Gaia: Sacred Walk - Freedom

Re: Quit Playing Small

http://singerseeker.gaia.com — Wed, 08 Apr 2009 13:38:01 GMT

Oh wonderful Deb, the best of both worlds. It's fun to meet you all over Gaia. I'm not being nearly as productive but I'm giving myself permission for that at the moment. Must be productive for the rest of the day :)

Hugs,

Nicole

Re: Quit Playing Small

http://yhd52754.gaia.com — Wed, 08 Apr 2009 03:19:01 GMT

Nicole,

I know that is true for me, big trouble, but I'm trying to balance. Doing fantastic after posting this, More productive than I've been in days.

And still here playing around Gaia.

Deb

Re: Quit Playing Small

http://singerseeker.gaia.com — Tue, 07 Apr 2009 20:27:00 GMT

Jill, good to see you again, it has been a while since I've been here.

Deb, being on Gaia isn't doing anything? Some of us are in big trouble :)

Jessica and Dhyan, that quote is fantastic, but it's actually by Marianne Williamson Source: A Return to Love: Reflections on the Principles of A Course in Miracles

Hugs,

Nicole

Re: Quit Playing Small

http://yhd52754.gaia.com — Tue, 07 Apr 2009 19:25:41 GMT

Jill,

I smiled to see your group pop up in my currently active list. How's married life? Is it still good and very good?

I really like what Jessica says here - Humility is precious but . . . . we are disrepectful to . . . our deity/ies when we dismiss and disregard our gifts and abilities.

Now, to find a way to make use of that thought, within the context of my life . . . and to your thoughts, Jill, some good lines for me to begin questioning why I can't seem to get what I "know" I really, really need to get done. Why am I dragging ?

So, now to stop playing around Gaia and focus on one small thing I could actually get done today . . .

Deb

Re: Quit Playing Small

http://jillianne.gaia.com — Tue, 07 Apr 2009 17:55:00 GMT

When I've hit places where I can feel myself curling up and not extending to what I want and am capable of doing...

I invite the gentle in. In my life, if battering myself or finding ways to kick myself in the butt were going to work... they'd have seriously worked a long time ago. Sometimes what I really need is a moment or two to breath and sort things out...

Like, WHY am I withdrawing? Is it fear based. If it is fear based, what is motivating that....

The second thing I do... is I quit trying to take in the Final big picture, and I focus on the next small step. We psych ourselves out of achieving what we want when we make the focus the final product. When I wrote my book, I stayed focused on the chapter I was on. When I work on art projects, I am in the present moment... Sure, I have an idea for where I wish to be going, but my focus is on this moment and time and the one thing I am able to do today.

Excuses - for me - come out of being afraid and of trying to achieve the whole thing NOW. When I start making baby steps, I quit making excuses.

Re: Quit Playing Small

http://chanteyrose.gaia.com — Fri, 03 Apr 2009 08:43:25 GMT

Oh good! Dhyan brought up the Nelson Mandela quote - very fitting for the thread topic. :-)

"Quit Playing Small" immediately translates into "Quit Making Excuses" in my mind. Freedom remains out of our grasp when we give in to our limitations and accept stagnance from the hand we've been dealt. When we refuse to grow and find reasons as to why we can't ("won't"), we have turned our backs on our freedom. Humility is precious but I believe we are disrespectful to ourselves, the world, and frankly, our deity/ies when we dismiss and disregard our gifts and abilities.

To answer your question, I am playing small because I feel myself withdrawing from what I am capable of doing, and worse: what I want to be doing. I'm aware of this, but am growing tired of wading in the rising waters.

How have you overcome situations like these?

Re: The Four Agreements

http://jillianne.gaia.com — Wed, 26 Nov 2008 18:40:20 GMT

Deby,
You're wonderful to me. I apologize for not being around much lately. I am about to launch my website and put my artwork up for sale. Busy, busy, busy.

