Break Your Rules (or how not to Create the Impossible)

Batman: I have one rule.
The Joker: Then that's the rule you'll have to break to know the truth.
Batman: Which is?
The Joker: The only sensible way to live in this world is without rules. And tonight, you're gonna break your one rule!

“The Dark Knight” 2008

The above exchange comes to mind because of an experience I’ve recently had  participating in a training program called Creating the Impossible or CTI.   It’s a virtual program hosted by Michael Neill, who runs multiple virtual and in person coaching programs.  Over 90 days, he provides guidance to participants that have chosen a project with the following criteria:

• It has to have less than a 20% chance of becoming a reality
• It has to be something you’re creating that becomes a result and not just a good feeling that get from hitting a goal.  
• It should make you grin, gasp and giggle!

When we started, I jumped in with my usual goal orientation.  I was going to find the most impossible project I could! But after a week and a half of flirting - as Michael called it - with various charitable projects, nothing was making me grin, gasp or giggle.    But it was the 7th (or 8th or whatever day) and according to the rules, I had to choose.  

So I did.  I chose to launch a chapter of a national nonprofit I’ve always admired.  As was recommended, I posted to social media and told whoever I could to create accountability. Then I did what I’ve always done:  I created a plan, strategy and timetable. Lots of google docs, spreadsheets, call lists, etc. I was on track. I was following the rules.  

Around the same time, I had also volunteered to launch a meetup group and first event for the Adult Congenital Heart Association (ACHA).  I have CHD, had open heart surgery when I was 10, and got a pacemaker two months ago. I’ve always wanted to give back to this community as I feel so grateful (to be alive that is!).  I’m 54, have been blessed to lead a wonderful healthy life that even includes running marathons. Things were coming together really well. My cardiologist and friends were eager to help and I even secured a great venue.   I loved this project but it didn’t seem like a CTI fit because it was coming together easily, organically and almost effortlessly for me.

Today, I realized something HUGE.  My ACHA project is perfect and exactly what I want to do - 90 days and beyond.  I actually felt this from the start but it just didn’t seem impossible enough -  not according to the rules of the game. I had refused to listen to my own inner wisdom because it would have forced me to challenge and possibly even break the rules of the CTI game.  So, that’s exactly what I’m going to do.  

I’ll be launching the Fort Myers, FL Adult Congenital Heart Association Group as my CTI project! 

This experience was a great example of the fact that truly do have  inner guidance and wisdom that helps us towards the right path. The challenge is that so much gets in the way:  rules (society’s as well as our own self-imposed), how we want to look, or a lack of confidence in our wisdom. Ultimately here are the choices when it comes to this wisdom and guidance:

1. We accept it and happily move forward;
2. We can hear it but don’t have the confidence to go with it.  Instead we spend time and energy gathering the evidence to justify to ourselves and others
3. We look to our rules to let us determine if our inner guidance is making “the right decision”.  If so, then we do it. If we see it doesn’t, we find a choice that works with the rules (me in the above scenario).  

But if we’re not all able to do  #1 all the time (I’m not there yet know) we can create 

   4.   We can decide To hell with the rules - I’m doing what I love.