Walk The Inner Path

What do you do when life knocks you back with a hit to the stomach, leaving you winded and dazed…?
Take time to catch your breath,
making it long and centered
while you gather yourself back together again…
Then get up, standing tall and strong.
Find an inner, rooted knowing.
Feel a profound strength and resilience that is YOURS if only you can claim it.
Get back up and face all the infuriating bullshit,
all the heart-breaking sadness,
all the hopeless despondency…
Meet it head on with the full force of your deepest longings.
Solid, powerful, centered,
as though anchored by your will to BE HERE.
No matter what.
But… if life hits you such a blow that you can’t even recognize yourself any longer;
that you can’t remember why you would ever wish to participate in any of this foul and cruel craziness…
Then gently,
softly,
wrap your arms lovingly around your broken self,
whisper reassurances to her, cradle her in your embrace, soothe her hurt with your presence.
Be present.
And remember that there is a force out there, far greater and more powerful and more bursting with love than anything we can possibly imagine.
When life is crushing you from all sides, surrender the struggle and hand the big mess over to that force.
Allow it to take over, to gather up the broken pieces and love them back together again.
And when you feel ready,
mended and sufficiently patched-up,
continue to walk the inner path.
Walk that inner path steadily and constantly
and with firm, focused, love-fuelled determination.
Then it is sure that you will begin to connect
to deep, calm peace;
to joy that springs from a fathomless well untouched by the external world and
to a pure love that can heal the darkest corners of your being and nourish the wildest, most far-flung aspects of your spirit.