Happy Sunday!
And welcome to today's edition of 'Conscious living with Purnima'. It's the last edition of the year. I am grateful to you for being a regular reader and giving me the opportunity to share my thoughts with you. Thank you.
Coming to today's post, I share with you some contradictions that we come across in life and wishes for the New Year. I hope you enjoy reading.
For today's post, I have picked 3 contradictions. And by contradiction, I mean what we glorify on paper but shy away from practicing. I am sure there are many more but for the sake of today’s post I have chosen three:
1. Growth
Most easy to talk about.
But anyone who has experienced growth knows how uncomfortable it feels to be in that, what I like to call - ‘the caterpillar phase'. When I have been in that phase, I have never felt like talking to anyone about growth and I have wondered if those people who do, really know what they are talking about.
In that ‘caterpillar phase' one often feels hopeless and doubtful of one's ability to be transformed into a butterfly.
Vanessa Lodder in her book, "The Soul Solution: A Guide for brilliant, overwhelmed women to quiet their noise, find their superpower and (Finally) feel satisfied" talks about how sometimes, to inspire, people invoke the quotation, "She leapt, and her wings appeared." And goes on, to say, how it should actually be like:
"She leapt, desperately flapped her arms in a pitiful imitation of a chicken, shrieked like her hair was on fire, shouted obscenities, scrambled to grab an overgrown limb as she plummeted to certain death, was bloodied and bruised while her only companion, her inner critique, berated her nonstop, saying: This will never work. You look ridiculous. We are going to die". She was about to give up and curl into the foetal position, then her wings appeared."
When I read that, I knew exactly what she meant. And maybe you do too.
That's growth for us. Easy to talk about but difficult in practice.
2. Being open to our Vulnerabilities
Fear of being laughed at, ridiculed or judged keeps many of us from opening up to our insecurities. While being open to our vulnerabilities, and seeking help is celebrated in books, it is often not openly appreciated in reality.
We would rather wear the mask of perfection than take the risk of admitting ignorance and losing appearance for the higher purpose of learning & personal growth.
3. Taking the road less traveled
Finally, the road less traveled. Who doesn't remember the glorified poem by Robert Frost that talks about taking the road less traveled. We have loved it and shared it.
But anyone who has taken this road knows how lonely it is. The path isn't even scenic. And the only hope with which the traveler pursues the journey is the belief that the destination would be beautiful.
And now moving onto the wishes I have for you. As we enter a New Year, I wish that you will:
✨Choose growth
Despite the discomfort it offers.
I pray that when you are in that caterpillar phase of growth, you have someone by your side who has faith in you and encourages you to not give up. But if you don't have anyone, then I hope that you can be there for yourself.
✨Open to your vulnerabilities
Growth and freedom are not possible without opening up to our vulnerabilities. I wish that you find the courage to loosen your hold on trying to appear a certain way. Trying to keep appearances holds us back from learning, growing and being ourselves.
I recently learnt of the term Wasi Sabi. It's a Japanese term and implies that the beauty of an object is found in its imperfection. Wasi Sabi celebrates individuality and the flawed nature of a thing. These are the qualities that make it unique, genuine and beautiful.
What's important is not perfection but continual improvement.
I wish that in the New Year, you will find the courage to say, "I don't know, but I am open to learning", more often. And I pray that you find more safe spaces that allow you to open up.
✨Take the road less traveled
Lonely road, yes. But think of it from a retrospective view. When you are in your death bed (morbid thought, I know. But helps to put things in perspective), you will have a more interesting story to write about. And would perhaps have something more valuable and unique to share with the world.
And all of these things that I wish for you, I wish for myself.
Thank you and wish you too a wonderful year ahead...
Heart touching new year wishes!! Wish you a super duper successful and lovely year too