Chapter 28.2: Un-Shaping Ourselves: Returning Home to Our Infinite Potential

 

If we understand the glory with which we burn, the beauty with which we bloom,

while safeguarding it in our harrowing moments of shame when we don’t measure up,

Then we can be a valley encompassing all under the heavens,

And abide in our Personal Power and Virtue – for we are enough.

If, as a valley encompassing all under the heavens,

we abide in our Personal Power and Virtue – for we are enough,

then we return home again and again to the infinite potential of our uncarved block.

Each of us is a glorious being, a being of fire and light, passion and purpose.  Each of us is designed to grow, bloom, and blossom in beautiful and abundant ways.  Yet, tragically too many of us have that fire extinguished or smothered in society or are just barely able to hold on to an ember deep down inside ourselves.  Too many of us are not blooming and blossoming with the beautiful abundance that is within.  In our moments of setback, failure, and struggle we often forget and lose sight of our glorious gifts.  Instead, we beat ourselves up, tear ourselves apart, and harrow up our souls with guilt, shame, and humiliation.  We let our fears, doubts, and regrets choke out our beauty and gifts.  In those dark harrowing moments, we need to cling to our light, to our worth as rare, precious, and unique treasures.  We need to make sure that we don’t get on the roller coaster of relative worth.  Armed with arrows of self-affirmation, we can dispel our doubts and push through hard times.

When we accept our light even in the midst of our fiercest struggles and hold on, preserve, protect our self-worth even in the midst of disappointment and distress, we expand our souls, like an all-encompassing valley, embracing all with empathy and bringing life-giving nourishment and rare hope to ourselves and others.  By giving ourselves permission to just be even while working to better align our choices with our values and virtues, we step into our Personal Power and Virtue.  Each of us is enough – where we are, as we are right now – even as we strive to do, be, and become the next best version of ourselves.  We are enough.  Our self-improvement is not a requirement to try and prove ourselves worthy of love, acceptance, or success.  The secret is living true to our core being.

Each of us has been shaped, intentionally and unintentionally by social, cultural, and familial forces –  some well-intentioned, some detrimental.  Some had our best interests in mind.  Others did not.  All of our views, perspectives, and beliefs about ourselves, each other, and the world have been shaped, in good and bad ways, throughout our lives – to live up to others expectations, to fill a role, or to fit in.  Rarely, have we had the opportunity to just be ourselves.  Now is the time.  As we give ourselves permission to embrace our place in the universe and just be who we are, where we are, as we are in this moment – and to be okay with this present version of ourselves, even as we plan and work to grow and improve, we step into our Personal Power and Virtue.  As we do so, we un-shape ourselves and reconnect with the countless openings and opportunities available to us.  We become like an uncarved block – full of infinite potential – and return to that state where we can be and do anything we want.  As we un-condition ourselves and clear away the clutter from our lives, we create space for something new and better.  We return home to the wellspring of our souls – and it is a glorious and joyous homecoming. ~ DCB

 

Etymology Notes

The image of people as "glorious" is derived from the character 榮, which depicts two flames 𤇾 covering a tree or wood 木. This character also means flourishing, abundant, and lush. It conveys the idea that each of us burns with a magnificent glory and light.  This sense of magnificence and radiance was often associated with the beautiful blooms and blossoms that burst forth in spring, like fiery flowers.