Another one of those moments… driving to work listening to the CBC. This time, I caught the tail end of a conversation about how difficult it is becoming (at least, in Ontario) for people to find a family physician.
The conversation also explored the characteristics of the patients that doctors don’t want (my words, not theirs….that would be much too direct…). You know the ones – chronic complainers about illnesses that either doctors can’t find any evidence of or worse, they can and the patient is unwilling to do what is required for them to get well (i.e eat differently, exercise, stop smoking, etc…). The ones that I was mindful of are those who really don’t feel well and no matter how many doctors they go to, there is no evidence of any illness. Hmmm… I wonder what’s up with that!
It left me very aware of the degree to which we have given up responsibility for our own wellbeing – physically (doctors), emotionally (therapists, coaches, guides, gurus, etc.) and spiritually (religion, dogma, collectives, etc). When we need something, we look outside ourselves to find someone/something else that will give it to us. Day by day, we become more and more captive to group-think and the mind-share of the collective we find ourselves in.
We’ve given up even thinking an original thought, fearing that it will be ridiculed, reviled or result in our being banished from the collective. We’ve become obsessed with what other people think we should be or what they think of who/what we already are. We are more concerned about ‘the truth’ of an external judge than we are about an internal truth which can only be judged by us.
In the great painting of life, our pixels are fading. We’re losing the vibrant colors of uniqueness and individuation and trading them in for ghost-like representations of who we have been or who we might have become. Our edges are fading, making it more difficult to distinguish one from the other. We have become the very fog we wander around in, lamenting: where am I?? What happened to me???
Take it back! We need to take back our very personal, very unique, very individual truth that is associated with our own experience! Take back our right to breathe easily, deeply and effortlessly… and to take our time. Take back our voice and our right to use it. Take back our destiny and our capacity to shape it for ourselves . Take back our ability to declare rather than ask. Take back our willingness and ability to challenge rather than please, appease, placate and soothe. Take back being the one who decides whether we will or won’t; and when we do, what it is that it will be.
No longer waiting for someone else to do it for me, or show me the way, or tell me how long, how far and how fast. No longer willing to bow to a smarter one, or older one, or one that has more credentials. No longer willing to hold on to what has long been dead, even when we all pretend that it still has life.
Moving on! No longer willing to stand still when my feet are itching to move; my legs are screaming for the long run; and my heart is pounding in my chest in the anticipation and excitement of the race! Not a race against anything or anyone, just a race for the joy of discovering how fast I can run!
We need to pay more attention to what is going on inside and turn down the volume on what is going on outside. We need to stop… and take stock of what’s true for us, what’s real for us and what we genuinely, deeply care about. We need to stop lying – to ourselves and the people around us – because we think doing so will make someone feel better. We need to take a breath… and ponder a request before we say ‘yes’ to it. We need to look beyond the habits of our past and get curious about all the things that we’re afraid of; all of the things that we’ve not allowed ourselves to consider for fear of losing interest in our lives. We need to let ourselves imagine the life we want – the life we know we desire and deserve! – and trust that if we can imagine it, we can create it.
Given that all things unfold exactly as they should, perhaps the shortage of accessible doctors is our invitation to look elsewhere for the assistance/direction/support we require. If charity begins at home, so does health, vitality, wellbeing, joy of living and the desire to get out of bed in the morning and be who we are!
Life isn’t complicated – it’s just personal.
Breathing is good…
Bravo! Isn’t it interesting how such an opportunity (lack of Doctors) presents itself and many fail to see how positive this could be for all of us.
I had wanted to be a Doctor when I was young and I shudder now to think about the likely possibility that I would never have discovered the amazing healing power of the wel-systems body of knowledge if I had gone the medical route. I also marvel that the universe unfolded as it should and my journey took me into this “rich”, “powerful” and “transformational” journey that now allows me to bring this knowledge to others.
So tragic it is, when I see my family and friends be prescribed “drugs” – much the same that I went through before realizing that a “flat-lined” life what not what I signed up for.
I continue to share the experience of my ongoing tranformation, my health and my knowledge with everyone that I encounter – especially those who have had the misfortune of taking the route that I had followed prior to discovering the “wel-systems experience” that allows me to capitalize on the power within me to change my life.
Doctors may be doing the best they can with the information they have…Can you imagine how many Doctors we wouldn’t need and how our health costs would plumet if everyone took advantage of what you and I know?
Big Breath!!! Joann