give it a whirl ~

There is enormous grace in laughter. ENORMOUS. And sometimes, when we need it most is when we're least likely to use it. I know. Oh, how I know. When the poop hits the fan and it seems like disaster is inevitable, we completely lose sight of our ability to find humor in the situation...and continue to dwell in the horror of the moment. By doing so, we give it more power. We water the seeds of fear and watch as it becomes larger than life. We GROW OUR FEAR by giving it all our attention.

How much sense does that make?

Every great Sage has said, in some way or another, that we draw our fears to us so that we may learn to conquer them. We cannot grow into our truest Selves until we meet those fears, face to face, and finally realize that they were not real in the first place. There's even an acronym that puts it beautifully:

False
Evidence
Appearing
Real

More often than not, the things we fear are broadcasts of a future event that hasn't even arrived. We THINK we know what's going to happen, when, in truth, we have no idea. We're merely creating a future event in our minds, as if we have some crystal ball and can project what is to come. Have you ever really succeeded in doing this?

The flip side of that is: you DO create your future by what you focus on right now. You plan it all out in your head, seeing the horror unfold in great detail, giving it so much attention that you actually DO create it. But why would you create something horrible instead of something awesome? Why would you spend even a single moment there? It feels horrible, it looks horrible, it IS horrible. And you're creating it with your keen and focused attention to it.

WHY???

One great teacher (of mine) says it this way:

"Whatever you're thinking about is literally like planning a future event. When you're worrying, you are planning. When you are appreciating, you are planning...What are you planning?"

I realize that when you're in such a moment it can be quite challenging indeed to NOT think about whatever it is that's freaking you out. Believe me when I tell you, I've been there too. It's like playing tug-of-war with a gang of linebackers; them on one end of the rope and only yourself on the other end. Not a fair fight to be sure. It's enough to make a person scream at the heavens, and jump out the nearest window. Or worse.

But there is a way to stop that struggle...and it merely takes a bit of practice and a lot of focus. A moment-by-moment exercise that will eventually lead you back to your Center. A dandy little 'trick' that works...if you will DO IT.

That exercise?

BREATHE.

Close your eyes, put your hands on your belly. And BREATHE.

It's called Manipura, or the Solar Plexus chakra. Key issues governed by Manipura are issues of personal power, fear, anxiety, opinion-formation, introversion, and transition from simple or base emotions to complex. Physically, Manipura governs digestion, mentally it governs personal power, emotionally it governs expansiveness, and spiritually, all matters of growth. By focusing on this chakra, and breathing deeply through it, you will find all manner of calm wash over you. You'll alleviate those false fears and return to a place of connection...to YOUR Source. You'll find, in a very short time, that all the world falls away and you can once again make your way to the Joy that is your birthright. And, before you know it, you'll be laughing your ass off.

Sound hokey? Maybe. But ya never know til you give it a whirl.