For three days, I have been trying to rescue and relocate a stinkbug I discovered indoors, but he continued to evade me. I had great plans for him to re-join his family outside, but seeing me as a predator, he continued to fly away. If only his gut (do they even have a gut?) had told him I was friendly and trying to help.
I get it, Mr. Stinkbug. Like you, I am often so sure that I know what’s best for me. Though I profess to be open-minded, I frequently follow my thoughts instead of my intuition, especially when what’s being proposed isn’t completely logical. More often, I need to view things as my way or the high(er) way—something beyond my own level of thinking.
Reasoning abilities determine our intelligence quotient (IQ), but how strong is your intuitive quotient, the other IQ? This IQ is the one that will lead us to our best lives.
Have you ever noticed the same suggestion, or prompt, showing up for you in multiple places? Maybe it comes through in music, a book recommendation, and then an invitation to meet someone for coffee to get to know them better. Maybe the name of a city keeps showing up in random ways, which may suggest a visit, or moving there. We may have recurring dreams with a similar theme trying to tell us something.
There are many examples for how we are encouraged to consider something new. It may not make sense logically, but something in our gut tells us to strongly consider it.
About two months ago I started getting an email about a local, 3-day art workshop. I was sort of interested, but didn’t want to do it for a few reasons. The email reminders kept coming. I was still thinking, no thanks, although I noticed I was hanging onto the idea of it. That’s a clue for me. Even though I felt strong resistance, something about it set off a little spark in me, a feeling that I should do it anyway.
We may have discomfort and fear about something, but that doesn’t automatically mean that it’s something to avoid. In fact, our discomfort and fear are often affirming that we are about to get out of our comfort zone and do something grand.
Two weeks before the start of this workshop, I still didn’t want to commit, but just in case, I texted the facilitator to see if the class was already full so I could quit worrying about it. She said they had room, so come join them. But I still couldn’t say yes.
Could it be that the things we’re most resistant to are going to have the biggest benefits? Maybe intuitively we know this, but we resist anyway, because deep down, it’s natural to resist change, even if it’s change for the better. There’s a part in all of us that wants everything to stay familiar and safe. But familiar and safe will keep us living in our own backyards for the rest of our lives when there is so much more to see, do and be.
The workshop facilitator must have mentioned my hesitation to an artist we both know, who was planning to attend. I received an email from her with more encouragement and a warm invitation. I still couldn’t sign up. I waited another few days and reached out to the facilitator the night before to see if it was full. No, they still had room for me. Just do it, I think she said.
When this much outside support shows up for me, and when there’s something in me that can’t let a thing go, I know I have to push through the resistance and show up to see what the big deal is. Whenever I follow my intuition, time after time my doubt and fear soon turn to aha! And I’m filled with gratitude that I listened, trusted and stepped out in faith.
I finally signed up the night before the art workshop was scheduled to begin. Within the first five minutes of the group starting, I knew I was supposed to be there, no doubt in my mind. I was flooded with relief that I had signed up and I knew that many gifts would follow.
My experience in the workshop was far better than I could have hoped. As the next few weeks and months unfold, I will still be uncovering the gifts that came from making the commitment to attend. But it has already proven to be time and money well spent.
Unfortunately, I was never able to set the stink bug free. I even cracked the door for a while, but he never left. Perhaps one day soon, he will conquer his fear and doubt and let someone else lead him to a much bigger and greater world. (I did manage to relocate a bee who wandered in.)
What are you repeatedly being nudged about lately? In what ways are you receiving external support and encouragement from random people, in random ways?
Some of you needed to read this today. I’m happy to be another form of encouragement, beckoning you to take the leap and just do it, whatever “it” is for you. Going forward, when it’s my way or the “high way,” I think I’ll choose the higher way a lot faster.
Please share your stories of saying YES to life in our Facebook readers group. I would love to know if this email seemed to come at just the right time for you.
