What might be different if we strengthened our muscle to receive, without a caveat of fear? If we were strong enough to accept our good fortune, the accolade, the so called “luck” as easily as we are able to carry the weight and worry of expecting the worst?
Harvest season is upon us. And I can't help but notice a cornucopia of good news growing around me lately. It's a strange kind of sensation in my body, excited and scared all at the same time. A sudden rush of adrenalized abundance, and overflowing of energy. Gardening has long been used as a metaphor for life, we reap what we sow, it's pretty accurate really, so long as we are patient and mindful. The act of planting the seed is easy part we do it often usually accompanied by great enthusiasm and a vision of what it will become. Sometimes we do it unknowingly. I read the dandelions hold up to 400 seeds, which, when blown, can sail as far away as five miles. I used to think the hardest part was seeing it through staying true to the vision of what we've planted and cultivating an environment in which the seed can thrive and grow. But now in this moment of flourishing, I'm wondering if the reaping part is the hardest thing of all. It really gets me to thinking about our capacity to receive and accept good things when they come. How many times have you heard someone say something hopeful, and then quickly take it back, saying they don't want to jinx it. superstition goes that speaking positively about your current situation will cause it to be jinxed and things will start to go wrong. And we're all familiar with Murphy's law that if anything can go wrong, it will go wrong. We've identified with it blamed it even assumed it instead of trying something we want to do sometimes, some of us even live by it. If fear were a muscle, we would be the weightlifting champions. But even the strongest weight lifters can develop muscle imbalances. We are hardwired to protect ourselves from the things that we don't understand, to proceed with caution and only go as fast as we can control our handle. It's no wonder we feel doubt or fear creep in when we feel lucky or blessed. When things seem to be going our way. Doubt and skepticism promised to keep us safe, but safe from what there is no actual danger. These are primitive instincts for modern day situations. What might be different if we strengthened our muscles to receive without a caveat of fear? If we were strong enough to accept our good fortune, the accolade The so called luck as easily as we are able to carry that weight and worry of expecting the worst. What if we were strong enough to carry it with us as we move forward? to hold it up and accepted as part of what is and not explain it away is an anomaly or superstition. And who the heck is Murphy anyways, I looked up the definition of Murphy and this is what I found. Murphy, a potato plant spud Tater tuber. Murphy is a potato. And you know what's super cool about potatoes. Everything about the potato is useful. It can last through the winter storms and will continue to grow even in the darkest of cupboards. The potato is and will always be a symbol of love. And like the potato, we are useful. We can last through winter storms and we will continue to grow even in the darkest of cupboards. So next time you were afraid to jinx something positive or expect something to go wrong. exercise that muscle to receive your good fortune. Not all harvests will produce bumper crops it's true. But recognizing there's nothing to fear is no small potatoes. I'm Lisa Hopkins Thanks for listening. Stay safe and healthy everyone and remember to live in the moment