{"id":280,"date":"2013-05-24T06:00:56","date_gmt":"2013-05-24T06:00:56","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blog.beliefnet.com\/onfire\/?p=280"},"modified":"2013-05-30T14:46:12","modified_gmt":"2013-05-30T14:46:12","slug":"a-horse-that-loves-to-run-is-this-you","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/onfire\/2013\/05\/24\/a-horse-that-loves-to-run-is-this-you\/","title":{"rendered":"A horse that loves to run ~ Is this you?"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/a>Steven Pressfield writes about watching a famous trainer work with his thoroughbreds. To Steven\u2019s surprise, the trainer takes great pains to make the training sessions \u201cfun\u201d for the horses. The trainer explained:<\/p>\n

Horses understand the whip but I don\u2019t want a racer that runs that way. A horse that loves to run will beat a horse that\u2019s compelled, every day of the week.<\/em><\/p>\n

<\/em>\u2014 <\/em>S. Pressfield in Turning Pro: Tap Your Inner Power and Create Your Life’s Work<\/em><\/p>\n

<\/em>What\u2019s true for horses is true for you and me.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Too often the compelling voice of \u201cshould\u201d plays in our heads: You should be further along\u2026You should be more like so and so\u2026Mom \/ the Boss \/ the Editor says you should\u2026Necessity says you should do this, not that. <\/em>\u201cShould\u201d is a loud, ever-present whip. Its fearful, urgent considerations hijack our focus and our lives.<\/p>\n

The truth is, we hate \u201cshould.\u201d It exhausts and depletes us. However, we use it to keep going in the parts of our lives it already controls\u2014the parts where we are operating outside of our true heart. Unfortunately, a whip breeds the need for more whip.<\/p>\n

Love, however, energizes and renews us. We, like racehorses, were born to do what we love.<\/strong><\/p>\n

If we are going to fulfill our destiny as co-creators with God, we must live and act out of love. Jesus said: As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love.<\/em> (John 15:9 NIV)<\/p>\n

I\u2019ve also discovered the whip can interfere even when I am doing what I love. One of my joys is choosing and placing words on a page so that an important point is made crystal-clear. I am thrilled when someone is helped. However, \u201cshould\u201d causes me to write less:<\/p>\n

You should reply to these emails right away.<\/em><\/p>\n

You should call her back right now.<\/em><\/p>\n

You should do work that is more lucrative.<\/em><\/p>\n

You should write more like so and so\u2014he\u2019s so awesome.<\/em><\/p>\n

You should get more done in a day than you do.<\/em><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/em>The pressure of the whip makes me question myself and what I\u2019m doing. Back off!<\/em> I tell this internal nemesis. I\u2019m doing what I love\u2014this is what I\u2019m here for! <\/em><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/em>I must train myself to run free, without the whip.<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/em>You ask: “Are you saying we can live carelessly, without concern for food and shelter and caring for our dependents? Just go off and do anything we please whenever we want?” <\/em><\/p>\n

No, no. However, consider this:<\/p>\n