What if we get quiet? Really, really quiet and listen to the whispers of our soul. The ones that we pretend not to notice or don’t even know they exist.
What if we get still? So still that we feel the message within our heartbeat. The rhythm of our desire.
What if we get honest? An honesty that liberates us from that which no longer works. The freedom of truth.
What if we are vulnerable? A vulnerability that will undoubtedly break us open. The exposure of tenderness.
We risk knowing what will offer deep nourishment.
We risk knowing our recipe for joy.
We risk conscious evolution.
We risk filling our capacity for love.
We risk hope.
But when we don’t look, it is to protect ourselves from what we might not be able to have.
In risking nothing, we risk it all.
When we don’t look our deepest desires in the eyes, we don’t have to know them intimately.
We don’t have to take responsibility for, as we say in coaching, what is dying to be born.
We are free of the risk of a broken heart.
We are liberated from shattered dreams.
But that’s not why we’re here.
Mm. When I read this, the first word that came to mind was “voluptuous”. Well actually the first word was “gorgeous”, but that just didn’t capture what I want to convey.
THIS is something I dance with on a daily basis. Sometimes it’s like I hear my soul screaming out “WHY won’t you listen to me!?” and other times she whispers softly “I’m still here, you know. I’m waiting for you to hear me. I’ll keep waiting until you hear me.”
Thank you so much, Randi, for this heartfelt exploration of what we risk by doing nothing at all. We HAVE to cleave our souls open if we want to be fully alive. We HAVE to leap off the edge over and over again if we want to experience the depth and breadth of all that we can be, all that we ARE in the highest version of ourselves that’s aching to become our reality.
Everyone needs to read this. Everyone needs to ask themselves these questions. And most importantly, we all need to push through the dull + familiar to the brilliant exuberance bubbling deep within our souls. If we dare. If. We. Dare.
Otitti,
Thank you for heartfelt comment. It is a constant dance, isn’t it? I think that’s ok, just have to keep dancing. What pushes you through, Otitti, to the brilliant exuberance you describe>
Thank you so much for words. I’m very touched!
Dear Randi,
I want to thank you. I have been struggling with infertility for 11 years. I have been seeing a doctor for the last 5. She recently told me that there was nothing more that she could do and that she was refering me to a specialist. I have been in a holding pattern for the last 5 months, but you have helped me to see that by not calling and making an appointment all I was doing was hurting myself. Thank you does not even begin to express my feelings.
“We are free of the risk of a broken heart.
We are liberated from shattered dreams.”
These two lines have really hit it home for me. I was afraid to move forward because I was afraid to have my dreams shattered but if I don’t move forward I will continue to hurt myself and those that I love. Thank you.
I am so sorry for your struggle. You might want to go to Facebook or Google Gabriela Rosa Natural Fertility Breakthrough to see if there is help/suggestions there for you. I stumbled upon her in my search to get as healthy as possible in general. She seems to have so many success stories. Best of luck!
Hi- I found this site because I love Randi’s work and love her post. I just read your comment, Amy, and I feel called to leave here a contact info for a dear friend of mine, Elisabeth Manning, who may be able to really help you with your struggle. Her fb page is: https://www.facebook.com/consciousconception. If you feel called, send her a message. Much love to you. -Riikka
Hi Amy Jo,
I admit I was trying to find a way to track down your email address. Your comment has touched me so.
I deeply respect where you are and honor the call you made. I’ve been in this space, not with infertility, but I do write from my own experience. Funny (or not), I asked to ‘channel’ this piece for someone who needs it. I’m so glad it reached you.
I think we think (and fear) that we don’t want the end of our story to be the broken heart or shattered dreams. And when is a possibility it’s hard to see that it is only part of the story, not the end. If it gets up in our path, it’s part of he path. We don’t know what will unfold.
Please let me know if I can ever be of support or lend an ear.
With gratitude,
Randi
Indeed, not at all what we are here for. Thanks for the reminder Randi. Lovely writing as always.
We know from deep in our bones and from the ethers.
Both speak to you, friend.
This resonates with the deepest part of me. Lovely way of speaking Truth.
This is my favorite: But when we don’t look, it is to protect ourselves from what we might not be able to have.
In risking nothing, we risk it all.
It’s so simply stated, yet it is a difficult thing to wrap your head around, isn’t it?
I’d love to sit around a fire and debate this with you….What a great conversation that would be.
I suspect you’ve wrapped your head around this quite gracefully, Marita. Grace and grit go hand in hand in my world.
Name the fire. I’d love to chat with you too!
Thank you for your lovely comment!
desire food!
Henceforth your recipe for joy, my friend. Thank you Jen
This expresses my feelings exactly – thank you!
You’re welcome, lovely Laura! Thank you for stopping by!
[...] do we choose her? [...]
Oh Randi, how your words move me! I am taking a big step soon, and the temptation to stay where it feels “safe” (but soul-stifling) is intense. I am printing this off and putting copy by bathroom mirror, my altar and bedroom vision board to remind me of why I am here and taking this leap.
