Wednesday, August 31, 2011

Building Away

Well, I guess an update is long overdue!

I have been being a busy little bee.

Most significantly things began when one of my upline Isagenix leaders had to pull out of a training session and offered his ticket up - cheap.   What was a $200 ticket (three day course) I got for a steal at $55 (he had gotten it at a discount price already and further discounted it for me).

The speakers: David Wood and Susan Sly were fabulous and I learned alot.  But perhaps the most powerful stuff came on the last day.  During the previous day they had people define themselves by certain character traits 'Lions' - aggressive, 'Let's get 'er done' types, 'Monkeys' - social animals, 'Owls' - inquisitive and analytical, and 'Koalas' the kind, sensitive types.   

Everyone self identified and happily jumped into their respective groups.  Except me.  None of them seemed to represent me in any way.   On my friend's suggestion I joined the Owls but very quickly felt totally out of place.  I am no anal-lyst.  Drives me buggy!  

But I'm no social animal.  Not that caring.  And certainly not aggressive.  So what was I??

I discussed this with David Wood in the morning.  He figured me for a Owl/Koala but that still didn't resonnate.   Then when he went on stage he started talking about me (without mentioned names or pointing me out).   He said some people are like carrots that have been boiling on the stove too long.  They've gotten soft.  He looked at me and called me a 'mushy carrot!!'

While righteous indignation aside, he was right, and I knew it.  I knew deep down what I was.  A lion.  But a lion that had lost it's bite.  I was the Wizard of Oz lion.   No wonder I couldn't self identify.

There was a lot of other good stuff but the most powerful was the arrow breaking.   We each got an arrow, wrote down what we were moving away from and what we were moving towards on the shaft.  We then had someone hold it, tip placed in the soft bottom part of our neck below the adam's apple - and walked into it.

*Do not try this at home! If you don't know how to do it properly, don't do it at all!*

It's a disconcerting feeling to be sure. The arrows snap of course but you have to break through that feeling of certainty that you're about to kill yourself.  It is powerful.

And it is what life is ultimately all about.  Or ought to be.  Breaking out of your comfort zone.  ALL your comfort zones, one arrow at a time.  Especially when it feels like doing so will be the end of you.

Since that day, that is exactly what I've been doing.   Consistantly breaking out of my comfort zones.  A Lion rediscovering his heart and his roar.

That's all I have time for today but I'll fill you in more later.