Learning Lightness

Learning Lightness

Once upon a time, there was a mystical land. Pleasant meadows, and parks, and little forests were it’s outer boundaries; welcoming, interesting. As one traveled deeper into the land, things got a little wild. the forests got darker, and tangled, the lakes and shining pools filled with sucking swamps and quicksands, the fruits grew bitter and scarce, and the skies seem perpetually grey and greasy.

But the intrepid traveler who made it through was rewarded beyond measure, for at the heart of that land was beauty to fill the soul. The very air seemed to sparkle, and carried the scent of only the most fragrant flowers and delectable fruits. Blues skies shone, with fluffy little pink clouds, and the gentle breezes caressed the skin at the perfect temperature. Simply standing still in this land could lift the heaviest heart and make it light.

This isn’t a fairy tale, my dear, but rather it is Youland. And Meland. And, while our middle territory, that unconscious swamp land full of old traumas and mislearning, resentments, betrayals, and unsupportive beliefs, is different for each of us, each of us has one. The good news is that we also each have that beautiful land at our very core.

As we work through our emotional and behavioral stuff, we forge paths through that dark, middle land, Addressing and resolving those issues allows the joy, peace, and satisfaction of Weland to flow out to our conscious lives.

We can also make the connection with our thoughts and attitudes. like receiving happiness signals via satellite. The connection is a bit more tenuous, but still available, and grows stronger the more we practice.

For most of us, we tend to get stuck in that middle land of ick. We get caught up in the dark emotions, we get tangled in the dark thoughts. We make decisions that support the bad feelings, support the unsupportive beliefs, and give strength to our mislearnings.

To change that, we need to practice, as we do with any skill we want to acquire. If we are learning a new language, we need to practice. If we are learning to play an instrument, we need to practice. a physical skill like dance or martial arts, the same thing. So it is with happiness.

To practice happiness, there are things we can do. We can ask good Creative Questions: Why do I feel light? Why is it okay for me to be happy? What makes my happiness support me and my people?

To practice happiness, we can practice shifting out from the crummy place into our light place. I find my quickest path is through gratitude. What else am I grateful for? What else do I appreciate.

To practice happiness, we can attend to our physical postures. Do I have a grumpy face on? Smile all the way up to your eyes, make those crinkles! Hold it for around a minute, and your brain starts releasing the feel-good neurochemicals. Are my shoulders slumpy? Bring ‘em back. Are they pulled back too tightly? Soften them forward. As I walk, are my feet pointed away from center? Bring ‘em in, let the toes point straight ahead.

The more we practice happiness, the easier it is to get there. The more we practice feeling light, the easier it is to get there. The more we practice peaceful and relaxed, the easier it is to get there.

You deserve it.

How have I changed from thinking I am stuck in crummy to practicing happiness, lightness, and peace?

(c) Pam Guthrie 2013 all rights reserved 07272013