Week one is over. I'm exhausted.
We've dealt with the past. We've learned why we've suffered that our suffering is rooted in misconception. We've learned that we are running on a treadmill to exhaustion trying to find something better or different than we already have.
We are still trying to squeeze ourselves into shoes that no longer fit.
These shoes are symbolic of who we were in the past.
They no longer fit.
We hide our greatness by wearing those old tight shoes, staying in jobs, relationships or habits that diminish us.
But these tight shoes are comfortable in a way, right? They've been with us when we've fallen to our knees, been knocked down with heartbreak and disappointment. They've seen our bruises from the painful moments, so out of fear we cling desperately to what we know. We can't even stand up in these stupid shoes, they are full of holes. But we hold onto them....Why?
Because the discomfort is predictible.
Wow. For smart, enlightened people, we are not that bright.
Enough is enough.
Welcome to week Two.
Today is the day we no longer put up with needless suffering, pain and repetitive bad habits of the past.
Today we we tell ourselves that we REALLY, REALLY want to kick off the stupid small shoes of the past and step into larger, perfectly fitting shoes that have been tailor made for us.
Today we are no longer past driven, we let go of self criticism, negative thoughts and......we are reborn.
Liberation is todays exercise and it asks us to literally, physically, like with matches, a garbage bag or a paper shredder, (or all three) get rid of ANYTHING that is symbolic of our pain, anger or attachment to our old ways of being.
Do you actually have any old shoes, skinny jeans, diaries filled with painful play by plays of arguments, old photos, jewellery, anniversary pendants, wedding rings? Maybe a comfort food you couldn't live without?
I do.
Include in this pile any beliefs that have limited you, y'know the "I'm not good enoughs" and all of their nasty friends. Maybe there are old emails hanging around or cards that should be sentimental, but really reflect and invoke bad memories.
Well say goodbye to all of this. Put in in a bag marked "the past" and toss it in the dumpster. Or give it away.
Be thankful for the gifts that these hurts, failures and losses were meant to give you. Thank yourself for the past you have lived and the courage it takes to enter the present moment.
We are LIBERATED from the past, a fantastic future awaits.....
As I was quickly reading this chapter last night, my mind went to a strange place. While the author does a great job of describing the need for a rebirth, to facilitate a new beginning.....a kicking off of the old shoes.....I thought about Lifepartner and his "rebirth" or "reinvention" as we've been calling it for months now.
To me, his "death" has required the most expensive funeral ever.
For him to have this "rebirth", this new beginning, a life of peace, privacy and the ability to sleep at night, he has walked away from everything. At an astronomical cost, that can never be recuperated, as it is vaporizing by the day. It's like cremating someone with a winning lottery ticket in his pocket, seems so wrong and pointless, but at the same time so.....liberating.
Our lives are richer now with "nothing", than they ever were with "everything", for true abundance can't be found in a wallet.
