Every movement in the universe is a movement toward love. This is true even in situations that appear to be the opposite of loving at first glance. I recently drove my car off the bank as I was parking at Mana. An incident that caused quite a concern for the guests who witnessed it as my car balanced precariously on three wheels. The thing that surprised me was not the intensity of the moment but rather my response to it.
It is natural for us to fear. In fact it is a primal instinct that has helped humanity to survive for thousands and thousands of years. Sadly we live in a time where our fear is disproportionate to our experience and our ability to self regulate is under-resourced. Which means, for the majority our fear is not only overriding our ability to respond with love, it is inhibiting us from even realising there is another way.
At Mana we advocate for daily practices that help to reduce the anxiousness of a busy mind and deepen our capacity for inner calm. The fact that it takes dedication and discipline can be a deterrent for many. There are plenty of other things that we could choose to fill our time with. However, it is in moments of sudden or seemingly overwhelming chaos that our daily practice stands the test.
At that moment when my car began to slip I was calm and present. I may not have been able to control where my car was sliding, however I was clear minded which meant that I had the ability to respond instead of react. Victor E Frankl was quoted saying “between stimulus and response there is a space. In that space is our power to choose our response. In our response lies our growth and freedom.”
These words land true in me as I reflect on this fleeting moment in time. Simply being aware of the space in between feels like an inner evolution. To be able to have the peace of spaciousness of mind to be able to choose how I would respond in that moment… that was empowering!
It was a special moment of self assuredness and an affirmation for the value of a daily practice which helps to cultivate resilience. I wonder what challenges are you rising above in life right now? And what are you learning about your capacity for love, resilience, courage and faith? Is fear holding you back? We have just published a blog post on our website which might be an inspiration for you to find flow, trust and self-assuredness… head on over to manaretreat.com to have a read.
Written by Jade Ferriere.