Re: The Four Agreements

http://yhd52754.gaia.com — Sat, 01 Nov 2008 18:39:23 GMT

Jill,

I just posted a link to this thread in the Gaia Networking pod here -

http://pods.gaia.com/z_network/discussions/view/350123#358172

My pleasure to promote your beautiful space here.

Deborah

Re: Free is what we are

http://jillianne.gaia.com — Thu, 12 Jun 2008 16:39:01 GMT

I just finished editing the chapter on Freedom in my book. It boils down to what you said.... When I am simply who I am and I allow that room to soar... I am free.

I love the life that I have. I am determined to live in love with each drop of my life and to ferret out great moments of the mundane where joy lives.

I love that you offered this! Freedom is such an exquisite necessity to fulfill our obligation to this life!

Free is what we are

http://inspiration.gaia.com — Wed, 11 Jun 2008 18:29:11 GMT

I am always free.
I am so free that I can choose to feel bound, limited and less than what I actually AM.
This is indeed freedom.

When I see myself free and live free, I experience FREE.

Love,
Donna

Re: Quit Playing Small

http://jillianne.gaia.com — Sun, 09 Mar 2008 19:06:21 GMT

Say a little more, Erica.... I am not sure that I am understanding. (Welcome to my weekend! LOL)

Re: Quit Playing Small

http://enlightenmentadvisor.gaia.com — Fri, 07 Mar 2008 05:52:37 GMT

When I accept the frustration brought on by competition in a field where i have clearly stepped my boundaries, I play exceptionally small, knowing I could not have leapt and bounded over it. However usually I also resist the inadequate feeling of insignificance when I knew once before I captivated them . . . and I will harness that motivational force and use it again.

Re: Quit Playing Small

http://jillianne.gaia.com — Sat, 23 Feb 2008 02:57:53 GMT

Nicole, I like that. I have found when I do my art pieces, if I step back and simply allow myself to enjoy what I enjoy without beginning to define it as good or bad or worry about what others would view my art as.... the present moment and the experience of the arrangement of colors and shapes is thoroughly enjoyable, no matter how beautiful or flawed the piece of art is.

Re: Quit Playing Small

http://singerseeker.gaia.com — Fri, 22 Feb 2008 11:35:56 GMT

That's exactly it. Another definition I remember by CS Lewis, something like humility is an architect looking at a tremendous building he designed and admiring with the same fervour he would have if someone else had designed it... not more, not less...

humility is realistic, it's seeing ourselves as we are in our glories and weaknesses, without shame or boasting.

love,

nicole

Re: Quit Playing Small

http://jillianne.gaia.com — Fri, 22 Feb 2008 00:34:25 GMT

I have given this one so much thought. I think that humility is being centered. It is not grasping at being more and it is not playing smaller. It is the act of simply being.

I had to really laugh that you picked this thread to read through. I spent the day traveling and having an internal conversation with myself about playing small. Perfection in timing.

I love the work of Eckart Tolle. What I realized today was that I simply needed to let go of the definitions of who I believe I am or fear you will see me to be and simply be in this moment. Unguarded. At center. Humble!

Re: Quit Playing Small

http://dhyan-salima.gaia.com — Wed, 20 Feb 2008 23:16:24 GMT

Hi Jill,

loved your example and your question in so many ways.

First I had to think about letting go. Letting go in my eyes is a great spiritual quality to try to master. It always translates to me changing out of some illusion about myself or others or about a certain situation, accepting the truth and changing into the light. Somehow there always seems more to learn about letting go and sometimes it is not so easy and old habits break through again. I am always trying to get more awareness about how I can let go more and change more.

Also, when reading your entry I had to think about 2 of my favorite quotes:

1. "Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness, that most frightens us. We ask ourselves “Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented or fabulous?” Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small doesn’t save the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won’t feel insecure around you. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It is not just in some of us, it’s in everyone. And as we let our light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others."

