Trusting Our Nature in the Waters of Yes
The other day with my visiting Nephew Kurtis, from Los Angeles, rode our bikes up to the Biltmore House and strolled through one of my favorite parts of the estate, the Water Liliy and Koi ponds. This particularly striking specimen followed us around the ponds’ edge and practically introduced himself. We were quite taken by his presence, his curiosity (and our’s with him !) and his unique features which were beyond comparison.
There is something undeniable about the elegance and beauty discovered when we honor our true natures. In the Waters of Yes this can look and feel very individualistic, very personal, almost foreign when we compare ourselves to others, crazy even, against the backdrop of past experience. But when our natures rest into authenticity, beauty surfaces and life responds in unparalleled significance.
This invites a way of being that flows naturally, alongside a hands-on experience of “true north” that navigates all kinds of circumstances; rough, smooth, calm or stormy, and all the places in-between.
This is a big idea, and an even bigger experience. This is where the paddle meets the water, so to speak.
It makes no sense to put our paddle in the water in the interest of going anywhere in relationship if we don’t know who we are or where we want to go. And this doesn’t translate into understanding what to avoid and all else is up for a “yes” experience. At least this isn’t my experience. It is deeper than this.
Imagine launching your canoe onto the waters of a mountain lake after carefully planning the day to explore this place of possibilities. Once in the water, paddle in hand, now what? Well certainly a guiding principle for this experience will be to keep the boat in the water and the water, out of the boat. But who is to say a swim isn’t in order?
Diving into the waters of yes is bliss. It is refreshing and life-affirming. And this aside, a swim, if bliss is all that is sought, is perfect! What becomes SO interesting is when in relationship, we get back into the boat and begin the exploration around where to go next, together.
And this is where we are…
This invitation becomes pure creation, and pure collaboration. There is stillness here and in many ways, silence. The invitation naturally leans towards going within and welcomes our individual, “true norths” into the conversation about direction and what to explore in this choosing of our being together. This inward stroke of reflection, becomes an opportunity to discover a boundlessness that is naturally, FULL OF YES!
Are there “no’s” in here, in this exploration? Well of course, but these don’t move the relationship towards anything, just away.
We are paddling, forward, with a bearing of our “true norths.” And regardless of the water’s conditions, the paddling is deliberate. When we stray from these bearings we put our paddles down and talk about it. Afterall, this is BOTH about exploring, our love, and enjoying these waters of an undiscovered mountain lake, together.
And all of this to say that along the way, on this course together, I am continually stunned and delighted by the surprising beauty of these waters of yes. They reveal a sense of awe in what is possible, when the decision is to paddle together and be our authentic selves, whatever that looks like.
