Leaf upon the River

Hello and welcome to the Encompass website,

As the New Year progresses and we move into the heart of winter, there seems to be a lot of negativity which permeates every corner of our lives. It is very easy to be swept up in the negative currents, feeling helpless like a leaf upon the river. And yet if we stay in our stillness and do not put a judgment our experience, we start to see, sometimes slowly at first, that the negative experience is really something quite different. In its full form, negativity is simply a transitory state, a single scene from a long movie, which if stopped, would give the viewer a very different impression than if it was allowed to continue playing out its full intended message. “Everything happens for a reason” is a very challenging credo to live by. Many times we are tempted to interpret incidents as “bad” instead of seeing the opening for growth, the opportunity for change.

What comes to mind is a caterpillar in the mists of transformation. What if you were to say to this caterpillar, “hey, don’t worry, about what’s happening, because you are about to turn into a beautiful butterfly”! How many caterpillars would say, “yah right, are you blind! I am this fat, wormlike, leaf eating machine.” He might continue by saying, “you have no idea how painful this is, or that is easier said than done, or it’s too hard, why me, and isn’t there any easier way?” Do these sound familiar? We have all felt like this in times of transformation. Our job is to not confuse pain with negativity, hopelessness, or despair. Staying clear is no small feat and many times help is required to achieve this outcome. But achieve we must for it is our true path to ourselves, this transformative process, this path of challenge, this path of pain.

In these times of economic downturns, high crime rates, and other stories of gloom and doom, it is imperative that we not become distracted, not be tempted by negativity, for it will call our name. Our work is to say I hear you and I will not listen to you; I choose the path to me. Remember, nature shows us that after destructive floods, fires, and volcanic eruptions occur, not only does life return, it returns stronger, more resilient, more alive! As a part of this earth, we are no different. If hard times are what you are currently experiencing, seize the moment to change, learn, and grow, and think of our friend the caterpillar and how it turned out for him/her.

Wishing you light on your path,

Cindi