Saturday, July 16, 2016

Take a chance.

Go Round the Bend

Sometimes we need to go further than we thought we could. We need to go past our fear, past our uncertainty, past the bend we can't see beyond. If we stay on the course, give it that extra push, and go round the bend, we may find what we're looking for.”
Melody Beattie (Journey to the Heart)

I was talking with my friend, Harry, yesterday. He's just begun a physical exercise routine with a fitness trainer. The trainer wants to push Harry faster and further than he wants to go, so they're having discussions every meeting about who's in control of the program. So far, Harry's winning—since it's his body, he has a greater stake in the outcome. Sometimes, it makes sense to pace yourself, to know your limits, and to be in control of your actions. And sometimes, we need a push.

For some of us, it's hard to step out of our routine and take chances. Even little chances can feel threatening, and big ones cause us to hold our breath and run for cover. I have friends who are afraid to take an unfamiliar route, or get on an interstate highway. They have round-about little routes to get to certain places and do not depart from those because they might get lost, or they might feel panicked. Think how limiting that life can be. Besides, there's something to be said for getting lost once in a while. You might see something you've never seen before, discover a whole new world you didn't know existed.

Sometimes, we need to know our limits, but sometimes we need to push ourselves to go further—to make decisions that have some risk. We expand our area of confidence when we do. We extend our ability to trust the universe. Best of all, we learn to follow our inner guidance—if something feels right, even though it carries some risk, it may be worth a try. At the very least, we will learn something new. We can break through our fears, and reach a different level of existence if we're willing to take a deep breath and go round that bend.

                                                               In the Spirit,
                                                                   Jane



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