Responsibility.
Response-ability. Response. Ability. What does responsibility mean to you? What does it mean to be responsible? Does it differ in different areas of your life? I keep pondering the belief --which I hold to be true-- that Freedom and Responsibility are two sides of the same coin. We all want "freedom" - to live it in our nation, to feel it in our own bodies, our own lives. The idea of freedom I will come back to. Today (and onward), I want to embody and embrace Responsibility.....whatever that means....... Let's break it down: My ability to respond is my responsibility. Respond to what? My life and the things that are important to me. Things that are True, that hold Integrity, and that does not harm Others. This sounds as it should be true enough for everyone: Your responsibility is to be able to respond to your life and the things--which are True, hold Integrity, and does not harm Others-- that are important to you. Does that resonate for you? What kinds of things are important to you and fit those guideposts of True, Integrity and Does No Harm? Here are 3 points of focus which can be looked at in the detail of your own life:
To live in balance with keen knowledge of MY needs, within MY means, at any given moment and to be able to respond. Technically, this IS self-care. Self-care, living in my truth, being an example of light and meaningful expression of Truth for my family and community and on......these are the things that are important to me that are True, hold Integrity, and does not harm Others. And my ability to respond to these things, within the protective boundaries of balancing my needs, within my means, at any given moment, is the Truth I need to embrace and embody somatically in every cell of my being. Yet still, this is all well & good but could get overwhelming where you feel you have not learned how to manage, digest, and metabolize these things. The "ability" part of it. How do you respond seemingly without the ability? Recognizing the perceived dis-ability is the first step. Think of those who are considered to have a "disability" as is commonly known in society today. Or a "handicap". Some people need help like handrails, wheelchairs or ramps or special technological advancements to assist in speaking or seeing or some other need. Some secure tutors or nurses or other sorts of caretakers. Whatever the situation, ALL are required to look for ways to see beyond their dis-ability and acknowledge where they just need to work a little harder, where they need help and where they can creatively do things differently to balance ability with dis-ability. What are your perceived dis-abilities and how will you see beyond it? Write it down. Assess it. Do the work. This is your RESPONSE-ABILITY. Each of us are responsible for our own response-ability. Together, as response-able individuals, is how we create our own Freedom and how we can promote freedom in our greater world. Digging deep within is where our Truth lies. And our Truth is worth finding-- it is where our salvation thrives, and freedom and responsibility exist on the same coin. #response-ability #dis-ability #freedom #truth #selfcare #responsibility
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I AM MY OWN BEST ALLY, ADVOCATE, AND ACTIVIST. Repeat, repeat, repeat.
As an ally, I support me. As an advocate, I talk me up. As an activist, I am actively nourishing, profoundly understanding, and pounding the pavement for me. Lest I forget, at times the vehicle does seem to sputter or breakdown, I need only remember the hotline for my AAA servicing.... I AM MY OWN BEST ALLY, ADVOCATE, AND ACTIVIST. I AM MY OWN BEST ALLY, ADVOCATE, AND ACTIVIST. I AM MY OWN BEST ALLY, ADVOCATE, AND ACTIVIST. Believe in yourself. You are enough. Awhile back I reflected on the fact that I wasn't a very generous person. Somehow, merely acknowledging this "out loud" has helped me to take the next step seemingly without effort.... to become a more generous person. One of the items on the list from the link I shared in that post was to spend time with a generous person. And to embrace gratitude. I read the list and, to be honest, did not set out to do these things. Like I said, it was as if just putting the acknowledgment out there set my mind-- or rather, heart --in motion. I have found that, through my yoga community, I did in fact surround myself with generous people. People who volunteer to make yogi tea, those who fill the studio and even the space by our front door with plants and also care for them, those who take the garbage out and clean it, some bring delicious & healthy food to share, and much more. I have watched and marveled at the ongoing generosity-- and have truly felt enormous gratitude for the time and efforts of each. I have discovered that that feeling of gratitude for those who give of themselves generously has shifted my own attitude towards how I value and spend my time and efforts. This is what makes a community and a life. The return on investment has no measure.
In yoga we often talk about elevating our consciousness. We know that throughout our lives, there are moments when we have become more aware of things going on in ourselves or in our world. Those Aha! moments. There is a yogic concept that has meant alot to me-- a definite Aha moment... The idea of a seed containing all the information that it needs to become what it was meant to become. Think about that. Take a moment to look at an apple (or other) seed. Consider how this little seed will become a full-grown tree producing delicious apples simply because it is written or coded within that seed. It isn't trying to become a lemon tree or a pine tree or a Sequoia. It couldn't! If it had our human capacities to try to change itself, it would be a miserable little seed going after a futile, ego-centered goal. Think about this as a human being and that we also have a "seed"-- it is our creative source. When we go against our soul's purpose, as is coded within our seed, things do not flow, things come out sideways. Even our cleverness cannot fool the soul, although it might fool others and even yourself.....for awhile. This is when dis-ease sets in-- physically, mentally, spiritually. The reason this is so remarkable is if you consider all the struggles we go through in our lives to find meaning and direction, to get out of our own way, to get to our flow or "in the zone" so that life will be easier and more meaningful. I'm not saying it isn't hard work if we're in that space, but there is a lot more ease and joy and much less inner conflict or obstacles to living our lives when we are. This concept I understand through the mantra Har Haray Haree. Har refers to the seed; Haray the flow or growth; and Haree the manifestation of that seed. I love this concept! Just being aware of this helps to see more clearly and motivates me to do the things I need to do to stay connected with that "seed" (Hint: it's about your ability to still yourself enough to listen from the inside and gain that inner peace. [See the “Happiness Is Your Natural State- a mantra” post]). All of this does lead me to wonder though….. What about seedless fruit? Here's a video I found about it. Perhaps I won't be going for that convenience any longer. What do you think about all of this? |
AuthorI am the Essential Soul Mama. I am a mama, a soulful-spiritual teacher, an intentional storyteller, and a lover of stories of all kinds, in all forms. I write about emotions, parenting, natural health options, mind-body-soul connections, and anything that elevates our lives. Archives
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