The Real Flex
In December I did a thing…. “It” was something I’d been thinking about doing for a long while (as in several years), but I didn’t have it in me to fully commit to it in my life. Occasionally, I would ruminate about it, and I had a vision of where I wanted to be with it all, but something inside was blocking me from tipping over that edge. I acknowledged I felt stuck and knew I needed to be patient with this.
I found myself joining social media groups for women and entertained discussions about the topic with people I personally knew. I even cheered other women on in their journey as they reached their personal milestones. I knew that until I was ready to do this thing for me and only me, not much was going to be accomplished in this area of my life. I had to listen to that. The beauty of it is that I was somehow okay with all of it. I recognized this place of “standing still” and being stuck and chose to allow it, honor it, and trust me in the process. I knew it would be okay. And I knew it wouldn’t last forever. My only job was to move through what this was with grace and ease.
Towards the end of last summer, I began to notice movement. I felt an organic, energetic stirring inside gently nudging me in the direction of achieving more – and this time, it would be for me. It was a glorious moment to feel beautiful, motivated, and capable of really committing to this new adventure. The more I thought about it, the more appealing it seemed and the more I knew I had to do it. I set my intention in August to begin in late fall and proceeded to take action steps to make it real.
And then, just like that I joined a gym and started lifting! Since December I’ve noticed progress and changes that continue to motivate me forward. The best feeling in the world is to feel my body as strong. My personal trainer has been pushing me hard and now that I’m getting into heavier weights and more involved routines, I’m also beginning to feel pain and achiness in areas I haven’t experienced in a very long time. And yet, I move through it, remaining consistent and making that effort even when I don’t feel like it and even though it sometimes hurts no matter how hard it is, how small the steps are, or how long it takes.
So, what’s the real flex here? Most people would probably say it’s committing to a workout routine, pushing forward despite the pain, or not giving up. While those things are flexes in and of themselves, I’m sure it’s no surprise that the real flex has nothing to do with this story at all.
The story I’ve just shared is not anything special, profound, or unique. But on a very basic and very simple level it illustrates how relatable the healing process is and how it can work if we allow it. Whether we’re healing from the flu, a broken leg, a traumatic event, a terrible loss, a regrettable heartbreak, or something else altogether, there is always a process to get to the other side. And as cliché as it may sound, ‘the only way to the other side is through’. There are no short cuts for clearing out stuck energy. It cannot be buried, brushed aside, or hurried along. Whether it happened yesterday or 40 years ago, whatever caused it requires us to surrender to something bigger than who we are. It requires us to let go of the illusion of control and to peel back the layers allowing us to get to the root of the root of the root.
When it comes to the healing process, surrendering is The Real Flex in our lives.
Acknowledge – Patience – Listen – Allow – Honor – Trust – Move Through – Consistent
No Matter How Hard It Is, How Small the Steps Are, or How Long It Takes
Trust the unfolding in your life and be open to the process.
Keep. Moving. Forward.
Photo credit - Quang Nguyen Vinh