Growth & Expansion!

(c) 2010 Joan M. Newcomb

Life is a series of growth phases.  You grow and rest, expand and recover.  Just being born is a huge expansion period!  Going to school, graduating, being in relationship, breaking up, starting work, being laid off, are very obvious growth times.  Emotional growth and spiritual growth can be harder to validate, but are profound. 

As Essence, You transcend time and space, are all Light and all Joy.  Squeezing into an itty bitty body and being born is amazing and frustrating at the same time.  Learning to navigate this realm of density and effort, in a physical form with a wide range of emotions but limited abilities (can't fly, can't be every where at once, etc.) is quite challenging. 

Body experiences these growth periods as unexpected surprises.  Circumstances happen to them.  They may be happy or sad or angry or depressed.  Essence Knows what's happening (as You created it to happen) and always is joyful or amused.

Essence merely has to think of potential change and it instantly happens.  Body has to run to catch up, which may take months or even years.

As you get older, you as Body can get resistant to these expansions.  "Nu-uh! Ain't gonna go there - gonna stay right here where it's safe (or at least familiar)!"  This resistance makes expansion periods unpleasant, to say the least.

Think about it, even at your most miserable or during your most painful time, there's always a quiet part of you that knows what's going on.  That is You, the Essence of who you are.

How do get through periods of growth and change?  It helps to identify with Yourself as Essence, because then you can take charge and coax yourself (body) through it.  Nuture yourself with baths, massage, naps, walks in nature (or chocolate).  Give yourself space for your emotions and time to get through it (it takes as long as it takes).  You can be your own parent, which can be quite comforting.

Another helpful way is to talk with your Future Self.  That's the part of you who has already lived through your present experience.  You can turn to it for suggestions or advice.

This week, notice where you are in your own growth experience.  Try viewing it as Your Essence Self, and respond to your body with whatever it needs.  Try this for a week and see what happens!