Expecting our journey of self-discovery to follow a linear process can lead to frustration and confusion. Phrases such as “the path of life,” “the right direction,” and even “stay the course” imply that we grow and develop through a logical step-by-step progression. A more helpful approach may be to understand how our growth and development resembles the model of organic life – trees, flowers and all other living organisms.
We can see that tree branches expand in many different directions, influenced by internal cellular development as well as external factors such as sun, wind and water. We can also observe the variety of physical development in humans within the same family, even among twins. Applying this organic model to the more subtle interior development of mind, emotion, psyche and spirit provides a more dynamic picture of this process.
As a baby may crawl backwards before moving forward, our interior process of self-discovery may express itself as steps backward and forward many times. Allowing ourselves to grow and develop in our own natural way and trusting our developmental process may actually accelerate our journey of self-discovery. – AR
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