Thank you!
Grace, aptly-named woman:
Thank you! What an honor to join you in all of these places.
You know I support your heart and soul and the steps you take are earth-shifting. We all benefit from your great strides. I sure do.
Love,
R
Ah yes…love this Randi. We ARE here to risk it all….to learn, to feel, to love, to hurt, to laugh, to cry. We are ALL these things….and more. To try and be safe from any of them is to deny life, creativity, and freedom. Thanks for your poetic words full of such wisdom…of such strength. You are a beautiful soul, dear one!
xo, Tina
Tina,
It is indeed the denial of freedom. Thank you for kind words and for seeing me here.
I love this. The quote that I often share when I speak is “Forget Safety. Fear Where You Fear to Live. Destroy Your Reputation. Be Notorious.” It’s a quote by Rumi that has helped me take all the risk I take in life and my business. When we don’t take risk I feel we are not living. And LIVING LIFE is why we are here to live, to have faith, to go for what our heart desires, to be free, to create and so much more. I love how your words describe taking risks. Beautiful! Thank you for being you.
xo
Alara
That’s a killer Rumi quote! We owe Rumi quite a debt… and can pay it by heeding the words.
I love the line in The Shawshank Redemption- Get busy living, or get busy dying. It’s ultimately that, isn’t it?
Thanks for your lovely words!
As always Randi I love the way you think and write. Your post made me think about the risks of perfection, of not finishing things because they aren’t or won’t be perfect and of how letting go of that perfection is so liberating.
You know just what to say to a girl!
Thanks!
In perfection there is no zen. Why would I want no zen?
Thanks, Christie!
This is so beautiful and hits home as I’m making so many changes in my life right now and I know if I don’t step out of my comfort zone I’ll never grow.
When you step for yourself, you really pave the way for everyone else.
Thank you for the steps you are and will be taking, Emily.
Terri. Terri. Thank you, Terri.
Commenting late at night can rip a woman up. Sorry about that.
Randi,
I love the way you describe risk, as if it is something glorious, something divine, something to aspire to. It feels so safe and warm in my tiny little comfort zone until I realize it is collapsing in on me. The only way to move forward is to step out, take a risk. Beautiful post!
Glad you liked it! It does seem all cozy doesn’t it? But it will eventually cave in. The risk is why we here. It is the divine. We meet it with our own divinity. Then… fiyah! Have fun stepping!
The exposure of tenderness is terrifying yet oh so rewarding. I myself am just getting ready to release a bit that I’ve been holding in but feel the time has come to unveil. Vulnerability is totally IN!
What if the exposure where a rush? A turn on? A gasp of wonderful?
Why not?
Let me know if I can support your unveiling, Sarah.
Thank you!
Oh goodness. The late night commenting typos struck again. Take 2:
What if exposure were a rush? A turn on? A gasp of wonderful?
Why not?
Oh, that really got me. I adore your writing style; it kinda punched me right in the heart place, in the best possible way. Makes me want to go meditate in a long, long, long bath with a lit candle nearby.
“What if we are vulnerable?” That is a scary question for me. Seems silly, but there it is. I’m very guilty of risking nothing. I’m trying to learn how to do otherwise.
Love this post, Randi. Thank you.
I loved your post and I’m REALLY digging what you are dishing in the comments too…
Such genius:
When you step for yourself, you really pave the way for everyone else.
What if the exposure where a rush? A turn on? A gasp of wonderful?
And the Rumi quote from Alara… “Forget Safety. Fear Where You Fear to Live. Destroy Your Reputation. Be Notorious.”
Yes, yes, yes!
The soul knows. Listen up! (Reminder to self!
)
Randi, thank you for such a beautiful piece… I’ve spent the couple of years risking it all…I used to risk nothing.. and I got nothing. there are so many layers and evolutions of desire. Sometimes it’s exciting, sometimes heartbreaking, sometimes frustrating, but always enlightening. I love the way you write. genius piece.
xoxo,
Jenn
This is damned profound woman. I love it. If we risk nothing, we risk it all! I’m going to quote you on this because this means everything. Many thanks for this article as it could NOT have come at a better time! It speaks to the thing everyone has some fear about and that is risk. We all think about what will happen if we risk something…but you flip it on its head and really get us to think about what will happen if you don’t….bliss…beautiful…loved this. Sharing.
Ohyes. The familiar fear of greeting and sitting with our deepest desires for fear that… we can’t realize them. But as you so beautifully stated, though we are free from the risk of a broken heart, we can be certain that heart will never know deep love, either. Similarly, in shielding our eyes from the brightness of our dreams, we will never feel their warmth on our skin and in our bellies. Like Elizabeth, I think I need a long hot bath and my journal. Mmm.
Thank you for this gorgeousness, Randi. You are a gem.
xo,
Heather
So beautiful.
Risking everything opens us up to everything.
When we avoid the risk of a broken heart we never experience a full heart.
When we avoid the risk of anything we lose its beauty too.