It was one of those hot balmy nights, the air was still and the back of my neck felt damp.
I stood in the darkness of the kitchen, it somehow seemed cooler with the lights off.
I opened the fridge to grab a cold drink and the ice-cube tray.
The light of the fridge spilled out across the room.
Clink, clink the cubes tumbled into my glass and then one hit the edge and skidded across the bench top.
I slowly reached for it, noticing the silver trail left behind as it already began to melt.
I was mesmerised, watching as a puddle of water rapidly spread around it.
How quickly this hard, rigid, frozen object had once again returned to its fluid, free-flowing state.
I imagined the many environments we live and work in.
What if we too become altered by our environment?
Hardened and tough to survive in an oppositional workplace.
False and awkward in an attempt to fit in with the “cool crowd”.
Frustrated as we live out another person’s dream at the expense of our own.
Hidden as we fly under the radar and squash our truth.
Reserved and safe to exist around judgement.
Stifled as we hold in a creative edge in a quest for perfection.
Silent in an effort to keep the peace and avoid moments of conflict.
What if life could flow more easily, if the rigid, stiffness could melt away?
A more fluid life comes when we follow our desires, when we get clear on how we want to feel.
When we understand and acknowledge our own preferences. When we stand by what is important to us and create a life and a space to support this.
Do you feel a rigidity, a stiffness in your life?
Is it time to begin your melt, to return to your natural and most comfortable state?
To flow once more.
When do you feel most unlike your true self? What do you need to do to feel how you most want to feel?
The image of the ice cube is awesome! This reminds me of how I feel at the beginning of a run. I start off tight & rigid, but as my body warms up, I loosen up. And as the reserve melts away, I feel light & free!
Nicole what a fabulous way to think about heading out for a run and the benefits as the body eases into its natural flow.
Always thrilled when you stop by.
I feel the most unlike myself when I am in large groups. I am an introvert and I feel the pressure to be social and extroverted in large groups, even though I can feel comfortable being social in small groups. #sitssharefest
Knowing when and how you feel at your best is such powerful knowledge. Living with a more natural flow may be as simple as spending time in smaller social situations and being okay to ignore the pressure to be an extrovert. The world needs all of us, and that means introverts and extroverts. Thank you for so honestly sharing.
The universe is speaking to me. Well, I’m sure the universe is always speaking to all of us…but this message keeps showing up. It is time for me to let something go, so I can live in my natural rhythm. Thank you for this beautiful post.
Amy, sounds like it is time to listen. Natural rhythm and flow.
Hmmm…this does make me think. How many times have I worried about what I needed to get done for other people rather than myself?
Michelle I totally get that feeling. Melt and flow, melt and flow. Repeat after me.
This is so thought provoking. I feel most unlike my true self when I am in a group of people. I am also an introvert and can express myself best with one or two people at a time. I am not so good at small talk. I was struck by how you were able to take an ice cube falling out of the freezer, and develop the image and concept of the melt and a more fluid life.
LeAllyson the strangest everyday things spark my imagination and then somehow create a picture of life for me. Yes watching the water pool and then run across the bench was just what I needed to make sense of my feeling that day. It seems many introverts feel most unlike themselves in large social situations, a time to be kind and open up only as much as feels good.
Karen, I am really okay wherever and whenever I find myself… really. I am quite aware of my states and monitor myself throughout the day. I know I am responsible for how I feel and I embrace JOY, connection and loving-kindness as vital to my day. Never a day goes by that I don’t experience all of those things. I am aware that every interaction is sacred, even an interaction with myself. It is a lovely, loving awareness that I focus upon all the while looking for the next opportunity, the next possibility, the next adventure! I love my life! 🙂 ♥ I’m melting!!! 🙂 ♥
Melt away Jean it sounds fabulous
Love this. Especially “A more fluid life comes when we follow our desires, when we get clear on how we want to feel.”
Heather, feeling and flowing with it are leading me to places i ahd only ever dreamed of before. Thanks for the gorgeous compliment.
The image of the ice cube is so beautiful, and so helpful. Thank you for this.
Thanks Linda, my absolute pleasure.
I feel most unlike my true self when I find myself pretending to be someone I’m not….in order to ‘fit in’ and be ‘liked’! I know that should seem rather obvious, but it didn’t to me for a long time. I’ve been ‘melting’ this entire past year and entered into this new year in a much healthier and happier state…..being me and liking who I am!
Hmmmmm… I suppose I feel the most unlike my true self when I try to be no myself. I am a klutz and the most incredible quirky things always happen to me. When I try to pretend they don’t or haven’t then I come across as stiff and untrue. Does that make sense?
Oh Kelly, those quirky things that happen to you are grist for your humor writer’s mill! Quirk on!
The more I let my paint and words flow, the more I seem to flow through life. Interestingly, I just heard about a product you can mix with paint to make it flow more readily. It’s called “flow release.” Sometimes I think we all just need a little flow release in our lives!