“Without leaps of imagination, or dreaming, we lose the excitement of possibilities. Dreaming, after all, is a form of planning.” – Gloria Steinem
Earlier this week, a very dear friend sent me an encouraging text : “Wishing you a pocket full of possibilities!”, it read. I loved that……a pocket full of possibilities…….. the imagery alone was staggering.
We each carry a world of potential….. and potential is a huge part of possibility. Seems that things get in the way, though….. fear, obligations, broken promises….. fear…… time constraints, scheduling conflicts, fear….. preconceived notions, dashed expectations, fear…….
Why does fear keep cropping up? Perhaps it is the catalyst for all the other “reasons” possibilities never materialize?
Marianne Williamson claimed in her run-away best seller, A Return to Love, that the only two emotions that are real are love and fear. According to her, all other emotions are off-shoots of these two primal emotional experiences. A Course in Miracles, the spiritual book which motivated Williamson to write, claims that love is our spiritual inheritance, and the opposite of love is fear……. but because love is Divine, it is all that really exists, and cannot be threatened by what isn’t real (illusory). Say that really fast, three times.
After your head stops spinning, try to think about the above in the context of possibilities. What stands in the way of potential, of possibility? Fear……. always fear. “So, did you tell Brian how you really feel?” ” No…. the words wanted out so badly, but I couldn’t seem to get my mouth to cooperate.”
” What is the prognosis? Is there a way to cure this?” “Well……. probably….. maybe…. I don’t really know. Honestly, I’ve decided I’m not going to the doctor. I know what I’m up against, and while there’s a chance I could cure it, or at least manage it…… Meh. The only time they could see me was 12:30, on a Friday. That’s right when my favorite show comes on, right at the end of the week, prime time for a cliff-hanger. I can’t be bothered, thinking about doctor’s appointments, when I might lose track of my favorite plot line!” Don’t point out that DVR services can solve this issue. S/he doesn’t want to hear that.
“How did things go, when you went for the job interview?” ” I felt really good before walking in there, but as I entered the conference room, I saw nine people around the table. That’s eighteen eyes. All looking….. at me. Eighteen ears….. all listening to each word, waiting for me to say something……. ” I won’t even finish that….. because each reader can finish the sentence for him/herself.
The nature of the above scenarios are not so far removed from the excuses we make, even when faced with REALLY important decisions/opportunities. Each person is responding to possibilities with fear. The fear wears a different suit, in each vignette; fear as shyness, fear as denial, fear as intimidation. i deliberately left the last one open, for reader interpretation….. because most of us have some sort of mental device that loves to get really vocal, right as we’re attempting something that is fresh, promising and scary. We allow our inner bully free rein, with no real effort to corral him/her. We shut ourselves off to possibilities……. before we even get started.
Life is filled with a million plus one possibilities, for every living person. Possibility is at the heart of our Sacred Assignment. Shutting down possibilities, willingly or subconsciously, is an Assignment hazard. How often might fear distract one from a crucial mini-assignment, in the bigger, singular grand scheme of one’s Sacred Assignment?
Those who pursue the path of Assignment must have thick skins, stifled inner-bullies and enough love for self to welcome every opportunity that comes his/her way. Sometimes the possibilities involve something dramatic, completely life-changing. Other times, possibilities dwell in the seemingly mundane….. until a sudden burst of insight reveals the real reason why you forgot to pick up salad mix, on the way home from work. There was a specific reason…… and while you may not know the exact reason today….. the seeds could only germinate if you slapped your forehead, as you walked in the front door.
Love verses fear…….. seems reasonable to me. As you start your week, think about how many possibilities lie ahead…. just between 7:00 – 8:00, tomorrow morning. Set your sights on infinite possibility….. fear can chase you, but one who is truly excited about possibility, and Sacred Assignment…. will outpace fear, every time!
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