Water Wisdom: Shape a Beautiful Container

“Human nature is like water. It takes the shape of its container.” 
~Wallace Stevens

While many things are out of our control, there is much we can do to take responsibility for the shape of the container that holds us. We can listen to the soft whispers of our own hearts; we can speak our truths, ask for help, and nurture our minds, our bodies, our souls. We can draw boundaries; extend a hand; ask for forgiveness. We can practice gratitude and intentionally look for the beauty and love around us. We can be accountable for our words, actions, and deeds. We can open ourselves to new ways of being, learn the things we weren’t taught, seek the healing we all need. This is self-love. 

Many of us have been taught—and strive—to build lives that fit within the constructs and norms of our society, communities, and families. At times, our acquired knowledge and skills fully serve us—allowing us to realize dreams, develop healthy self-esteem, create beautiful relationships. At other times, we integrate these teachings and doings into our beings as coping mechanisms and other impediments to growth. We become disconnected from our innate wisdom and authentic gifts and distanced from the people around us. We stockpile money and resources while failing to acknowledge others in need. We become stingy with our hearts. We are distracted, self-absorbed, restless. We become a society rife with anxiety and depression, suffering at the core from deep self-abandonment.

Yet, there are other ways, different teachers. In the way water carves her unique path—influenced, but not controlled, by her surroundings—we, too, can honor our spirits by singing those songs that are uniquely ours. 

Make no mistake, each of us is a singular combination of talents, dreams, experiences, circumstances and energy. Trying to fit in rather than belong (ala Brené Brown), adapting to ill-fitting social constructs, or otherwise playing small (ala Tara Mohr) robs each the opportunity to live our best lives, and the world of our divine gifts—gifts that have little to nothing to do with bank accounts, achievements, or levels of comfort. 

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The next time you feel a tinge of anxiety or discontent, find yourself reacting rather than responding, regretting or fretting, I invite you to check in with yourself. Consider where it is you might be feeling, thinking, behaving in ways that are not in alignment with your truest desires, your magic, your gifts. And, consider allowing this authentic code to define your next step.

It is up to you to shape the container of your life in a way that nourishes your most brilliant, beautiful self. Living in this place will not only bring you the deepest levels of serenity, connection, love and joy, but will position you to give to others from a place of overflow.