Do you want to feel safe or do you want to grow?
This is the perfect time of year, here in the northern hemisphere at least, to ask this question.
Winter is over. Right now, the sap is already rising in nature and within us. There is a freshness in the air and a stronger pulsing through the body. The time has come to rise up and radiate.
One of the big lessons in life is learning how to manage our anxiety about the unknown. Change is inevitable, yet so many of us are conditioned to be careful and cautious, to be guarded and hesitant. Our inner judge reinforces this, with messages of “Better to be safe than sorry” or “Better the devil you know” “The unknown is too risky” “If in doubt, don’t”
Recognizing that our default is fear and clinging to safety, can be enough to help us let go of our conditioning.
Growth never happens in the comfortable.
So don’t expect it to be.
Find Your Middle Ground 
“Growth never happens in the comfortable.” So true, Val!
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Thank you Jill 🙏
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This is a brilliant post! Thanks Val.
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Thank you Louise 💛
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In all honesty, at this point in life, I’d rather be safe and comfortable . . . 😀
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I always appreciate your honesty Nancy 💕
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It’s a great question to ponder, Val, but, as you imply, it’s not an either/or. Safety and growth are two polarities we manage depending on our own circumstances, need, and risk tolerance. Always good to start a morning with a thought-provoking question. Thanks.
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Thank you for your thoughtful response Donna. Yes – it’s often like a pendulum that move from one polarity to an other. There will be times when we want to stay in the middle too 😉
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Well said. We have to change to survive.
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To survive and thrive. Thanks Kate 💛
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Oh how true. Fear is the fuel thief of life. I struggle with change, with safety … and as Donna said above, there’s need and risk tolerance …. I’ve changed and grown many times in life, leaped without looking and poof – growth. As of the more recent years, safety, need and risk tolerance have become factors for me … I fight fear, but do I really? If I’m focusing on risk and safety, am I really fighting fear? Yet, while staying still, I have grown immensely. Perhaps I’m still, not jumping as I used to, because I’m in class? *deep thought over coffee*
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Love this – While staying still, I have grown immensely. Allowing things to unfold in stillness and inquiry also takes courage. 💛
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Thank you Val, for the “love this” and for what you wrote next. 💖. xoxo
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I have found this to be very true Val. Growth never does happen in the comfortable does it. It’s hard to go through those difficult growing times, but in the end well worth it.
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Embracing it all with an appreciation of growth …. changes everything. Thank you Michele 🙏
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Absolutely on point. Love this! I just wrote a similar piece on change and growth and stepping into the unknown.
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Great post Val! Personal growth is still a commitment to evolve. It’s just that like the caterpillar that transforms into a butterfly, it doesn’t always feel good about it.
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At first I’m afraid I’d have to answer “safety,” but upon looking back at my decisions and actions, I’m happy to say, GROWTH.
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The choice is yours. Thank you Pam 💛
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I choose growth, recognizing that a little fear prevents me from being stupid. 😀 The trick is something that you often mention, Val. The mindful introspection that challenges us to examine our fears and let the useless ones go. ❤
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Val, so much has transpired in my life that presently I’m learning just to Flow with the unfolding events. There is so much we cannot control so why not learn just to accept this fact and do our very best regardless? I’ve grown SO much within terrible calamities but yet, is it not true that the most growth and the greatest strengths come from adversity? Beautiful post!! Thank you! 🌈🌈🌈
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ummmmm! Yes, Val! You have captured the human constancy…the state of fear. Too afraid to make a move…being content with the status quo. I love your thoughts and I, too, think about this often. Of course in the energy of trying to adjust to this I have been guilty of going really far in the other direction! Balance. But reaching past this fear is so important to “living!”
And your photo is BEAUTIFUL!!
Happy Easter weekend to you…many sweet blessings! ❤
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A profound one, Val
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Thanks Derrick 💛
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I think one of the myths that some of us grow up with – all of us grow up with? – is that somehow, someday, we’re going to figure life out so that we have some measure of (inner? Outer?) ‘security. ‘ What is surprise then to discover that life continues doling out lessons that put us in uncomfortable positions/situations. I rather like it, to tell you the truth, most days. It’s great getting older where a good deal of life is behind me and I can be reflective about what I have learned from such discomfort. And so on it goes, bring it on, which it will do regardless of what I want or don’t want! 😂😘
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i’m happy receiving
this always needed
encouragement, Val!
hope you’re well
as i’ve not heard from you lately 🙂
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Thank you for your kind words and reaching out David.💕 I am well, and was in Europe on vacation with my mother. I am busy with a Yin Yoga Teachers training this Spring. It’s taking up a lot of my time away from blogging and visiting my favorite peeps.
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thank you for your kind update, Val!
i’ve felt concern about wp community members that have been going missing.
your yogi work is an inspiration. my old joints would benefit from some slow, yin practice. 🙂
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Thank you David. I too am missing some of the “old hands” around WP.
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“The time has come to rise up and radiate.” Brilliant! Thanks for sharing your wisdom and encouragement, Val!
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Thank you Vicki. So glad it resonated with you 💛
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Good reminder! Sometimes I’d like to say “safety,” but ultimately, no. Thank you, Val.
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Very factual! Thanks for sharing!
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