August 23

COURAGE MONTH: DAY 23: “It’s the heart afraid of breaking that never learns to dance.” ― Xiaolu Guo

We miss so many opportunities for love and joy because we are afraid so much to live. Listening to the voice of the Ego (Screaming Purple Monkeys-SPM) is a sure way to live a great deal less.

It tells us to never risk in relationships and we are trained from birth in the dysfunctional way of ego defenses to control and manipulate; not only other people, but life itself.

Listening to this voice and allowing fear to be the guiding force in our lives is the hallmark of addictive thinking. We believe these things and live in terror, wondering why we are so angry and depressed and why we are anxious all the time.

We live in ways that are detrimental to our spirits because of what we believe about life, not because life is scary, or anxiety is our natural state. There is a story going on there. We are telling ourselves this story (and believing it!) and that is death to joy and love. It is important that we begin this Step 8 and Step 9 process by opening the doors to our relationship with that Power that is going to bring love and joy back into our lives. It is there, when we let go of the ego and move into our hearts.

The thing about this quote that I am not fully in alignment with is that the heart is NEVER afraid. Remember, Courage means Heart. That is so important to remember. We live in heart and there is NO fear. Because the heart remembers only love and joy. It is the thing that contains our connection to the Power.

It certainly ain’t in our heads…the home of the SPM and all that destroys peace, joy, love and life itself. We must amend this relationship within ourselves. When we learn to live in the heart, which happens, for me, with meditation and breathwork and mindfulness, we are living in joy and love and happiness. The saying is true…it IS an inside job.

The BB talks about the ego being destroyed as a necessity. I could not agree more. Find the heart and you will find the Universal Power and tap into that limitless supply of love and joy. No fear. Don’t let the SPM tell you it doesn’t work. There are many among us who have found this beautiful place of joy and love and peace. We must travel there all the time, and try to stay there as much as possible. This is the good shit!