Oh wow just this week I described myself as feeling cornered by my upbringing. (Being in NY, it brought up a lot of stuff.) At the time I thought it was a weird thing to say but now it makes sense. Thanks for the reminder that I am in control here. Inside job. Inside job. 😅
This is so common! One of us should be covering it in one of our Substacks :). Going "home" tends to drag us back into old ways, old patterns, expired versions of ourselves. I feel this in Mill Valley a lot, as I feel my energy shift depending on whether I'm interacting with someone I've known for decades or a new person in my life. Friends were were just visiting overseas said something similar: In moving "home" after a decade in the States, they felt they were being dragged into old ways.
Just today I read this from Kevin Kaiser @TheRewildedSoul (here on Substack too):
"Quote: Steven Pressfield, Author of Do the Work and The War of Art on Personal Transformation:
'The problem with friends and family is that they know us as we are. They are invested in maintaining us as we are. The last thing we want is to remain as we are.'
Many people never unlock their deeper potential out of fear of how those closest to them will respond.
You’ll outgrow a lot of people when you start doing what’s in your higher good instead of what makes them feel comfortable. Some people must be left lovingly behind if they’re unwilling to grow with you."
What an excellent reminder of the relationship between our conviction and what keeps us dim. I love the word conviction (this is not to say I've got it mastered by any means). It feels more impactful to me than intention, although both are an inside job. As you say Cecily, our convictions need to be revisited constantly in the myriad of daily gunk. They are what will pull us through.
Really needed this one this week! Timely, as always.
I love this! Choosing one's attitude can manifest the outcome we desire. Thanks for sharing, Cecily!
Oh wow just this week I described myself as feeling cornered by my upbringing. (Being in NY, it brought up a lot of stuff.) At the time I thought it was a weird thing to say but now it makes sense. Thanks for the reminder that I am in control here. Inside job. Inside job. 😅
This is so common! One of us should be covering it in one of our Substacks :). Going "home" tends to drag us back into old ways, old patterns, expired versions of ourselves. I feel this in Mill Valley a lot, as I feel my energy shift depending on whether I'm interacting with someone I've known for decades or a new person in my life. Friends were were just visiting overseas said something similar: In moving "home" after a decade in the States, they felt they were being dragged into old ways.
Just today I read this from Kevin Kaiser @TheRewildedSoul (here on Substack too):
"Quote: Steven Pressfield, Author of Do the Work and The War of Art on Personal Transformation:
'The problem with friends and family is that they know us as we are. They are invested in maintaining us as we are. The last thing we want is to remain as we are.'
Many people never unlock their deeper potential out of fear of how those closest to them will respond.
You’ll outgrow a lot of people when you start doing what’s in your higher good instead of what makes them feel comfortable. Some people must be left lovingly behind if they’re unwilling to grow with you."
AMEN.
🥺 exciting and scary at the same time!!!
What an excellent reminder of the relationship between our conviction and what keeps us dim. I love the word conviction (this is not to say I've got it mastered by any means). It feels more impactful to me than intention, although both are an inside job. As you say Cecily, our convictions need to be revisited constantly in the myriad of daily gunk. They are what will pull us through.
A great essay, thank you!