Clarity

From the earliest years of my life I remember knowing two things: I want to help people and I want to make a difference in the world. 

These two convictions led me into the field of counseling and doing work that didn’t make me happy.  Now when I look back on my life I can see that the paths I’ve gone down, the choices I’ve made, and the relationships I’ve formed haven’t really been driven by these statements.  These statements are true but as I said in my last blog post the things that have actually been fueling my decisions are the questions: Who am I? and How can I be happy?

I recently stumbled across this poem and I think it’s true for all of us.  No one is capable of saving the world without first finding peace within.  It’s this inner peace and acceptance of ourselves that becomes a ripple effect on our immediate circle, then effecting their circles, and only then does it trickle out into the rest of the world.  How lovely.

Clearing by Martha Postlethwaite

Do not try to save

the whole world

or do anything grandiose.

Instead, create

a clearing

in the dense forest

of your life

and wait there

patiently,

until the song

that is yours alone to sing

falls into your open cupped hands

and you recognize and greet it.

Only then will you know

how to give yourself

to this world,

so worthy of rescue.