“When nothing is sure, everything is possible.” -Margaret Drabble
Of all the challenges I’ve faced in my life, uncertainty has most assuredly been the Goliath to my David. I have always known on some level that security has been at the heart of all my plans. To me it is synonymous with safety. I don’t think I’m alone in this, the two are inseparably linked for many people.
A couple of years ago I had the opportunity to learn to release my attachment to what I believed to represent security, such as a home, savings, debt free living etc and until recently I was feeling very chuffed with myself that the fear that used to grip me by the throat almost constantly had now been reduced to a rather emaciated form of anxiety that reared its head on occasion to have a quick look around. Here’s the thing, once you start the walk towards freedom, you realise that life will lovingly do its best to bring you the experiences that will help you to achieve it. These may not always look or feel that way you had anticipated, in fact, to be honest they are quite the opposite but that’s the whole point. They are there to challenge your perceptions, to make you rethink your beliefs, to get you to see what’s holding you back and take you to the next level of yourself. Heads up, this involves going inwards, as in towards ourself. According to an article a friend recently sent me, people prefer to give themselves electric shocks rather than spend a few moments alone. Understandably, some of us haven’t met ourselves in years. God knows what that conversation may look like. I hear you, I’ve stood there many times.
In the days before we discovered that the Earth was round, they used to draw a line on maps where the page was ending and write: “Beyond this point there be dragons”. I hope this gives you an insight into my present place of abode 🙂 Through this meet and greet with these fascinating creatures we get the chance to understand how we limit ourself, through our beliefs. My belief around change or uncertainty has been that it’s never for the better, that it inevitably leads to unhappiness, that staying in control means staying safe. I must have adopted it at some point in my childhood, that place of magic, which houses both the dragons and the jewels. In the last few months I have been trying to see beyond my childhood judgement and start a new relationship with uncertainty.
How and where are you limiting yourself? Contrary to popular belief, we shouldn’t aim to be dragon slayers, we need to befriend them, so that they can give us the secret to go to the next level.
Best
Afshan x
Wonderfully expressed ❤ We limit ourselves in so many ways because of fear and uncertainty…especially our growth as human beings. Sometimes we keep ourselves in the ‘safe’ place, even though it might be causing unhappiness, because taking the next step requires a lot of courage and faith to embrace the unknown and take risks. Embracing uncertainty is difficult and uncomfortable, but it opens the doors for mental, emotional and spiritual growth. And our faith in God makes it easier to do so.
There’s a quote I like and remind myself of often: ‘A ship in safe in harbor, but that’s not what ships are for.’ – William Shedd
The same holds true for us humans too. ☺
Very well put. Search for friendly dragons continues.
Life is all what!?…. uncertainty; so either learn to live or learn to die with each challenge that comes our way! ❤
The dragons of uncertainty have never looked more appealing. It’s wonderful and mind boggling that two siblings living so far away can be experiencing so much of the same together. Uncertainty is daunting. You made it less so. Love what you write. It’s a gift for all of us who read it. Here is to rising higher in the clouds upon dragon wings.