Love says “I am everything.” Wisdom says “I am nothing.” Between the two, my life flows. ― Sri Nisargadatta Maharaj
by Astara
We live in a culture that would rather skip past the travails of vulnerability to get to the treasures found on the other side of that less traveled road. Treasures such as resiliency, compassion and strength. Vulnerability to some seems like weakness, but to us, we know the secret sauce: vulnerability is strength. Without vulnerability, all the treasures on the other side of any difficulty are flat, one-dimensional, and lacking in the luster of integrity and heart-aligned fulfillment.
We have 21st Century visions of how we want to be, work, and relate in the world. Unfortunately, we struggle to make those visions come alive because we are working with limited 20th Century tools of life that were handed to us by our parents, teachers, and government.
Amidst the disruption that COVID-19, climate change, political and social justice issues bring to the fore, this is a perfect time to freshen up our life skills tool-kit. It will take fresh vision and fresh skills. How do we build a 21st Century life skill set? There are many relevant theories out there that can all be helpful, but for us it begins with vulnerability which is at the root of emotional intelligence.
Vulnerability begins in the heart. Vulnerability is the antidote to the cultural virus that avoids it. Vulnerability dissolves fear. How amazing that we are made of energy and in constant exchange with the energy of the universe. We are like a river of love. Vulnerability asks us to, “Stay in the river of love no matter what.”
When you choose to be available to your heart, you allow the river of energy you are to flow freely, and you become vital. This is because you are flowing with love itself. This is the state of health so many seek. When you seek love in the world outside of you, you have forgotten that you are love. You are the energy you seek. In remembering who you really are — love embodied — you are no longer separate, and you can then become love in the room and love in the world.
Our Inner Space Academy and private offerings invite you into the heart path of vulnerability so that you can build resiliency. Our soulful content creates containers and openings to reconnect you to your soul and teach new life skills. Coming home to your soul is coming home to a bigger experience of love than we were previously taught.
If you haven’t enjoyed it already, we recommend you carve a half hour out of your day and create a nest to restore yourself inside our Sound Alchemy this month, focused on exploring the liminal space between Everything and Nothing. You can also purchase this recording straight from our shop!
Become receptive. Listen. Listen. Listen. It is the listening that creates the space for the river of love you are.
Listening is a great practice in being receptive and vulnerable. Listening brings you into a deeper intimacy with all of life, creating more vitality inside you.
May you choose to be more vulnerable and listen to yourself, your heart, and others. Just as nature finds a way to grow even in sidewalk cracks, vulnerability gives you strength to evolve in the disruptive times we are in. Reach for the stars that your heart whispers about. Be willing, curious, open, and vulnerable during these disruptive times. You will emerge stronger and more fulfilled than you ever thought possible.
