Attractive Attraction

Six hundred feet straight down! Nothing to break the fall. I’ve got to switch channels. I don’t like my chances on this station. Infused with youthful caprice, I mused to myself about my predicament. Enjoying the intense body rush of imminent danger, I was torn between prolonging the joy-terror and searching for an escape from my imminent demise.

I’d been in similar dire situations before and I’d always evaded the worst. How did I get out of danger before? Quick, you idiot, think! You don’t have all day!

The impending disaster pumped my adrenaline-and my memory. I let go, I reminded myself. That’s what I did in past situations. I just let go of having to control the whole thing. I released my need to be right about how life operates. I allowed the picture to change. That’s when circumstances shifted and something unexpected, seemingly impossible, occurred. Let the channel switch, Keith! I coached myself into letting go into safety once again. Averting the most probable outcome, I robbed death of its prey yet another time.

Yes, rather unceremoniously, I was reminded of the natural malleability of the physical universe by a six-hundred-foot free fall straight down a sheer cliff. The threat of a perilous plunge into empty space re-impressed on my young mind the lessons I learned in similar predicaments: go with the slide on the ice rink, relax into the tackle in football and turn toward the skid in the car. Now I call it “the decision to surrender.” Back then, I called it “just letting go.”

I was fourteen. My girlfriend Cheryl and I decided to go for a hike down a precipitous gorge in upstate New York. We had most of the crisp spring day to play before reporting to work as dinnertime servers at a local restaurant. The trail was winding and steep. Three hours later, we arrived at the bottom of the granite and shale canyon.

After spending an afternoon swimming in the rippling stream, it dawned on us we didn’t have enough time to hike back up the zigzagging trail to the top and get to work on time. We concluded we could still make it back to our job deadline if we climbed straight up the vertical cliff.

Ascending the steep cliff turned out to be quite easy. Protruding from the sheer granite wall were small rock ledges as easy to climb up as rungs on a ladder. Within thirty minutes we were twenty feet from the top. We would have been home free, except that the previous night’s rain had soaked the soil near the crest, loosening the shale ledges. As we neared the top, each time we placed a foot or hand on the next rock outcropping, the shale broke away from the cliff. Very quickly, we found ourselves frantically moving our hands and feet from one shelf to another, searching for something solid to support us in order to clamber up the last few feet to safety.

With total panic on her face, Cheryl looked over at me-a silent plea for guidance screaming over the space between us. I didn’t know what to do next. I had no answers. Like her, I’d also run out of ledges within reach to grasp. I felt myself beginning to slide down the cliff.

Suddenly, my whole life flashed in front of my eyes! It was like watching a movie being projected a few feet in front of me. During the first second of my descent into the abyss, I re-experienced every major positive event of my life in full, living color, including all the emotional and physical sensations of each incident. I re-lived every significant birthday party, picnic, vacation, romantic date, school honor, sports achievement and family celebration of my short life. This vivid, comprehensive review was very rich and satisfying. Considering my precarious situation, an incongruous aura of calm and fulfillment swept over me.

The flashback ended as abruptly as it began. Suddenly, I was acutely aware of being suspended in time and space between the life review and the next moment of present time-me in the midst of my slide down the cliff. During that seemingly eternal moment, the realization hit me like a ten-ton boulder: I don’t want to die! A wave of acute appreciation flooded over me. I love life. I want to continue exploring what life has to offer. I remember whispering to myself, I want to live, as if one part of me were informing another part of me.

Then, swoosh! I plummeted into the vast emptiness beneath me. Some alert, unknown aspect of my being spontaneously yelled to Cheryl, “Lie flat! Relax! Let go!” Hearing the words that came unbidden from within me, I, too, obeyed, and consciously chose to surrender to the inevitable.

I don’t remember anything after that decision, including what logically should have been a very abrupt and painful landing. All I know is, Cheryl and I were suddenly sitting in the stream at the bottom of the gorge where the current formed a small pool. Although the water in the pool had turned crimson with our blood, neither of us was experiencing any aches or discomfort. The bleeding came from small, razor-thin cuts all over the fronts of our bodies. But we had no broken bones, bruises or other injuries. It was as if the only purpose of the scratches was to remind us that, yes, indeed, we had just gone free falling down a six-hundred-foot cliff.

After a short period of wonderment, we practically danced up the long, circuitous trail to the top of the gorge. We were so thankful-and simply happy to be alive, in one piece and being given a second chance. The climb was effortless.

Crisis. Emergency. Danger.

These threats to my well-being were my early teachers. From these seeming enemies, I learned that when faced with an expected outcome I don’t like, I have an option. I can open to an alternative scenario, another framework, a different set of rules. I jokingly call my ploy “switching channels.” It’s an apt metaphor. I simply let go of my old way of viewing the world and allow a fresh perspective to emerge-or not! After all, when we truly let go, anything can happen! More often than not, however, I find myself shifted to a new reality-a different station with a new story line that has a much better ending! This is the stuff of miracles and alchemy.

(c) 2004, Keith Varnum. All rights in all media reserved.

About The Author

Drawing from the wisdom of native cultures and ancient spiritual traditions, Keith Varnum shares his practical approach to healing and transformation as an author, life strategy coach, acupuncturist, filmmaker, radio host, vision quest guide and international seminar leader with his empowering “Dream Workshops” and free, fun “Prosperity Ezine” at www.TheDream.com.

