“Mindfulness helps you go home to the present. And every time you go there and recognize a condition of happiness that you have, happiness comes.” – Thich Nhat Hanh
I was working with a lovely client the other day who had been dealing with back pain for many years. When tuning in to his back, I had the visual sense that he was bent over, carrying a very heavy load. I got a “hit,” and asked if he sent money to his family in his home country. He explained that he did send money to all family members. I suggested that he could let go of carrying the whole family on his back, and still send them money. We worked together to hand them all to their Source, and to see them surrounded and supported by love. And, his back felt better! This is the paradox of the world of energy – it is never black and white, either / or – but instead it is both / and. He can let go AND also send money.
I get the best intuitive “hits” when I am not trying – often when I am in the bathroom, or just waking up in the morning, or out for a walk. When I work with clients, I am just present with them, listening, opening. I am not trying to get my intuition to tell or show me how to help them, I am just noticing, allowing – and then sharing. And, at the same time working with their energy.
I love the word “allow.” Most of us do best when we are open and allow energy to support us, allow guidance to come to us, allow ourselves to receive the love from all aspects of life.
This story is a fun example of not allowing, or being patient or trusting. It is from a Chinese philosopher, Meng Zi(1) (also known as Mencius). He told of an impatient farmer who once lived in the Song state during the Warring States period (475–221 B.C.).
Pulling Up Seedlings to Help Them Grow
By Lilly Choo, Epoch Times, September 4, 2013
The farmer wanted his seedlings to grow fast. For an entire week, he watched the seedlings expectantly. He became very disappointed when he saw there was little difference day after day. The farmer was puzzled by the slow progress and tried to find ways to get quicker results.
One day, he came up with the idea to pull the seedlings up a little to help them grow. He was very excited about this plan and ran out to the field early the next morning.
The farmer pulled the seedlings out of the ground, one by one. He worked very diligently and was quite happy when he saw that, with this help, they were indeed taller.
At nightfall, when he arrived home, he said to his wife and son: “I’m exhausted today, but it was worth it! I helped all the seedlings grow taller today.”
Hearing this, his surprised son immediately ran to the field to see for himself. What he saw was seedlings all withered and dying.
Meng Zi used this story to illustrate that cultivating a noble spirit is a long-term, step-by-step process, and that noble spirits cannot be achieved by conscious and transient efforts.
Similarly, we cannot cultivate our intuition and guidance by pushing or pulling! I am offering a wonderful and empowering teleclass “Awaken Your Intuition and Connect With Spirit,” starting February 6, 2019. I hope you can join us!
“If you breathe in and are aware that you are alive – that you can touch the miracle of being alive – then that is a kind of enlightenment.” – Thich Nhat Hanh