The Freak Out Factor

(cross posted from LOA for the Real World)

Okay, who else watched last night's episode of Amazing Race?  TK and Rachel, along with Jenn and Nate, showed us perfect examples of what not to do! 

For those who don't follow reality tv, the hippie couple TK and Rachel had to complete an extra task (speed bump) since they came in last the week prior, plus they were three hours behind the other teams in getting started.  So there was a strong "freak out factor" present, as TK noted after realizing they marched right by their clue box without even seeing it.

If I didn't like this couple, it would have been hilarious.  But for me it was frustrating to see my second favorite team (I'm still pulling for Don and Nic) walk RIGHT BY their clue box - in plain sight!! - the whole time saying things like "Where is it?  Can this be right?  We don't have time for this!"

Oh my gosh.  I've done that one myself so many times it REALLY isn't hilarious. 

I tell clients all the time that we can't get to the solution while we're in the energy of the problem.  And these two were SO in the energy of the problem. 

They eventually did see it when they walked by again, and got a good lesson from it.  They realized their tension was bringing down their game, and to their huge credit switched their attitude (and their vibe) to finish the episode in second place. 

Jenn and Nate, on the other hand, imploded in a big Freak Out scene in the final run.  Jenn was bitter in saying that TK and Rachel didn't deserve to be in the final three because they just played a nice calm, mellow game; whereas she and Nate were working SO hard - literally working up a sweat - to stay in the game.  She thought it incredibly unfair.

Well, we deliberate creators know how that works.  First of all, we don't earn worthiness by working hard.  We already are, automatically, just by virtue of being here. 

Second, working hard NEVER serves us if we're headed upstream - which working hard often is.  (I guess some people can work hard and feel it as downstream.  I'm open to that argument.)  The fact is everything we want is DOWNSTREAM.  And the way to go downstream is to feel good, relax, enjoy, and be nice, for hell's sake.

Here's to my favorite team, Don and Nic, keeping their Freak Out Factor to a minimum and coming in first next week!  Yay!!