A poem to inspire wonder in our inner world:
Just to wonder
Sets asunder
All that fails to
Be a joyful you.
During the last month, we’ve spoken about the vital importance of observation of nature as a powerful way to know what’s happening around us and within us. Today’s article is an example of how observation can be a porthole to foresee our soul’s fulfillment. To watch live footage of this personal growth adventure with an osprey, click to see the YouTube Grow Show–and subscribe if you’d like to receive weekly shows.
What are you watching and waiting for?
No matter how much we have and know, part of us may also be searching for something more. Although we may deeply appreciate all that we currently have and know, it’s also part of our inborn desire to want to create, manifest, be, do and have more.
How do we approach the prospect of waiting?
Waiting can be an education. How we “watch and wait,” says volumes about the character of our soul. If we think back on times we may have observed children, adults, or pets as they wait for something they wanted, what did we see? Maybe we observed a child waiting for a food treat, toy, or attention from someone they love. What characteristics did they display while they “watched and waited?”
What we notice about others as they wait, can be a tool for personal growth. It’s been said that when we use our own hand to point out a characteristic within another, that three of our own fingers remain pointed back at ourself. To me, this means that unless we’ve done significant self-reflection and character development, whatever characteristic we may point out in another, that characteristic is also prominent within ourself. Let’s see if that applies to us. Can we observe the same characteristics within ourself that we observed within the child?
We’ve all been impatient, irritable or angry.
We are not taught to find the fun in waiting. To enjoy waiting. To eagerly await. Instead, many of us have learned by example from others, that the way to respond to situations of waiting, is to become hot and bothered.
The root of discontent.
When we’re angry at life for being the way it is, have we judged that life got it all wrong? Do we really know better?
Life is what it is.
If we judge that life “should be” some other way, could we be arrogant? If we observe life, we can see that if it were supposed to be different, it would, in fact, be different.
The internal results of discontent.
If we choose to judge that life got it wrong, messed things up, and that it should be different, we will probably experience discontent. This is a viable option, albeit not fun, and it can get boring and downright dreadful after awhile. When we physically, emotionally and energetically feel discontent, the natural response is to express it. Attempting to feel better, we may launch our discontent within, and become some level of depressed.
The external results of discontent.
In the desire to express, expel and relieve our own discontent, we may launch it onto other forms of life, whether they be people, plants and animals. They are affected by this. It feels equally as bad for them to experience discontent as it does for us. When we project our discontent onto others, they may respond to us with polarized emotions. They may respond in kind, launching discontent back to us. Or, they may cower, shrivel, wither, or disconnect from the relationship with us in some way.
A way out of discontent.
We can choose to learn that generally, discontent and its results are not what we want to experience. By acknowledging that we want more for ourself than discontent, we can begin to change.
A viable alternative to discontent is acceptance.
One step out of the dark of discontent and into the light of change is acceptance. If we can choose to accept that life is what it is, completely, then the anger, impatience, irritability and envy of others and their lives will automatically dissipate.
Nature can teach us to accept and enjoy waiting.
Learning to accept is simply a shift in perspective. It need not be difficult. For example, this week, I observed an osprey in nature as it “waited” to catch its next meal. Ospreys are large birds of prey and are also called river eagles. Rivers are its lifeblood. Ospreys nourish themself by diving from as much as a hundred and twenty feet above the water, talons first, into the water to catch a fish.
Nature accepts waiting.
As the osprey sat on the wide tree branch, awaiting sight of its next catch, it preened and cleaned its feathers. It sunned itself. It spread its wings to absorb more of the sun’s rays. It looked out over the river, at ease as it observed nature. The osprey displayed no outward signs of irritation while in wait–it simply waited.
We are part of nature.
We, too, can be like the osprey. We can accept that we are always waiting for something. We can rest in between “catches.” We can sun ourselves a bit. We can tidy up ourself and our surroundings. We can take care of other tasks, or we can simply be at ease, observing nature in its beauty.
Inviting wonder into waiting.
Nature does not rush, it is not impatient, and it grows in its own good time. As the old saying goes, “Nature doesn’t hurry, yet everything is accomplished.” We can learn much during our own times of waiting, and by observing nature as it waits.
In essence, true waiting is simply being.
True waiting is simply being alive and experiencing life. It is not so much searching as it is observing. This type of waiting is simply being life and a part of life. It does not require patience, and allows for observation and enjoyment of what is.
Will You?
No one can learn, observe, accept, wait, wonder or enjoy for us. The more we choose to observe what we experience in our inner nature and what’s out in nature, the more real-life magic and wonder we will experience in ourself and life!
If you’d like a fresh perspective as you learn to observe nature, accept life as it is, and allow more wonder into your world, explore how a complimentary conversation or a package of conversations can invigorate your growth.
Join us LIVE and in-person!
(Advance bookings are required, see below for details.)
Every Thursday through August
Learn to communicate with Mother Nature to hone your intuition. Enjoy a relaxing nature walk, inspirational talk, five-minute meditation and a picnic lunch at Ancient Lore Village. Click for details and book your tickets today!
Every third Tuesday of the month through October
Revel in a full day with Angelique during a moderate-level, day hike through Cades Cove to Abrams Falls, followed by dinner in Townsend, TN at the Dancing Bear Bistro and Lodge. Click for details and book your tickets today!
For a complete listing of tour dates, sign up for email updates, or see the tour page on our website.
We hope to see you soon!
Always with love,
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