When asked, "What would you say to your younger self", Elizabeth Gilbert replied, "Nothing...for she would not have listened."
I love this.
I love it because, it isn't the words of wisdom that are available, but our inner desire to hear them...let alone abide by them.
This frees me from the question I was asked. "What could someone have said to you, when you were in denial?"
The answer there too is nothing.
It isn't that we as a society lack the correct language, we fail to recognize that the awakening or the dawning comes from inside, when the time is right. When the perfect storm, if you will, is set up.
When our inner worlds can no longer hold out against the truth.
It wasn't my neices words alone that broke me open, but rather the feelings of discontent and deep sorrow inside of me...the doubting and restlessness about my life. I was looking or seeking 'something'. I just didn't know what.
We awaken to our truth when the timing is right...and it is divinely orchestrated.
There is nothing we can do to set up and in place all the different pieces for a breakdown of denial to happen.
And, when it does...I believe we have just a few moments to answer its call...or go deeper into denial.
I can't say for sure if we all get the opportunity for our heroes journey, but mine began in 2004. I answered the call of my wounded child, the inner sense of self; my truth.
Following and being with your truth IS the heroes journey.
It is personal...and it can't be prompted by the outside.
Again everything in my world was perfectly set up for me...at the right and exact time. Nothing was supposed to happen earlier...it was just the way of it.
Once you fully embrace that our lives have no mistakes...that our heroes journey begins on time...you will see your life as a beautiful tapestry that makes you you.
I love that I am free to be me and that it is not up to me to awaken anyone or to shove them on a reluctant journey...but rather live and let live.
My heroes journey continues...it is up to me, as Elizabeth said...to use my pain and learn from it. Don't let it be wasted all for nothing pain.
I too am happy with my life and my journey....and know when the pain comes again, which it surely will, that I again will grow and expand and learn.
Elizabeth also said that if the change we sought happened without our efforts, it would make us weak. I know she is right. It is the tough changes that WE need to make that make us a powerful self.
It is by walking through these changes that we grow into a hero.
A hero for our inner child...our soul.
Answer the call of truth....when you feel it.