In reality, none of us can Leave It At the Door, when the “it” is heavy baggage from our history. Mid-month, long-form reflection as a scaffold shelf to pause for self-awareness and integration. Off-load old patterns that are no longer working and climb lighter.
An invitation to play: imagine you are the speaker quoted below. What she sees, you see. You hear and smell and feel the air on your skin, as she does. Her emotions manifest as muscle tension or relaxation, energetic disturbance or peace in your body.
The horses walk, steady and swift, their heads bobbing up and down with each step, pulling my cart past the steep drop-offs and around the blind curves. The reins that connect me to their halters lie loosely over my forearm, I rest my hands easily upon my knees. Although the road ahead is utterly invisible, I trust my equine partners as they move.
I cannot see beyond the lead mare’s nose, yet offer her no guidance or control...the reins slack across my wrist. Just then, instinctively, she steps high to clear a boulder I never saw. Each of her teammates, in turn, smoothly imitates the motion. I remain at rest, at peace, allowing in trust as I am carried on my path.
Now, in your imagination of this experience: Notice any part of you not aligned with this apparently peaceful, relaxed, trusting feeling. As you read this speaker’s sensations and emotions, imagining them for yourself, do any internal conflicts arise?
Does your personal experience of life usually allow this relaxed sense of trust?
Or, as you read, did your ancient history waken, shouting, “Now wait just a minute here!”
As an alternative to powering through your life, stop cracking your energetic whip over the heads of the horses that pull your personal chariot.
If you haven’t before, then now is a great time to learn: The most successful folx in life know it's wise to cultivate options beyond “Never fear! I’m in charge!”
