Dandelion Girl
03-04-2006, 06:49 AM
This really hit home with me because so many times in my life, I have let fear of the unknown or feelings of being inadequate keep me from making my life better. I wanted to share it in case any of you ever get in that place of being stuck where you are because the known is just so much more comfortable. This is from a newsletter from Alan Cohen - www.alancohen.com
The award-winning documentary Born into Brothels chronicles the humanitarian efforts of Zana Briski, who went into the red light district of Calcutta and taught children the art of photography as a vehicle to extricate themselves from the slums and find a better life. When Zana realized the potential of these kids, she plodded through long and painstaking efforts to enroll them in a fine private boarding school where they would be educated and shown the door out of hell. The alternative for many of these children was a life of prostitution, drug abuse, and early death.
    The last step of Zana's plan required getting permission from the children's parents or guardians. Some agreed and some didn't. Several parents wanted their girls to stay home so they could go "in the line" and earn money for the family. One girl's grandmother refused to allow her to go to the school intake interview because it was scheduled for a Thursday, and the grandmother's father had died on a Thursday. "I never do anything on a Thursday now," she ranted. "Once I did something on a Thursday, and it caused me great suffering. I am still suffering."
  Grandma's attitude, ridiculously superstitious as it is, symbolizes the part in all of us that fears to move ahead. Something inside us resists change, even if it may be for the better. The motto of the ego (the small, limited, and unreal identity we adopt) is "maintain the status quo, even if the status quo isn't working." The known, according to counsel of fear, is always preferable to the unknown, even if the unknown offers us an escape from hell. To the enlightened mind, this makes no sense. To the fearful self, this makes perfect sense.
   I once trapped a rat in a no-kill cage and took it out to a field to let it go. When I opened the door of the cage, the rodent scurried to the back of the cage, which seemed safer to it than a big open field. I shook the cage and the rat clung harder. Finally I gave the cage a hard shake, the rat fell out, and ran to freedom.
  When life rattles your cage, it may be offering you greater freedom. Charles Weston noted, "We complain when our foundation is shaking, only to discover that it is God who is shaking it." Robert Anthony explained, "If you find a good solution and become attached to it, the solution may become the next problem." Never cling to the past just because it is familiar. Open to the future because life is an eternal journey in expansion.
    The little girl that granny forbade to leave, left anyway. Something in her knew that she was being offered a great gift, and the voice of hysteria was not convincing enough for her to deny her opportunity. Bravo.
   At this moment life is offering you a great gift. A banquet is spread before you, with infinite possibilities. A voice inside you (adopted from others) may try to scare you into staying because the known seems safe. Another voice is showing you an open door.     Â
 You were not born to live in squalor - physically, emotionally, or professionally. A number of the children touched by Zana Briski found an entirely new life. Perhaps you don't want or need to change your whole life, but there are parts of your life that are calling for greater aliveness. Go there.
The award-winning documentary Born into Brothels chronicles the humanitarian efforts of Zana Briski, who went into the red light district of Calcutta and taught children the art of photography as a vehicle to extricate themselves from the slums and find a better life. When Zana realized the potential of these kids, she plodded through long and painstaking efforts to enroll them in a fine private boarding school where they would be educated and shown the door out of hell. The alternative for many of these children was a life of prostitution, drug abuse, and early death.
    The last step of Zana's plan required getting permission from the children's parents or guardians. Some agreed and some didn't. Several parents wanted their girls to stay home so they could go "in the line" and earn money for the family. One girl's grandmother refused to allow her to go to the school intake interview because it was scheduled for a Thursday, and the grandmother's father had died on a Thursday. "I never do anything on a Thursday now," she ranted. "Once I did something on a Thursday, and it caused me great suffering. I am still suffering."
  Grandma's attitude, ridiculously superstitious as it is, symbolizes the part in all of us that fears to move ahead. Something inside us resists change, even if it may be for the better. The motto of the ego (the small, limited, and unreal identity we adopt) is "maintain the status quo, even if the status quo isn't working." The known, according to counsel of fear, is always preferable to the unknown, even if the unknown offers us an escape from hell. To the enlightened mind, this makes no sense. To the fearful self, this makes perfect sense.
   I once trapped a rat in a no-kill cage and took it out to a field to let it go. When I opened the door of the cage, the rodent scurried to the back of the cage, which seemed safer to it than a big open field. I shook the cage and the rat clung harder. Finally I gave the cage a hard shake, the rat fell out, and ran to freedom.
  When life rattles your cage, it may be offering you greater freedom. Charles Weston noted, "We complain when our foundation is shaking, only to discover that it is God who is shaking it." Robert Anthony explained, "If you find a good solution and become attached to it, the solution may become the next problem." Never cling to the past just because it is familiar. Open to the future because life is an eternal journey in expansion.
    The little girl that granny forbade to leave, left anyway. Something in her knew that she was being offered a great gift, and the voice of hysteria was not convincing enough for her to deny her opportunity. Bravo.
   At this moment life is offering you a great gift. A banquet is spread before you, with infinite possibilities. A voice inside you (adopted from others) may try to scare you into staying because the known seems safe. Another voice is showing you an open door.     Â
 You were not born to live in squalor - physically, emotionally, or professionally. A number of the children touched by Zana Briski found an entirely new life. Perhaps you don't want or need to change your whole life, but there are parts of your life that are calling for greater aliveness. Go there.