By Charlene M Brown
When I graduated from college, I decided to spend four months in Ghana, West Africa. With the exception of one person, everyone thought I wasn’t coming back—that I would fall in love with the African Continent and never return to the States.
Everyone also thought I was crazy, that I had plumb lost my mind. I had no agenda for when I got there—I was just going to figure it out as I went along. I was going to wing it.
What most of those people—and family and very good friends are in included in “those people”—were projecting on me were their own fears of not being in control and of the unknown.
Ironically, these are actually my own fears as well, though I deal with them differently than most folks I know. In fact, I didn’t even tell my family that I was going until after I bought my plane ticket. I didn’t want to have them talk me out of it and not go.
But I did go, and as I found out, learned a LOT (I mean a WHOLE LOT!!!!) about myself in the process.
The first thing I learned (even though it was really the last thing I learned), was that 4 months without an agenda is too long and by the time I got back, I was bored senseless.
I also learned that here in the States, I was very distracted by the people around me, and sometimes I got caught in their mire and muck (and their good things too, but mire and muck are more dramatic J). Much of the stuff I was dealing with didn’t belong to me at all. Four months practically by yourself will teach you this, loudly and clearly.
I was also very clear, because I had been removed from all my distractions, so the things I said manifested very quickly (based on the principle that you get what you think about or the Law of Attraction). This was an amazing process to see in action (and even more amazing to realize I was creating it)!
At some point, I got frustrated. Based on the same principle above, the Universe gave me frustration back, which of course, made me more frustrated! I said: “Universe I am Frustrated!” The Universe gave me more Frustration back. “UNIVERSE I AM FRUSTRATED!!!!!” I shouted in dismay. And guess what I got back—that’s right, more FRUSTRATION!!!!
Wait!! I get it: I get back what I give out. The more frustration I give out, the more I will get in return.
Okay.
“Universe, I am ACCEPTING.”
And guess what!?
I became ACCEPTING.
Being in Ghana was not the first time I had been out of the country, and usually, I love it! I can’t get enough. But this time, I was more homesick than I had ever been in my life.
The truth is that somewhere, deep inside of me, I liked the comfort level where I was. I liked having people I love surrounding me and having fun places to go, things to do, people who missed me when I wasn’t there.
And who isn’t comfortable with those things?
What I had to learn, though, was that in order for me to grow and expand, I had to literally step outside my comfort zone and learn myself all over again.
That trip was a tremendous learning experience for me. I did a lot of writing and a lot of “reflecting” (I thought about everything I could possibly think of ever in Life!!! J). It also allowed me to forgive most of the old hurts and pains that I had been holding onto for so long. There was a lot of forgiveness: of others for what they “did” to me and of myself for whatever role I played. I let so much junk go.
So in Truth, my big bad trip to Africa was very healing for me in a lot of ways I’m still recognizing.
Including my traveling companions (Kitaka Women All the Way!), I wouldn’t have changed anything about that trip. But knowing what I know now, I wouldn’t take the trip again, at least not that way!
What I discovered was that sometimes (most of the time), you have to leave your “native” surroundings in order to truly find your Self. Oh the things you will learn, if only you are not so distracted.
After all, doesn’t a baby bird have to test out its wings before it leaves the nest?
Happy Discoveries to you!!
Do You Love Your Discovery-filled Life Now!? I Do!!
Related posts:
- Messages Change!
- Synergy: Finding That Right Collaboration!
- Change Begins With One Little Step: Didn’t You Know!?
- Grateful After Thanksgiving!
- Communicating With The Universe!
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© 2009 You Can Love Your Life Now!
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