I have a friend who holds herself back and turns down all sorts of life experiences, even time with her kids, citing soul work as the reason. She politely declines with phrases like, “It isn’t appropriate for me at this time,” and “I’m still working to process that situation.” Sadly she says it with genuine regret because she wants to participate but feels she can’t.
Please know that soul-work and processing are about growth and prosperity; soul work does not keep you from living in the here and now. The only thing with the power to hold you back from living and growing is fear. Fear of failure. Fear of pain. Fear of judgement. Fear of looking foolish. Fear of disappointment … Fear. Fear. Fear.
If you allow your fears to keep you stuck in the processing stage, you will always be in the processing stage. Imagine drowning in a lake and someone tosses you a life-preserver, but you holler, “I can’t grab the life-preserver, I’m too busy trying to swim!” You’ve just sealed your fate to forever struggle to simply stay afloat.
On the other hand, when you have the courage to live and love through the processing and in conjunction with the processing, you will find experiences and relationships that will support you and situations that will teach you to progress past the issues and concerns that once limited you. By holding the life-preserver while you kick and paddle, you will eventually learn to swim on your own.
True growth comes, not just through introspection and affirmations, but also through experience.
