The more you gravitate toward doing your own work, the more life will test you. This is a good thing. It might not feel good at the moment, but it’s a good thing. Because as you gravitate towards the things that move you and that mean something to you, you’ll bounce against your own personal limits.
Think of yourself as living inside of a balloon - a really big one. It’s translucent but not transparent. But you know, because you’ve concentrated really hard, that the real joy, the real love, your real story is outside of the balloon. You can see the way the light prisms out there, and it’s glowing at you, through the skin of the balloon.
But the balloon keeps you safe, and as long as you accept its limitations, you can walk around inside of it unimpeded. The balloon is your safety zone that cuts you off from your truth.
The balloon has had its benefits, but it’s served its purpose.
So you start taking a running jump, and bashing into the side of the balloon. And it stops you. Hard.
It’s resistance. It’s self doubt. It’s holding on to how others think about you too tightly. It’s judging others and allowing them to judge you. It’s bad boundaries, and it’s not being able to say no when you really want to. All of those things have formed this micro-thin fiber that’s tightly woven and creating the inner surface of your balloon. And seemingly impossible to break, since you’re thrashing around in the darn thing trying to get out so hard.
Until on day you realize that it’s not about bashing through your comfort zone. It’s about loving your way through it.
You want to try new things that are outside your comfort zone? Try compassion, patience and love. Towards yourself.
Take steps carefully, prudently, but determinedly. Do your homework. Take care of yourself. But keep moving. Take pushback as learning and find another way. Allow yourself to fall, and to get back up.
You know what’s going to happen? All those hard fibers of resistance? They’ll start to dissolve.
And suddenly, that balloon that kept you closed up inside becomes something else. It becomes the stage that introduces you to the world. It becomes the steps that you climb. It becomes the story that is under your feet and reminds you of how far you’ve come.
And you are the glittering light that you viewed at from inside. You are the glow. You are your own sun, moon and sky.
In a couple of days, I’ll take off for the USA, where I’ll be bringing my book True Vines around to shops and doing readings. I feel a tremendous amount of positive energy being shed on this book, and it’s pure joy for me to see it take of on its journey.
I’m nervous about reading to large groups, but I’m practicing in front of my mirror!
The most exciting event for me is in my home town of Milford, PA, where I’ll be doing a reading/signing as a benefit for the Pike County Public Library, the library that was “my” library when I was growing up. What a thrill.
But even more than that, last week my partner in crime, photography mentor and friend Di Mackey and I introduced our first joint retreat, to be held for four women only here in Italy at my Bed and Breakfast! It’s going to be magical, full of story telling, photography, cooking, wine tasting and art.
Your Beautiful Truth Retreat takes place from August 25th to August 31st – one place is already taken, so if you’re interested, please contact Di or myself on our websites or through the comments here.
I want to build this community with intention and love. To that tend, I’ve created a set of eight beautiful meditations for my website subscribers. You can access the meditations by signing up here:
Space for You – Eight Meditations on creating space for the things that move you forward into your real work
Last but definitely not least, the wonderful Andrea Maurer graced my book True Vines by putting it in her Sunday Roundup this week. If you don’t know Andrea’s blog and work, I suggest you go and take a look at her Daily Love Letters. There might be one or two or ten that speak directly to you.
I wish you a wholly beautiful and love-filled week.
Diana, I love the energy, light and love that you give out to the world. Your beautiful thought: “you are your own sun, moon and sky.” is an important message for everyone but I think especially for women. You already know I love your book “True Vines” and I am so happy that you will be able to go back to your childhood roots to share your story in your home town library. How precious a gift that is to come full circle and return home. Happy so happy for you. I love the women’s retreat that will take place in August. I know it will be wonderful. Wishing you continued happiness on your journey. You are definitely on the right path! Cheers and much warmth and light! Barb Cabot
Good Luck Diana!, with both your US trip and your other plans. I started “listening in” to your blog in order to keep in touch, in a manner, with your part of Italy and thence with the dreams which I hold with my partner for our home further west to yours, but I have come to enjoy the narrative for its own, personal and thoughtful self. Congratulations and Well Done, you have the seeds of a writer and teacher in you!
For those who aren’t in North West Italy, let me tell you that Diana isn’t exagerating – it has snowed plenty (albeit the snow was very “wet” and will melt soon). There will be no excuse this year for complaining of “drought” conditions! Lets hope that the Summer and Autumn are kind to the harvest.
Stay well and prosper, Anthony O’ Neill