Saturday, February 10, 2001

Finding A Place

Remember the place you went to most often when you were a child? You had at least one I'm sure. It may have been the garden or a tree house. Perhaps it was a warm spot in some tall grass or a cool spot under a tree. Often just a chair or a pillow in the right corner of the house was enough. My grandmother's attic was a favorite of mine. Loads of information came back to me from that place. As an adult now, I still have places. They call me often.

A place is like a person. It has its own way of being. Sometimes my places are loud, sometimes they are soft, but they always talk to me. I can feel the heartbeats of my places. When I connect with the mood of a place and begin a conversation, I eventually hear something coming back other than my own voice. That's the point when I can uncover all that is underneath what I say, do, feel and think. Things happen in our lives. And the temptation is to say, “I'm lucky,” or “I'm unlucky.” But when I connect with my place, listen and let it talk to me, I know it's not about luck. It's about a worldly conversation and a gut-level knowing.

I've heard it said that you learn more from the questions you ask than the answers you give. So ask the great questions in your place and let the answers come back to you.

“Happiness is not a destination. It is a method of life.” ~Burton Hills

“When you make the finding yourself—even if you're the last person on Earth to see the light—you’ll never forget it.” ~Carl Sagan

“Inside myself is a place where I live all alone and that's where you renew your springs that never dry up.” ~Pearl Buck

“There is nothing like returning to a place that remains unchanged to find the ways in which you yourself have altered.” ~Nelson Mandela

“There are places and moments in which one is so completely alone that one sees the world entire.” ~Jules Renard

“There's a moment in every day that Satan cannot find.” ~Blake

If you don't have at least one place, it's time. Discover the mood of your place and begin asking questions. Here's a start:
  1. Am I resisting anything? Resistance hints to a learning opportunity.
  2. Am I holding on to something I need to let go of? Think of an anchor. What is keeping you from soaring?
  3. Is there anything zapping my energy? An energy drain can cause stress to serious illness.
  4. Is there a need for action now? Our first instinct is often to do something, anything. But sometimes the “wait and see” approach is the way to go. Know what is right for you in each instance.
  5. Am I trying to be in control of anything in my life? Ah, "control," that's a whole other newsletter coming soon, I'm sure.
Now, listen!