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Most gifts are given out of guilt or obligation. We toss them back and forth for holidays or birthdays, like a grass stained softball that’s waiting to be caught by a person who feels it’s rightfully theirs. Even charitable gifts can become more of a duty than an act of love. When I was growing up, my church dictated that ten percent of the family’s income should be donated to the church. When donations were low, they were quick to remind us by devoting an entire sermon to the subject. And so, people gave out of guilt and out of fear of being denied at the gates of heaven!

Not all gifts need to come with attachments. In any given day, you can read about plenty of generous people giving to others or their community. Some celebrities, who often have a lot to give, use their wealth and influence to create a better world for all of us. Many times, it is personal experience that leads them to a particular cause. Elizabeth Taylor’s tiresome support for an AIDS cure was heightened as a result of loosing many fellow actors and friends to the disease. Audrey Hepburn’s malnutrition as a child during the Nazi occupation of Holland in WWII and subsequent medical and nutritional help from UNICEF was a catalyst for her role later in life as a special ambassador to UNICEF, helping to improve conditions for hungry children in Africa and Latin America. A tour of an emergency shelter for abused children led actress Sela Ward to partner with Kentucky Fried Chicken’s Colonel’s Kids Program to buy and refurbish a 25-acre children’s home for abused and neglected children.

You don’t have to be rich to give. Any gesture of generosity, not matter how small, makes difference. True giving comes from the heart and can take many formsmoney, gifts, love, compassion, physical assistance, time, food, services, advice, or even an open ear. When you give unconditionally, it’s like releasing thousands of molecules of love and compassion into the universe that attach themselves to people, places and events.

Remember, whatever you put out in this world comes back to you tenfold. It may not come back in the same form you sent it, but the universe will surely reciprocate, in some shape or form, in this lifetime or the next.

My friend Nanette is the queen of gift-giving, and it all comes from her heart. There isn’t a holiday, occasion, event or birthday that goes by without her making those moments special with her love, generosity and presence. When I receive a gift from her, I can feel the love that surrounds it. It makes me happy and thankful. I feel that same love whenever I give a gift to someone, because that person’s happiness and gratitude is my gift. Giving is receiving, and receiving is giving. They are one and the same.

In the words of Audrey Hepburn, “Giving is like living. If you stop wanting to give…there’s nothing more to live for.” So, Goddess…give freely and you will live happily.

5 Ways to Give To Others:

Give someone a gift, just because.

Give anonymously when appropriate.

Never expect anything in return for your generosity.

If you think someone could use some help, offer before they ask.

Each morning, ask yourself how you can serve humanitythen do so.

Excerpted from the book: The Goddess of Happiness, A Down-to-Earth Guide for Heavenly Balance and Bliss

Debbie Gisonni, aka The Goddess of Happiness

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“Being defeated is often a temporary condition. Giving up is what makes it permanent.” (Marlene Savant)

“Experience is a hard teacher because she gives the test first, the lesson afterwards.” (Chinese Proverb)

“Failure is a prerequisite for great success. If you want to succeed faster, double your rate of failure.” (Brian Tracy)

“Fall seven times, stand up eight.” (Japanese Proverb)

When high expectations are not fulfilled we so easily go down the path of disappointment.
Sometimes it’s enough to stop us dead in our tracks - for a while.

I say ‘for a while’ because if we have a clear vision of the future we are wanting to create and it carries enough leverage to pull us forward, these disappointments will not keep us pinned for long.

That is the key.

When something does not go the way we intended or hoped then one place to go, is creating a bigger and more inspiring vision.

Do you clearly see your ‘Why?’

Is it strong enough and carry enough charge to keep you playing for your ultimate end result?

Do you have a clear vision of what your intended end result looks like?

Is it measurable? How will you feel when that is accomplished?

Imagine being at ‘the end’ of what you are trying to accomplish. What does the celebration look like?

Is this a crystal, clear picture you carry with you each day that you are in action on fulfilling this goal?

If your dream is big enough and is clear in your mind then you will not easily be stopped by minor setbacks.

With regard to actions that you have recently taken, are you clear about what worked/didn’t work about each of these?

Have you sought advice from somebody already hugely successful in the area of your goal?

Go back to the drawing board. Recreate the original goal.

Get it pictured clearly in your mind such that you cannot mistake what is on the right track toward fulfilling it.

Is your goal something about which you are passionate?
What is it about this goal that truly lights you up?
Is this something you “should” do rather than something you MUST accomplish in order to be satisfied?

What challenges are you likely to meet and what strategies do you have in place for overcoming possible setbacks?

Can you still move toward your end goal and yet take out elements you do not love and include some new ones that you do?

A couple of great web sites to visit are http://www.successmethods.org/ and http://www.despair.com/ The second website has a collection that you can browse, it’s a fun one and will take the seriousness out of your views on failure and disappointment. You are not alone!

Feelings come and go - many times during the day - have you noticed?
Consistent action, beyond those feelings, WILL get you there in the end.

©Thea Westra is an international life coach who resides in Perth, Western Australia. She is editor and publisher of a free, monthly newsletter at http://www.forwardsteps.com.au Thea also publishes a few blogs, visit here http://inspiration-daily.blogspot.com/ for directional links to each.

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