Nelson Mandela 1994

2. "Look for the most humble way to deal with every situation."

Kalindi

I don't know you very much yet but from the little interactions that we have had you always seem to be a very graciously humble (and really, really nice :-) ) person. Personally I am sometimes wondering what is true humility and when is it really playing small or hiding. I guess, one has to do with love and the other with fear.

Re: Freedom to Soar

http://jillianne.gaia.com — Wed, 05 Dec 2007 15:10:25 GMT

T and Susan -
I think you've hit the nail on the head. Fear will bind us and keep us chained. And it is all well and good to know that, but how do you strip yourself of the fear when it is like a second skin? Or when it is present during critical times.

I remember a time when I had been let go. It was a moment of tremendous change, and I had not seen that coming. I mean, I had been really focused on change, but .... I guess I wasn't planning on having to do any of the work. It was the situation I wanted changed. Finding myself in that position forced me to change and to honor myself and begin letting go of patterns that drew those situations into my life.

I remember it getting instantly better when I quit needing to figure all of it out in that moment. All I had to focus on was what was directly in front of me. That was it. And what has rolled out has been a life more magnificent than I could imagine. I never thought I would be relatively free of fear... and yet I am. No big changes... just one small step at a time.

Bless you! and T, thank you for sharing your experience, strength and hope!

Re: Freedom to Soar

Wed, 05 Dec 2007 12:25:24 GMT

Well, first of all....welcome to Zaadz!!!
And I hope you find out that there are some really great people here!!!
I can seriously relate to your situation....I'm 47 and going back to school for the 2nd time in 5 years to change my career. I too, was "let go" from my job a few years back and decided to change my career...unfortunately I picked a career in a field where the market in this area collapsed almost overnight due to too many students in the area! If I wanted to relocate, I could have easily found a job, but my family situation requires I stay here in Ohio for now. So, I'm off to nursing school in January!
I relate to your feelings of fear....but what I've learned (albiet the hard way!!) it to just face the fear... walk towards it....deal with it while its right there...then move on. Its hard to do sometimes, but the fact is, the fear will remain until you accept it.
About being told you're brave...I get that too and I sort of feel like you do...why do they think I'm brave? Am I just supposed to sit in the house and feel sorry for myself? Poor me, I got laid off? Well, I think you are extremely self-reliant and practical for going back to school!!
I think most of the comments come from people that are too afraid to change themselves and they can't imagine how anyone else could make such a "radical" change!
So....you go girl.......................I'm sure you will do very well..!!!!!!
peace always...
T

Re: Freedom to Soar

http://sunshine031793.gaia.com — Tue, 04 Dec 2007 17:34:34 GMT

I am a new comer to Zaadz and am just finding the time to read some what is offered on this site. I was laid off from work yesterday and the fear and worry became overwhelming. At first I was glad because of the horribly opressive feeling I had while working there. Then the fear set in. I am such a slave to fear. And yet when I read and hear of all the brave people in the world that have walked through their fear to do what they believe I am so filled with joy, so inspired to do the same. But when it comes to me and my life I become the most people pleasing person you've ever seen! This is not Freedom to me...And I want desperately to be stronger and more than I am. I do not give myself credit for the things I have done. For being an overall good person. I give up my freedom every time I let someone else's opinion, feelings become more important than my own. I cannot see myself as other people do, maybe I'm just unwilling to. I am 53 years old and going back to school. I have a great grade point average and was working full time before yesterday. I have been told how brave I am for going back to school at this time in my life. But I do not see it as being brave. I do not see it as any great feat. But really it is. Why then can I not see it? Well now I'm off on different tangent. Being free of the chains on my soul as you put it is what I want! Now the questions is am I brave enough to do the work necessary to get there?
Susan

Re: MALALAI JOYA

http://dragonsbeard.gaia.com — Fri, 07 Sep 2007 08:56:35 GMT

Thank you, Jill.