Stepping out of that comfort zone

I went and saw the movie "The Way:" yesterday...it's set on the Camino de Santiago where for almost a 1000 years pilgrims have been making the trek and in more modern times, even cycling and culminating in north west Spain at Sanitago de Compostela.

What I liked so much about the storyline is how a group of relatively random people can come together to share a journey that inevitably changes their lives forever.

I say relatively random because, depending on your particular belief system, one might agree that there are no co incidences in life and therefore they were all meant to come together just at that particular time and just for that particular experience.

It also reminded me of how easy it is to find some excuse to walk away from something that presents as unpleasant. Whether that's through some form of uneasy communication, a clash of personality or a belief that you have absolutely nothing in common with a person who you have crossed paths with. A random experience you might say or even thinking that it's a case of being in the wrong place at the wrong time..but is that really the case? Are there ever any chance encounters or is it part of some divine plan?

So all of a sudden, seemingly out of the blue you're thrown into turmoil with no way of avoiding the person who triggered this unwelcome exchange of words,  this expression of some dark emotion that has been laying dormant for some time, sneakily lurking just below the surface.  So often in everyday life it's been contained and then in the blink of an eye, whamo just like that it's out there, words said, actions expressed which results in there being no way to ever erase those words or actions from that moment in time.

And so just like in this movie 'The Way' the main character just wants to walk the Camino de Santiago alone, a personal pilgrimage for someone in a highly emotive state and then along comes a brusk character, larger than life that will change the course of his life and as if that's not bad enough for our lead character, there's a couple of other odd bods that choose to tag along and become intricately woven into this life changing adventure. They're all on the same trail so there's no avoiding them, he's stuck with them and so the journey begins. If only he knew then how much he would grow from being thrust into what he perceives as an uncomfortable experience.....

I mean really, when this type of thing happens, who wouldn't want to just walk away, or run away if given half the chance. But when you're forced to deal with those deep emotions that now keep surging forth like an out of control herd of wild and ravenous bulls, who would want that personality trait to see the light of day? It's definitely not who you really are is it? It's got to be a random upset that will pass...but what happens when it doesn't, when something has been unleashed that cannot and will not be put away again. Something you have no idea how to handle let alone control. If I can just blame someone else, point the finger away from myself then it will all go away, I wont' have to give it another thought, surely! 

I'm sure we've all been faced with situations like this at some time in our lives and learned the hard way that if that tactic does indeed work then it's only ever a short term fix...whatever it is that reared it's ugly head will by it's very nature, present itself for a repeat performance and usually at the most inopportune time.

So anyway I don't want to give the movie away and spoil it for others but it was one of those movies that touched my heart and peaked my mind....I couldn't help but think if only we are forced to face something, how very different the outcome can be and how much richer our lives can become when we shed something that no longer serves us. And in comparison, if we leave things unresolved how long will we choose to carry that issue like a cross weighing us down and impacting how we live our lives.

How often do we think we're happy when in reality all we've created is a mundane routine that blinds us and tricks us into thinking that we lead a full life which is not to say we lead a fulfilling life..two very different pathways those!

I think it's fair to say that not many of us will force ourselves to stand in our discomfort, face it full on, be prepared to face the consequences, good or bad and just 'feel the fear and do it anyway' as a famous author once said. 

It takes courage and it takes a desire and a willingness....like the law of attraction, now that's a powerful thought process.  The law of attraction challenges us to ignore that which doesn't serve us. To stop focusing on what we haven't got and what we don't want and what doesn't work for us and it dares us to focus on creating with deliberate intention, that which we really and truly want in this life and can have if only we will allow it to manifest and grow to reality. 

It's not a new thought process to remind ourselves to be mindful of what we say and how we say it, to listen to ourselves as we speak to keep a check on our negative thinking and to switch lanes and start to think in a new and positive and creative way.

Well the movie has stirred up my bag of tricks, rattled the shelves of my filing cabinet where all things past and present have been neatly stored. I have been reminded by a movie that life is for living, to dare to dream, to reach for the stars,  if I want something then I just have to think it and that I am only limited by my imagination, or lack of.

And when faced with adversity, to be brave, stand tall and face the challenge head on.  To recognise it for what it is, an opportunity!  Another stepping stone, a way forward and one that is yours or mine for the taking.

And as for my 'filing cabinet' well I hope that everything settles in another order, one that's unfamiliar, one that propels me to another level of thinking and being and processing...............