Wisdom From The Elders
I spent a week in San Francisco with a wise teacher. Her name, Angeles Arrien. If you get a chance, check her out at www.angelesarrien.com. She carries the wisdom of the indigenous people. And they speak truths through her, with stories.
Angeles shared this one that has profoundly affected me. In this story, the Masai people from the coast of Kenya remind us to be who we are. When a person from their tribe comes to the elder with fear, or uncertainty about stepping into the unknown, the elder will tell them this. He will spread his arms wide, above his head (do it with me now), and say "Be larger." Then he will bring his hands together above him, and move them down in front of him like a wave, (yes, let's do this one too) and say, "Go deeper." And then he will bring his hands together in front of him, chest level, a little bit apart and say, "Not smaller", while shaking his head a little bit.
So often, when fear approaches us, our response is to get small. Yell back at someone. Say no to the thing we want to say yes to. Cover up our embarassment. So, next time when you are afraid to step into the unknown, which is where creativity is at, remember....Be larger. Go deeper. Not smaller. Be larger. Go deeper. Not smaller.
Angeles shared this one that has profoundly affected me. In this story, the Masai people from the coast of Kenya remind us to be who we are. When a person from their tribe comes to the elder with fear, or uncertainty about stepping into the unknown, the elder will tell them this. He will spread his arms wide, above his head (do it with me now), and say "Be larger." Then he will bring his hands together above him, and move them down in front of him like a wave, (yes, let's do this one too) and say, "Go deeper." And then he will bring his hands together in front of him, chest level, a little bit apart and say, "Not smaller", while shaking his head a little bit.
So often, when fear approaches us, our response is to get small. Yell back at someone. Say no to the thing we want to say yes to. Cover up our embarassment. So, next time when you are afraid to step into the unknown, which is where creativity is at, remember....Be larger. Go deeper. Not smaller. Be larger. Go deeper. Not smaller.
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