Bigger Picture
Surrendering our limited belief systems in order to make way for the life that’s meant for us.
I woke up this morning and recognised the murky face of fear that I’ve been in a staring contest with over the last couple of weeks.
It’s natural, I’m sure about that, that fear inevitably creeps into the life of a creative - into everyone’s life. It plays its role, I get that. It’s there to protect us and I believe, it’s there to project us forward - the slingshot analogy comes to mind again.
There’s a lot of change happening for me right now. It’s a lot to process and I realise that I’m only able to recognise the fear I’ve been facing because yesterday I decided (again, it’s a recurring process) to surrender my own plan of what I think my life should be in order to make way for the life that’s meant for me - the one that fulfils me way more than my own limited, controlling belief of what I think is possible.
We can’t always (or perhaps ever) see or know the Bigger Picture Plan of our lives but I’m choosing to believe that life is unfolding FOR us. Fear can trap us into thinking that what comes to us is working against us, but it’s a practice, “the inner game” as W. Timothy Gallwey puts it.
Imagine this: everything that happens to us, happens FOR our benefit and growth. If I’m able to recognise this and trust that there is a bigger picture at play, then whatever I receive in this moment is preparing me and readying me for the next. And when it happens, it’s happening because you’re ready - because YOU’VE GOT THIS. “What’s meant for you will never pass you by” - the old adage to calm our qualms.
I also fundamentally believe that there’s a reason that you get joy from certain things (and not from others) and why other people loathe what you love and vice versa. There’s a reason why my passion for acting and connecting deeply with others is unshakable (at this stage it doesn’t even feel like a choice).
Trust* that life is bringing the opportunities that you need right now in order to be able to receive the life that will fulfil you. Kabbalistic Astrologer, Ruth Nahmias taught me that we should be mindful of our desires because in the moment that we desire something, we will receive THE PROCESS that will lead us to towards it.
*that’s the challenge, but peace of mind is the reward
Freud said that all fear could be traced to one thing; death. And whilst it may not seem true that we all fear dying (the ultimate unknown) there is perhaps the fear that we get to the end of our lives and haven't achieved even half the things we wanted to, or believed we could have.
But I realized some time ago that the answer is actually quite simple. I simply let go of the idea that I need to achieve anything, (the key word here is need). The moment I let go of needing I can actually achieve a lot.
I spent over an hour on a video call last night to a young woman I only just met right here on Substack. I couldn't even have predicted that call would take place a week ago. Yet it was an incredible and enriching experience which I have no doubt will lead to great things.
That is an achievement.
You are one of the most inspiring people know Louise, and you are already achieving great things, and will continue to do so.
I am reminded of an often quoted line form a John Lennon song "Life is what happens to you, while you're busy making other plans."
Life is happening. IT'S HAPPENING!!! And we're embracing it!!! Every f*cking day !!!!