You might have noticed that I recently moved into a new office space, and launched out on my own without the umbrella of an established psychotherapy practice with other therapists, people to do my billing, etc., etc... As I was thinking on this new article, I was reminded by a friend that people might like to hear about this new move. I thought my friend meant “that I had moved”, and I was a bit confused. The reply was “No, about the process of making the move and what it has brought you!”. “Ohhhhh, yes”, I replied, “that makes sense”. Now you might be wondering what this has to do with Fear of the Unknown. Or fear at all for that matter. Well, there was an element of safety for me in being only partially independent, and on the flip side, there was a fear of what was out there if I was wholly “alone”.
As I allowed my mind to shut off and meditate on the deeper wisdom that is there, I realized that there are a few general, but deep-seated fears that humanity seems to have; fear of dying, fear of failing, fear of change, fear of commitment, and most likely one of the ones that is at the true core of all of them is the Fear of the Unknown. We often tell ourselves that if we can just control the outcome then everything will be “just fine”, or when this happens... then we will make a move because “then everything will be just fine”, or “if I just knew that everything was going to be fine, then I would make a change”. But when it comes down to actually making a change and jumping off into the abyss of the Unknown, we stand at the edge of the cliff and look over, sometimes endlessly, waiting for a sign that will tell us that the open air that we see doesn’t hold a plunge to our demise by way of an explosion and a crash, but the joy of flight with the reward of a soft landing.
It lead me to recall this vacation I took to the island of Jamaica once. I was on one of those catamaran boat cruises that took you out to these cliffs to dive off, if you so chose, and then brought you back triumphant and jittery after the fact. So, I among many of the boat riders decided to make the leap. From the boat it looked doable, and I am usually one that is up for a challenge. So I hopped off the boat making the short swim to the sandy slip of shore at the base of the rock pile. As I made the climb up some steps carved from the cliff, make-shift ones out of wood planks, and some stretches of sand and stone up to the top, I began to feel my insides turn out. Popping out on the surface through a small cave-like section I stood in line behind the 20 or so people who made the journey with me. As I neared my turn I began to rethink this plan. “Is it really safe... Am I plunging to my death... Will my bikini fall off???” You know--- the important things. I began to allow others to go ahead of me, and even to take a second and third turn to leap off the edge. Until finally the boat captain made the last call to jump or come down. And so I jumped.
I have very few times in my life (especially then) that I can recall feeling an absolute sense of freedom and flight. For the brief moments that I was in the air looking out over the sparkle of the blue-green Caribbean Sea I was free and I felt my fear disappear. It was spectacular. That was back in the early 2000’s, and I can still taste the spray of the salt water as I cut through the sea like a knife.
Well, how does all of this relate to what is going on with me now??? I guess the best way to describe it is that I have felt that same feeling by taking a leap to launch out on my own, have my own practice, be completely accountable to myself and my Divine. I was nervous; I was scared; I hesitated; I let some opportunities pass by and come around again; I looked for signs; I let go of signs; and then finally something inside me said “Just Jump and it will all be fine”. I couldn’t fathom the way my practice and my life would open up; all I could see was the fears that I had devised in my mind. Fears that spoke of challenges, obstacles, more responsibilities and so-on. But when you Leap into the Unknown, the Universe responds. And truly, all the Universe has for you is blessings. Instead of feeling the stress of the mind-fears I had created, all I have felt is the feelings of accomplishment, provision, confidence and joy that have met me each day in this new section of my journey.
So at the end of the day, here is the jist of my message- Try taking a leap into your Unknown; whatever that may be, and open your heart to trust in the blessings the Divine will provide.
May you go today with joy in the moment,
A light to guide your way,
The wisdom of the ages,
The protection of uncountable angels,
And the faith that your Unknown will become your Bright Blessed Future.
Sincerely,
with a Breath of Life Wind to send you off your cliff,
and the Peace to give your dreams flight on your way down....
Victoria
