WHO IS READY FOR SPRING?!

HELLO AND HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Yes, that’s right, we are celebrating a NEW CYCLE! The Spring equinox ushers in a threshold crossing from Winter to Spring, and a new astrological cycle, starting with the first sign of Aries. As I was reminded by earthfairyholistics this is the time that LIGHT begins to “take over the darkness”–if that is not something to celebrate, I don’t know what is! 

Walking with Molly this morning, I was serenaded by bird song. Now, I first wrote ‘bombarded’ by bird song, but something in me back-spaced and I was called to soften that verb. ‘Serenaded’ speaks more to my experience. Was it a ‘cacophy’? YES! And, it was joy-inducing, as any 6 AM bird thrill can be on March 20th in Maine. 

I am READY for Spring! 

Let’s talk about the language we use. As a writer, I feel that it is really important to not only notice what words you choose but to be very deliberate around what words you choose. This isn’t simply because wordsmithing is an art (IMO!) but rather because I believe that words create reality. Words are spell-casters! They carry frequencies, and can actually make or break our day. Ever been “reamed out” by a boss? Has your experience at Dick’s Sporting Goods been enhanced by a helpful, energetic sales person? Think about the use of language both of these encounters would require.

I’ll take this one step further: the words we chose and the language we rely on acts as a Decider in our life’s story. This ‘Language Ambassador’ is responsible for upholding the narrative of our lives. The words we speak out to others (and the words we speak to ourselves) are PILLARS that act as the scaffolding for experience. From these pillar-words hang a million different ideas, a wagon-full of opinions, and innumerable beliefs. 

Wittgenstein would be so proud of what I am about to say! I challenge anyone out there reading this to 1) start noticing how others’ words are landing on you energetically, and 2) if you are truly brave, commit to changing words and language in the hopes that by changing the words you speak, your reality might shift. 

This exercise is especially poignant if:

• Life feels like it is on pause and you just can’t figure out why, or 
• You feel a little dissatisfied or disenchanted with life, or 
• You are ready for a new narrative to emerge for your life, one that has definitely OUTGROWN the old ways and habits that were keeping you small. 

I realize this is all very philosophical (again, love you Ludwig!) so allow me to give you an example: I have noticed over the last several years that prefacing a question precedes the actual question. Let me know if this is something you do, or heard someone doing:

Person A: “I have a question.”

Person B: “Yes?” [or, maybe they just nod] 

Person A: [then asks her question!]  

9 times out of 10 it is women (and girls) who do this. Are we asking for permission to ASK A QUESTION!? Now, women are known to soften their language choices because we have unfortunately learned that in this society, we women were conditioned to believe that you “catch more flies with honey than vinegar.” The reasoning/logic of why employing ‘sugary’ sweet language to soften the blow of our truth is the topic of another newsletter!   

Here’s another chestnut that has entered our lexicon and is creating our reality, and I MUST THANK THIS THOUGHT-LEADER or counselor or whoever came up with this one:

“Have you considered…?” 

“Have you considered…?” has replaced just telling someone how to do something, or ‘advising’ them what to do (although they never asked for your opinion!). In essence, this little phrase works to STOP anyone from being a pushy, nosy, know-it-all. Also, it EMPOWERS the other person to actually stop, think, and reflect on whether they HAVE actually considered such-and-such. HUGE shout out to Martha Williams for being the quintessential model of considerate language by employing this phrase often. 

I’d like to blow this out a little wider: if language creates our reality as well as the quality of our experience, what happens when we begin to be aware and conscientious of the words we are using? I think that compassion–for self and others–must be a welcomed result. I remember a long time ago sitting in circle journaling about the “words we use against ourselves.” Everyone harps on and on about the ‘narrative’ you are carrying, just as I have here in this newsletter, but it’s actually PRESENCE and AN OPEN HEART that will help you to start to change the words and language you are using in your narrative of self. Words are ambassadors, and they work FOR YOU, not the other way around…

So: Have you considered how language is holding up outdated beliefs, expired assessments, or limiting ideas you might have about yourself or someone else?

New word-pillars are available at any time. 

This Spring, maybe it is time to start building a new reality, one that better suits the ever-evolving Self.  

SHINE ON my little buds.

Mary Katherine