Goodbye, Cruel World. These words came drifting into my mind while I was walking the beaches of the impossibly beautiful Oregon Coast last weekend. The rhythms of the ocean have a way of opening my inner ear to wisdom, so I didn’t take this lightly. Goodbye cruel world? Since I wasn’t in a suicidal frame of mind, I didn’t go there. I also didn’t take it to mean anything about the lives that have come and gone by way of water.
Goodbye, cruel world? Why these words? Then I had a tiny epiphany. A momentary glimpse of how, even in the expansiveness and generosity of nature, I can lose the beauty of the world around me by listening to my inner narrator. I can so easily contract into a shrunken world inside when I’m triggered by feelings, glued stickily in place with supporting thoughts and evidence.
When I fall into that spell, I’ve said goodbye to the real world around me and hello to a cruel world of self-judgement and lies. Goodbye cruel world. Can I say goodbye to the cruel world that shows up when I believe my inner dictator and discover a kinder one?
When I haven’t shrunk the heaven I live in to fit a smaller belief system (like the one that says I’m not good enough, smart enough, enough enough), there’s never enough of anything around me to fill me up. Least of all the sugar or salty foods I usually begin to crave for comfort or relief.
But when I’m not in the thrall of my inner limiting loops, I’m there for it. All of it. The beauty and the poignancy of the real world. I have said goodbye to the cruel world inside and said hello to something else. To the heaven of wind, rainbows and human connection. And also hello to the challenges of financial ups and downs, failing health, troubled family members.
The more I’ve questioned my feelings/beliefs, the more I see the beauty even in these situations. I may not like it all the time, but I have moments when I see the perfection of the current “disaster.” Or I trust that I just can’t see it yet…and maybe I will. But if I don’t, I figure I’m probably missing something, and I give it up to the mysterious way of things.
I’d rather leave the cruel world behind and live in a kinder one, even if I don’t always see the goodness in the situation at first glance. Hello, real world!
What things have appeared in your life that seemed unkind but turned out later to be kind?
Susan’s calming energy creates a judge-free, supportive space where I feel completely safe to explore the scary, uncomfortable corners in my mind and to playfully and gently dissolve my painful thoughts. I love how free and open I feel following a class led by Susan!
When I asked her to help me move toward building my coaching practice, I thought I had things figured out and just needed a little support. But as my path toward this goal took turns I hadn’t anticipated, Susan saw me through confusion, fear, and heartbreak. I have accomplished what I asked for help with…and a great deal more.
Working with Susan Grace is profound and playful at the same time! To be supported by her gentle wisdom has been a blessing to me during tremendous transitions.
A wise soul with contagious laughter, Susan delves deep into the heart of the matter with compassion and kindness. My world has opened to more clarity, joy, and gratitude by working with her.
Working with Susan for a few weeks catapulted me towards my true self instead of just meandering around in my head.
