Gearing Up For Openings

Ready!

Wouldn’t it be nice if Openings were not such surprises, and we could welcome them as they emerge? Being ready means having what we need when we encounter an Opening, rather than being caught unprepared and having to make a considerable effort to recenter ourselves before we can recognize and choose what to do about the Opening.

An Opening may still present challenges, however, even if we are ready. Being ready does not mean your choice is already made (how could it be before we know what the Opening offers?) and entering it is a breeze. Being ready means that we put our best self forward whenever we encounter an Opening. We can make a choice whether to enter the Opening and we are fully present to what it offers us.

Being ready relies on our intent. When we focus and commit to being ready, we are on our way. We can think about what has happened in the past when we have encountered an Opening (an insight, a dramatic change, a person we meet, an expansion or contraction in our life or a new opportunity). What did we do right? What can we improve?

Physical Readiness

We can be physically ready by taking care of our bodies – eating well, maintaining our health, diminishing the effects of too much stress and taking care of and respecting our bodies. Certain Openings may require strong physical bodies. If we are not physically fit, there may be a significant delay or we may not be able to enter the Opening.

What if such an Opening appears? Will we be ready? Here are some questions to ask:

• How is my physical endurance? Am I satisfied with it? Are improvements needed?
• Do I honor my body or take it for granted? How can I honor it more?
• Do I accept my body as it is or am I dissatisfied with my physical strength and appearance?
• How often do I pay attention to my body and care for it? Do I ever neglect it?
• Is my body in balance with my mind and emotions?
• How do I sustain my body’s well-being?
• Do I know how to ground my body when I need to?
• Do I take care of my physical health?
• Do I communicate with my body to know when it is in distress?

Mental and Emotional Readiness

Being mentally and emotionally ready when an Opening appears gives us a significant advantage. Our minds and emotions can take us on all kinds of rides that do us no good. Their power must be channeled to our good and we must be in the driver’s seat. Our minds and emotions, when in balance with the physical body are powerful allies.

Getting to mental and emotional readiness often involves letting go of attitudes, beliefs and conditionings from our past. Often, these things did not come naturally from within us, but from early experiences, influential people in our lives or societal perceptions and rules that we encountered and were too young to decide for ourselves whether to take in.

Mental and emotional readiness can be greatly enhanced by practices such as meditation, mindfulness, religious and spiritual seeking and growth, balance and focus. With mental and emotional readiness, we can recognize Openings and what they offer. Our choices are clearer to us and less muddled by doubt, confusion or fear.

Having The Advantage

As we gear up for Openings by increasing our physical, mental and emotional readiness for them, we move towards a kind of mastery. That mastery gives us an advantage. We are able to make the most of Openings in our lives and to choose the ones that are best for our journeys. The positive effects of our readiness will radiate to other parts of our lives as well.