pain — not that the pain goes away…we just keep it under the surface by numbing ourselves to it. Here are some of the common numbing agents that are used:

• Workaholism — staying frenetically busy so we don’t take time to be with ourselves, because we’re afraid of what we’ll find within ourselves.

• Shop ’til you drop — a favorite American past time and often a numbing agent. Starting to feel bad, or depressed. Go out and buy something for yourself. No matter that you don’t need what you buy. It will still give you at least a momentary high.

• Overindulging in video games, television and/or the internet — sure, these can all be fun and entertaining in moderation, but if you’re using any of these to fill up your time rather than to take time to go within, watch out.

And of course, there are more. The point is, I really want you to know that so much of the suffering that you may be experiencing is unnecessary, as is the need to numb yourself from it.

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What Are You Tolerating?
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One way to get in touch with the issues and challenges that you may have become numb to or you have lulled yourself to sleep over is to ask yourself, “What have I been tolerating, putting up with, or even become resigned about?”

Remember, tolerating something is different than simply allowing something to be. As Jerry and Esther Hicks point out in their work, when we allow someone to be just as they are, there’s no real charge or negative energy attached to the situation or relationship, but there is when you’re tolerating something or somebody. And that negative charge is causing you to suffer, but if you’ve been putting up with it for a long time, you may have been lulled to sleep — i.e. Become a boiled frog.

Here are a few places to look:

Your work

Your significant relationships

Your health

Your relationship with money and finance

Your home and environment

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And So, What’s the Role of Purpose in all This?
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Well, what did you expect me to end this article with? Truthfully, what we’re really talking about is how much of people’s suffering simply isn’t necessary. And today’s current economic situation and political climate are perfect places to begin to notice how much ‘unnecessary suffering’ is being unconsciously created in the world. In fact, it’s the focal point of our no-cost teleseminar next week, during which we’ll look at these practical aspects of life from a Life On Purpose Perspective. Why not register and attend: http://www.wbradfordswift.com/lop/telesamplers. (More info below, too)

Also, notice that there’s a bit of a ‘prep assignment’ that you’ll find a link to on the registration page that is surely worth the price of admission (especially since the price is 0 ). In the meantime, why not share your thoughts about this article here on the blog.