Personal Growth Planet Blog

I can vividly remember my mother storming into the Skate-A-Way roller rink in her bright red “toreador” pants when I was late walking out to the parking lot. We’d agreed that I’d be outside ready to go at 9pm, but I often lost track of time– maybe intentionally, maybe not.

She’d get frustrated waiting and finally come in to get me. I still think she purposely chose to wear her most outlandish clothes on those nights, those that would be the most embarrassing to a young teenager longing to be popular.

“Oh mother!” I would scowl.

I don’t know about you, but I don’t get too fired up when I think about the word “contentment.” It brings to my mind stereotypical retired folks rocking on their porches or maybe watching great grand kids playing in the yard.

The first images that come to me when I think about “contentment” are actually rather boring. Peaceful, yes. Also, pretty dull.

So many of us long for peace in our busy, hectic, triggering and stressful lives. I am certainly among those who yearn for experiences that are easy, satisfying and even-keeled. Unfortunately, though, when there is no drama and life is sailing along relatively smoothly, it can start to feel mundane and dull. It is in those moments that “contentment” seems unbearable and even restrictive.

What If…

Life was actually an adventure to be lived and not a struggle to be endured?

You already are as beautiful/competent/successful/intelligent/creative as you’re striving to be?

You looked around at ALL that you are and and ALL that is going on in your life instead of only at the problems and things needing to be “fixed?”

Your partner/kids/parents/siblings/friends/world don’t need to be changed after all?

Nobody and nothing was working against you?

There really wasn’t anything to prove? Nothing at all.

Challenges and mishaps were experienced as opportunities for growth and expansion?

You’re already free to be, do or have whatever you desire?

The journey was more rewarding than the achievement of goals?

You didn’t wait to be joyful?

Your smile and kind words– for even just one person– could set off a chain reaction that would positively transform the world?

What Would Jesus See?

Over the weekend there were several moments when I knew.

I participated in Martha Creek’s “Journey Within” workshop and it was amazing (to put it mildly). Emotional, intense, uplifting, opening, liberating and so much more.

The weekend consisted of one exercise after another that encouraged the other women and I who took part to really hone in on our habitual ways of thinking and being and to explore what it might be like to be free…

Ever feel like you’re spinning your wheels, moving but never quite getting anywhere and especially not getting to where you want to go?

To me, this is the road to nowhere.

Goals are set, plans are made, dreams are dreamt…and yet I seem to stay stuck in the same routine. I don’t appear to be moving anywhere nearer to those aspired places.

Of course, this isn’t entirely true. If I take a step back, I can see that I am actually living the kind of life that I envision. In many ways, it’s exactly the kind of life I have envisioned. I do occasionally reach my goals– especially those “little” ones. But, it doesn’t really feel that way.

“Out beyond ideas of wrongdoing and rightdoing, there is a field. I will meet you there.”
~Rumi

I imagine this field that Rumi refers to.

I see it as this sunny, peaceful space where flowers are always in bloom, birds sing and everyone lives in harmony.

Fully visible is what lies beneath those heavy layers of judgment, criticism, blaming, superiority, ignorance, fear and hatred that we all are blanketed by from time to time.

We can be our best selves and and can see the best in others.

But, is this field a practical possibility in everyday life?

February 29th doesn’t come along every year. Somewhere in history, someone decided that there would only be a February 29th approximately every 4 years.

We call the auspicious day in which we have a February 29th, Leap Day.

What a wonderful opportunity!

Marking Leap Day is a perfect time to push ourselves a bit (or a lot).

When I think of taking a leap, the first image that comes into my mind is parachuting. I can see myself leaping confidently out of an airplane, free falling amid the clouds and blue sky and then pulling the cord of my parachute to drift back down to the ground.

“You’re making a mountain out of a molehill!”

You’ve probably heard this adage before, maybe from your grandmother or a great-uncle.

Recently, I found myself essentially saying the same thing to my older son. As I listened to him list off all of the huge and impossible situations in his life, I couldn’t help myself.

I told him that, from my vantage point,- things aren’t as dire as he was making them out to be.

I urged him to stop making problems when there really aren’t any.

Easy for me to say, huh?!

Are you looking for a life that sparks and sizzles in all the best ways?

Each of us has different preferences– some like things “hotter” than others– but it seems that the human condition is to want interesting and maybe even thrilling experiences and relationships.

Unfortunately, it’s common for people to mostly feel bored and listless about their daily lives. We yearn for more from life, don’t believe that we’re getting that “more” and this can lead to disappointment or even harmful and self-defeating habits.

What does your inner fire feel like to you? It’s different for us all.

There are definite sensations in the body, mind and spirit.

My inner fire feels like wide awake, energized, excited about whatever I am doing, pumped up, full of ideas, fully alive and open to possibility. It might not last too long, but those fiery moments are intense and uplifting.

The whole notion of “inner fire” might initially seem trite or cliche, but it’s absolutely essential. Think about a life of dullness, boredom, apathy, no feeling and nonexistent drive.