When we see that in some way ‘too big’ and ‘too small’ are both ways we try to control situations, maybe we can open to the emergence of something more fluid, more adaptive, and more sensitive in us. Something that asks of us to be of service to life, and responds accordingly.

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Turning Towards Life, a week-by-week conversation inviting us deeply into our lives, is a live 30 minute conversation hosted by Justin Wise and Lizzie Winn of Thirdspace.  Find us on FaceBook to watch live and join in the lively conversation on this episode. You can find videos of every episode, and more about the project on the Turning Towards Life website, and you can also watch and listen on Instagram, YouTube, and as a podcast on Apple, Google, Amazon Music and Spotify.

Here's our source for this week:

What if this the year to learn to be right-sized?

I learned on the playground to 

Flinch from arrogance.

‘Please – don’t leave me. 

I promise not to get Too Big.’

But the cost, I’ve learned, is dear. 

Trading potential for false modesty, 

Dampening power with every apology, 

Neglecting my impeccable edges 

With every hedge.

But then I remember 

What the rabbis knew.

They stretched wide a red silk thread. 

At one end: Arrogance. 

At the other: Not humility – but 

Playing Too Small.

They knew playing small was just arrogance by a different name. 

Placing comfort above contribution. 

Our gifts withdrawn from the world, 

For the price of fitting in.

‘What if holding back is stealing?’

So in the middle, they placed a pair of right-sized shoes. 

Yours. 

Mine. 

The right-sizing that awaits us all.

What, I wonder, will it take for you to grow into your right size 

The one that seems Impossibly large, and 

Obnoxiously loud?

Clownish as these shoes seem now, prone to stumbling, 

At first you’ll feel the fool. 

Some People will have Things To Say. 

Some may even walk away. 

(In this modesty-mad world, they’re yet to clock 

that claiming your shoes 

does nothing to keep them from theirs.)

But every now and then you wake up to the truth. 

That it's the world that's wrong - not you. 

These too-small shoes will no longer do.

So take your credit where it’s due. 

And when no-one offers it – give yourself a spoon daily.

Take your space 

Trading in the apologies for gratitude.

Minimise your emotions no more – 

They too deserve to expand to the full.

Fill your circle with champions 

And learn to see yourself with the wonder of their eyes.

And when you hit your stride, and weather whatever, 

Give up the surprise.

When those shoes once vast grow snug, 

Be sure to celebrate well. 

Acknowledge yourself, and your people, and the view.

Until another pair of shoes calls to you 

Between arrogance and avoidance 

On that red silk string…

You Are Needed. 

And this is no time, no world, 

For stealing. 

www.debbiedanon.com

Photo by Michael Wright on Unsplash