Posted to Facebook May 12th.
Well, I have found this chapter to be short, but to the point. Protect our thorns, or let go of them!
What Michael stimulated for me in this chapter, is a curiosity about what I am avoiding in my life without consciously realizing it. Here are some things I caught myself avoiding, that I was inadvertantly allowing to run my life: rush hour traffic, not getting enough sleep, being out in the wind, shopping/doing errands when everyone else was doing errands, certain foods/drinks I enjoy, having conversations with some people, getting assistance from others, rushing, taking care of things on my "to do" list, being out of control.
What I am hearing Michael say is that in my attempt to avoid situations like the above, I will go to great lengths. And these 'great lengths' will end up taking over my life until eventually the freedom I was trying to create by avoiding the situations has been replaced by the 'great lengths' that I have come to believe are true and necessary.
So, as I don't try and avoid, I can see that . . .
I don't create freedom by avoiding rush hour traffic, I am only truly free when I can sit in rush hour traffic and resist it not.
I don't create an energized body and mind by getting a certain amount of sleep each night, I feel energized when I let go of the things I am resisting in my life.
I don't create fun by being upset that the wind is blowing, I create fun by choosing to fly my kite with the help of the wind.
I don't create ease by trying to avoid others, I create ease by focusing on what I do want and allowing all others to do the same.
I don't create a happy, healthy body through a rigid routine, I create a flexible, adaptable body through balance and variety.
I don't create my reality by trying to control what others say and do, I create my reality by being fully present in each moment and being aware of what it has to offer.
I don't earn my worthiness by doing everything myself, my worthiness is natural, God given, a done deal, un-earnable.
I don't avoid feeling rushed by slowing life down, I avoid feeling rushed by trusting the speed of the current and that I don't have to manage every detail.
I don't handle things on my "to do" list through obligation or pushing myself, I handle them by knowing my answers are out there and I am on an adventure that will find them.
I don't increase my feeling of peace and freedom through controlling things -- that just creates more things to control. I increase my feeling of peace and freedom by allowing WIRA to show up when I let go of avoiding.
What thorns are you ready to let go of?