Moving from Reactivity to Creativity
By Leslie Sann
Don’t worry about the world coming to an end today. It’s already tomorrow in Australia.~ Charles Schultz
Imagine the doorbell rings, and your dog runs barking to the door. He sees through the window that it is a friend, not a foe. The hair on his neck lies down, and his tail wags. After greeting the visitor, he retreats to the pool of sunlight where he had been resting. He has calmed down from the disturbance caused by the ringing bell. He goes back to his nap.
Life is like that. Something is always happening. We get aroused. Fear calls us alert, asking us to pay attention; something is happening other than planned. We react like the dog running to the door to check out if there is a threat.
This was good when we were roaming the savanna with a pointy stick as our only company. There was a sound in the bushes, and the mind began to ask, What does it mean? What do I do? This is the gift of the human brain. Referencing the past, we decide if the sound means something in the bushes is about to eat us. Or if not, perhaps we can eat it.
It has been useful for thousands of years, for here we are—still roaming planet Earth in our caveman/cavewoman bodies. Although we have evolved past our wiring for flight-or-fight reactivity, we find ourselves running to the door and barking whenever something unexpected occurs.
We now have more than a pointy stick for company. We live in a larger world of choice and possibilities. Yet, we live in a body that is hardwired for survival. That’s good news because we don’t just walk across the street without looking to ensure the passage is safe. It is also a challenge to become aware when we are operating focused on survival versus flourishing, expansion and living in joy and possibility. Yet, we can learn to choose how we respond to life’s unexpected events.
Humans are the only animals we know that can reference the past, imagine a different future and take action now to bring that future into reality—amazing us. Next month, beginning September 5, I am offering a Lift Up course: Moving from Reactivity to Creativity. This course will help you harness your ability to shift from survival mode to a life of joy, peace, and creativity. Join me in this transformative journey. See below for more information.
Blessings and Joy, 