When I was a child watching cartoons there would always be the moment when the character would take a decisive action or make a move. At that point in the animation the image might divide into 2 of itself - one image of the character would rush forward or take a leap and the other image would lag behind, maybe even freeze in horror 10 ft up in the air.
Eventually the bit left behind would catch up and usually smack bang straight into the rear of the part in front, they would ‘re-unite’ as one image and the character would swell, settle and stroll on. This scene might occur if the character had run over the edge of a cliff or jumped off a ledge and I would laugh as one image of itself would drop and the other part would be left frozen in the air.
I realised for myself that whenever I make a move to expand, to do something new or to show up in a different way this is how it feels. One version of me steps forward excited and taking inspired action, and then almost unexpectedly ‘out of the blue’, a following part shows up after i have acted in some form of anxiety. This cartoon image comes to mind and seems to put my whole experience into a perfect visual. A strong visual description of the feelings inside when we stretch ourselves and take leaps into the new and how until the front part moves forward the lagging part cannot be seen.
One part of us feels inspired and excited and jumps off the ledge but after doing so it feels like there is always a part that shows up that was left behind and needs to ‘catch up’. This part is felt so strongly through the nervous system as it learns to cross the bridge from its old safe understanding of normal to a new equilibrium.
If we want to step forward we need to allow that this other part will be seen and needs to catch up. I am starting to see that maybe we can’t avoid this part of the process. It is part of the dance of our progress. Maybe it is even the most important part as it brings us the message that we truly have shifted into the ‘new’.
It is helpful to me, when those sensations feel so strong and so eager to throw up stories of doubt and uncertainty, to see it in this fun way. To see myself as the cartoon character who has lunged forward and yet also has my other part who ‘didn’t yet notice any move was even going to occur’ and has to take time to acclimate and re-integrate before I can swell back into one again and settle.
Until of course I leap again ...................................
Eventually the bit left behind would catch up and usually smack bang straight into the rear of the part in front, they would ‘re-unite’ as one image and the character would swell, settle and stroll on. This scene might occur if the character had run over the edge of a cliff or jumped off a ledge and I would laugh as one image of itself would drop and the other part would be left frozen in the air.
I realised for myself that whenever I make a move to expand, to do something new or to show up in a different way this is how it feels. One version of me steps forward excited and taking inspired action, and then almost unexpectedly ‘out of the blue’, a following part shows up after i have acted in some form of anxiety. This cartoon image comes to mind and seems to put my whole experience into a perfect visual. A strong visual description of the feelings inside when we stretch ourselves and take leaps into the new and how until the front part moves forward the lagging part cannot be seen.
One part of us feels inspired and excited and jumps off the ledge but after doing so it feels like there is always a part that shows up that was left behind and needs to ‘catch up’. This part is felt so strongly through the nervous system as it learns to cross the bridge from its old safe understanding of normal to a new equilibrium.
If we want to step forward we need to allow that this other part will be seen and needs to catch up. I am starting to see that maybe we can’t avoid this part of the process. It is part of the dance of our progress. Maybe it is even the most important part as it brings us the message that we truly have shifted into the ‘new’.
It is helpful to me, when those sensations feel so strong and so eager to throw up stories of doubt and uncertainty, to see it in this fun way. To see myself as the cartoon character who has lunged forward and yet also has my other part who ‘didn’t yet notice any move was even going to occur’ and has to take time to acclimate and re-integrate before I can swell back into one again and settle.
Until of course I leap again ...................................
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