Lesson 7: Honouring your Best Self
Your new self
Life is a series of expansions, contractions, and times of stasis. If you look at nature you will see similiar patterns. There are the hot dry days of summer, the bountiful harvest of autumn, the bleakness of winter, and the new growth of spring. All these seasons serve a purpose. Without each season, in its own time, there would be no new life, no opportunity for renewal. Why have we gotten so far from the earth as our teacher?
We were not created to be in a state of continuous growth. We should not expect ourselves to constantly be moving, and doing. We will explode. We have begun to think that if we are not growing we are dying, but there is also truth in knowing that too much growth can have harmful side effects of its own.
We need times of contractions. For those of you who are mothers, without contractions, you would never have delivered those babies! Imagine if you had continued to grow, but had never contracted!
And yes, there is a need for times of stasis, as well. We can stop. We can just be. If you are a high achiever, a parent, or a person with purpose, the very thought of stopping can seem silly and non-productive. However, I have known many people who refused to stop, until their health failed, or their bodies literally sent them signals that they were about to mutiny. It's not a race to the finish line. Think of it as more of a marathon, than a sprint. Pace yourself. It's not a contest about who bounces back from the separation faster. It is about you. Only you. And how you decide to handle your life now.
You may like your development. You will be thrilled with who you are becoming. You may even want that momentum to continue. Enjoy the ride, but remember that it will slow and eventually stop for a time. That is entirely normal. Don't become so attached to the growth that it replaces the adrenaline of the separation. That type of energy will not serve you long term.
Now is the time to plan for a slow down and a stasis so when it comes it is not a shock. Take a deep breath and know that this too, is normal.
1. How do you feel about the three stages of development: expansion, contraction, and stasis?
2. Is there one stage you feel most comfortable in?
3. Which stage gives you the most difficulty?
4. How do you avoid it?
5. What can you do differently to embrace the concept that each is necessary for balanced recovery (and life)?
Realize that each stage has something to offer if you are willing to learn from it.
