Have you ever reached a threshold and thought to yourself, “Lemme just play it safe and quit while I’m ahead?
I remember my trek up Black Butte in Mt. Shasta, a 6,000 ft volcano, on the Summer Solstice of 2010. (All photos taken on this actual day in 2010). With a late start of 5pm, we didn’t have time to lose before the sun would set and we would be hiking in the dark. A part of me wanted to do the hike another day when we would be able to get an earlier start but the adventurous side in me won out.
About an hour and a half into the hike, I was out of breath and asked to sit down and rest. (Which btw led to an instantaneous healing of my menstrual cycle which had been irregular since my very first period!)
We were probably just over halfway up the mountain and my mind was starting to think a view from 3,000 feet above was good enough for me. It’s more than I would’ve gone if I didn’t have my friend with me. We already had a lovely view of the sunrise, it’s already been a full day, and I’ve had enough. My friend told me I could stay there and wait for him but he was going up to the top. Craaaaaap…..uuuugggghhhh what to do……sheesh….three deep breaths and away I went.
As we got to the top, we saw a platform that appeared to be some sort of remnant of a lookout point. But in order to get to the platform, you had to cross this fairly narrow path which had quite a nice drop on both sides of the path.
Ohhhhhhhh craaaaaap, another threshold! I froze in fear. (Anybody scared of heights?) I was paralyzed for what seemed like an eternity. My ego was very happy to have made it to the top. It was just fine where I was at. It wanted me to stay put.
But then the greater part of mySelf who knows no fear, only the present moment, took the driver’s seat. I focused on my friend on the platform (where I was headed aka what I desired) versus looking down either side (where I didn’t wanna go aka what I didn’t want) and I soon found myself on the platform! Hurray!!!! I did it!!! Wheeeeeeee!!! Look at that view!!!!!!
Getting to the other side of fear is exhilarating! But one must keep stepping through the flames of discomfort, limiting beliefs, resistance, and excuses to get to the other side.
So when I came up to another threshold with the expansion of this year’s retreat from one session to two, I knew that I could either play it safe and keep just one session and be good with that; or I could expand out of my comfort zone & build my character which will give me more confidence, courage, a sense of empowerment, and a feeling of aliveness. It would require me to be and do things out of my comfort zone. It would require me to put myself out there in a bigger way ~ a huuuuuuge fear considering I’ve had many past lives being burned at the stake and a part of me would like to stay incognito. It would require me to step up as a leader. (Can’t I just be a follower?!) It would mean the death of parts of my old self that have been holding me back. Craaaaaaaap….here we go again. Yaaaaaaaaaayy, here we go again!!!!! Excitement and fear are the two sides of the same coin. And guess what, it doesn’t matter if I “fail”, it’s the journey in getting there that’s the exhilarating part.
So now I get to focus on what I want (filling both retreats) instead of contracting and staying in fear of what I don’t want (going into the red).
Plus, with my own personal expansion, I will be able to hold space for even more expansion of the women coming to the retreat. That’s how it works. I cannot hold the container of self empowerment without me first expanding. Ohhhhhhh myyyyyyy, this is going to be one powerful retreat!!! (Or two rather. Ha!)
There are now spots available in each session for my annual women’s retreat. (July 5-8th and July 9-12th). If Mama Shasta has been calling you, check in with yourself and see if it’s time for you to expand out of your comfort zone. The feeling of exhilaration is just on the other side of your comfort zone. Come on ~ take the leap and let’s journey together! Wheeeeeeee!!!
Click on the link below for the soft itinerary and to make your deposit.
www.kanikido.com
Or send me a private message if you’re on the fence and I’d be happy to support you to your empowered YES or NO. You’ll leave the conversation feeling good about yourSelf for having spoken your truth and made a decision based on YOUR needs/desires and not my own.
Here’s to living the life you love and loving the life you live!!
Conscious Living 