It takes courage to leave behind what you’re familiar with. It could be someone, something, or somewhere. You’ve no idea what you’re stepping into but you know you have to do it. But why would you (and I) want to leave something, someone, or somewhere who is so familiar with us and choose to step into the unknown?
When you’re sitting in a space that’s familiar you often fool yourself into believing it’s the space to be in. In fact, you’ve been sitting in that space for so long you don’t know whether it’s right or wrong anymore. It’s simply familiar and comfortable – even if it brings you pain, sadness, anger, or disappointment. It’s familiar and comfortable so why rock the boat?
You have sat with all those negative feelings for so long they no longer even feel negative. They are what they are and they are YOU. Imagine if I told you to shed all of those negative feelings? What would be your first reaction?
What negative feelings??? (raised eyebrows)
I’m cool with my pain, anger, sadness, or disappointment. It doesn’t matter, I don’t even feel them anymore (shrugging of the shoulders)
I am who I am because of those so-called negative emotions (more shrugging of the shoulders)
These are some of the responses I would expect from you (and myself) when faced with the prospect of shifting the nasty stuff. After all, you’ve lived with those feelings for so long you don’t even realize they’re sitting deep inside of you. Slowly, slowly chipping away. Until one day, you meet someone like me (or a shaman or a new friend or your SELF) and the question is asked, “Why do you put up with so much rubbish in your life?”.
Or maybe, upon a moment, you woke up one morning and realize you have not felt or experienced joy in such a long time you’ve forgotten what it even feels or looks like. You have vague memories of it but somewhere, along the way, it got lost. Life happened and you’ve been living it because that’s the way it is.
But it doesn’t have to be like that and you can recapture the essence of joy again. It can be done and it should be done. You and I deserve to experience joy and love and peace and happiness every moment of our days. But something, someone or somewhere stopped us from having those moments – and we only have ourselves to blame.
In recent months I’ve met many people who’ve had to face some hard and nasty truths about themselves and the lives they’ve been living. In case some of you have missed the moment (and it’s been a long moment still happening and I can’t tell you when it’s going to end either), a major global event is busy asking people to shift the way they think and the way they live.
And, I can’t tell you how many people have woken up during this moment and said to themselves, “Aha, I don’t want to go back to the way things were before. Sure, they were familiar and comfortable and certain but I’ve lost myself in the process. I want to get back to my true essence and live my life the way I want to live it”. These people have lost jobs, lost friends and family, even lost their marriages and relationships with partners.
Others are still in their jobs, still have their friends and family, are still in their marriages or relationships with partners. And they’re realising one of two things – this is where I want to be OR this isn’t where I want to be.
Even in our darkest moments, opportunities exist. It’s about being willing to grab the uncertainty by the balls and saying, “I want and I deserve more” and stepping out into the unknown. It’s about being willing to say goodbye to what was once familiar and comfortable so you can grow and become one with SELF.
It’s about being courageous, scared (yes!) and adventurous. It’s about embracing uncertainty for what it is and knowing, with all of your might, you’re safe and loved and protected. It’s about having faith in yourself.
You and I don’t know what tomorrow’s going to bring. What we do know is we want to feel good and happy and joyful. And, sometimes, staying with the familiar and the comfortable doesn’t do it for you and me. It’s about stepping into the unknown and becoming alive again.
Do it.
Comments