Wrong turn
This week Chris Huhne and his ex-wife were sentenced to 8 months in jail. At first glance this is a classic story of what happens to people who descend into a massive power struggle with a partner. It has destroyed their careers and their family and basically, as in all power struggles, the price of being right is high.
For those not aware of this story it is about the downfall of a senior politician who had great prospects to become a significant leader of a political party here in the UK. His wife took some speeding points so that his career would not be damaged. For 10 years he lied that he was not driving when his car was caught on a speed camera at some massive speed.
Many people see his issue as his lying and his poor relationship but for me it is about the unwillingness to accept signs of process. Obviously he was refusing to look at what and why he was photographed speeding, he turned his back on his process and forged ahead regardless. Now 10 years down the road he has lost everything including his liberty.
This is a lesson we all need to learn time and time again. When something in our life happens that appears to be against our best interest, against our plan for our happiness and success, we often have this attitude that we know best and that the world we live in is malevolent; it thwarts our plans and even puts us in harm’s way and is generally something we need to guard against.
This attitude blinds us and is built on a misperception. A benevolent force guides our world and it is part of us and it sends us signs daily to remind us when we are off track. This naturally assumes we have not totally buried our heads in the sand and live in a state of complete denial, which usually results in a far greater wake up call than a few months’ rest in jail.
Our world is not a great dark force thwarting our success and happiness; in fact it is something to be listened to, understood and embraced, and even worshipped for it does have our best interests at heart if only we would listen.
If Chris Huhne had listened, maybe spent a little time in the slow lane until he could find a different way to achieve his goals, I would bet my career that he would now be in a much better place. Maybe that is actually true for all of us and it is never too late and it starts with just a minor change in attitude.
Love,
Jeff and Sue