Changing our minds is often referred to a `a woman’s prerogative’. The underlying intimation being that women are indecisive, flaky even. I shall resist making comment about the origins of this old adage because I see the ability to do a U turn as a strength. It demonstrates flexibility and the ability to admit that we might have made a mistake (perish the thought that we might be human!) or even recognised that things weren’t working the way we wanted.
It’s been a busy week so I haven’t been over to the lake as much as I’d have liked so, this morning, off I went eager to sit and contemplate the world and send distant healing to those who are physically or emotionally in need. As I drove over there I noticed all the twigs and branches strewn across the road – but I carried on. The car was buffeted around like a balloon on a string – but I carried on. When I arrived at the lake I saw a runner struggling against the wind, his face in a grimace of effort. But did I turn round and go home? Of course not. I was set on my course and nothing was going to defeat me.
When I found my spot on the bank, I tried to put down my cushion, but it blew out of my hands – three times. So I decided that, this morning, I would meditate standing up. Mother Nature had different ideas however. Despite my best efforts, I was blown backwards several times before I realised that I was denying the reality of what was happening around me. There was no way I was going to do my meditation and healing outdoors today. So I came home to do it.
How many times have we ignored the signals, dug our heels in and stood our ground even though we knew something wasn’t working? They always say, the first sign of madness is doing the same thing over and over again and hoping for different results. There is absolutely nothing wrong with changing our minds and doing something differently. It’s part of evolution. Survival, not of the fittest, but of the most flexible.
I had a client, years ago, who suffered dreadfully with back pain. At one point he even ended up on two sticks, barely able to walk. He was a sportsman, he ran, did weight training and was incredibly physically strong – but he was rigid both in his body and his attitude to life. He was a lovely man but he knew how things `should‘ be. He was certain about what was right and what was wrong. I used to tease him that Stubborn was his middle name. There was no wonder his back – the part of the body that supports us – had seized up.
I’m delighted to say that, over the years, he’s opened up to possibilities and is more flexible both in his mind and body. It’s never too late to embrace new possibilities and change our attitudes. In fact, it’s positively healthy. And how do I know he’s changed? Because….
Reader, I married him!
Reiki in Wanstead 