In love lies the seed of our growth. The more we love, the closer we are to the spiritual experience.
- Paulo Coelho
I was walking into town yesterday morning on my way to the local bakery (boulanger) for our daily bread provisions (what's that saying, "when in France...") without much on my mind. It felt rather normal since I take this route most days, and my mind was quiet.
Completely unbidden rose a question from inside of me…
What if this year is about falling in love with myself?
Even writing it makes me squirm. Saboteurs jump on the bandwagon - how many people just rolled their eyes reading that?
[Cue circus music] Welcome to Hokeyville where words like love and essence are overused and oversold.
I will try to let that go for now and trust that you will keep reading (or not).
Walking down the quiet road, the question landed on my heart not with the clarity of a single church bell that leaves the skin tingling. Instead, it landed in a cacophonous way that made me squirm and swallow quickly.
Writing it down here, that feeling is coming back. Itching in my fingers as they yearn to run away from the keyboard, an ache in my armpits like I just came from lifting a hundred pound sack.
The discomfort suggests that there is something for me here.
I attended a workshop with David Whyte a few years back where during the opening session he suggested that we each articulate a question for ourselves to sit with throughout the weekend.
As a coach, of course I love powerful questions! And magic can happen when we allow a question to bubble around in our awareness without necessarily jumping to an immediate answer. I have come to love this strategy as a way to frame my listening and how I pay attention.
Yesterday, I agreed to hold space for my slightly uncomfortable question in the days ahead. And this morning, as I opened the novel that I am (re)reading to practice my French, my eyes caught on a line.
I looked up the English translation to share here:
“The moment we begin to seek love, love begins to seek us. And to save us.”
Paulo Coelho in By the River Piedra I Sat Down and Wept
In reading those words, I felt my heart soften. My question became less scary and more inviting. Just a gentle reminder - I don't have to do this alone.
May it be so.
What is the question that lies in wait for you? What bubbles up when you allow space for it?
Completely unbidden rose a question from inside of me…
What if this year is about falling in love with myself?
Even writing it makes me squirm. Saboteurs jump on the bandwagon - how many people just rolled their eyes reading that?
[Cue circus music] Welcome to Hokeyville where words like love and essence are overused and oversold.
I will try to let that go for now and trust that you will keep reading (or not).
Walking down the quiet road, the question landed on my heart not with the clarity of a single church bell that leaves the skin tingling. Instead, it landed in a cacophonous way that made me squirm and swallow quickly.
Writing it down here, that feeling is coming back. Itching in my fingers as they yearn to run away from the keyboard, an ache in my armpits like I just came from lifting a hundred pound sack.
The discomfort suggests that there is something for me here.
I attended a workshop with David Whyte a few years back where during the opening session he suggested that we each articulate a question for ourselves to sit with throughout the weekend.
As a coach, of course I love powerful questions! And magic can happen when we allow a question to bubble around in our awareness without necessarily jumping to an immediate answer. I have come to love this strategy as a way to frame my listening and how I pay attention.
Yesterday, I agreed to hold space for my slightly uncomfortable question in the days ahead. And this morning, as I opened the novel that I am (re)reading to practice my French, my eyes caught on a line.
I looked up the English translation to share here:
“The moment we begin to seek love, love begins to seek us. And to save us.”
Paulo Coelho in By the River Piedra I Sat Down and Wept
In reading those words, I felt my heart soften. My question became less scary and more inviting. Just a gentle reminder - I don't have to do this alone.
May it be so.
What is the question that lies in wait for you? What bubbles up when you allow space for it?
 | Jessica Curtis is a professional coach who helps people cultivate intention and live from a place of meaning and authenticity. If you think you could benefit from working with Jessica or want to invite her to work with your group, reach out to start a conversation. |
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