Speaking of expansion, the expansion’s been real in my life recently – like in the past week or so, I made monumental breakthroughs in some areas. But hah, let’s not talk about that because it’s good to be low-key. Instead, I’d like to refer to the yin to the yang, the other side of the coin to expansion. Basically, that’s where you check the mental too.
Where did I get this idea from? Well, you may or may not know that we had a show on recently. And last weekend, we had a regular check-in of that sort to mark the last day of theatre class for this year. And so that’s what I would like to zero in on today.
So basically… the mood in that class. Basically, it’s perfectly safe for you truly to just be yourself. You drop all masks and pretenses that you might otherwise have in the outside world. And you share your honest!!! thoughts on how you’re feeling about everything. And you tell one another heartfelt thoughts and even sincere wishes.
So of course part of it was just – how did y’all feel going into the show? I mean, so it’s a perfectly safe space for us to share how we truly thought. But really, the ultimate culmination – and I don’t know if it was more spontaneous or inspired by a suggestion on what to do with our time…
At the end of it all, we literally went around in a circle and told everyone else how we honestly felt about them, or gave them words of encouragement. It was fine be it simple or rousing. Some people are eloquent, good for them. Others aren’t; that’s perfectly fine for that’s who they are.
So my final comment to the facilitator was literally that it was an incredible activity and, it might be a bit of an exaggeration, but I might never forget it in my life.
This seriously applies to real life as well.
See, normally, we can be all forward-looking and work on expansion and all that. Similar to how we prepared for a memorable performance too.
But no, it’s seriously not that after the objective thing’s been all said therefore done, bye! We all go our separate ways. So far from it!
Rather, if expansion is one side of the coin, the other side of the coin would be these regular reviews and check-ins on how we are doing.
For instance, Person A could say: I am very stressed! And maybe therapeutic-ish words could be said to them, and people could take note and remember to keep an eye out for them for the rest of the rehearsals.
In fact, the idea of expansion is totally unnecessary here to be honest. I mean, it’s more of a placeholder where expansion is more of the ideal…
I just want to point to some past moments in my life before I sorta transcended such stuff. So basically, I would feel miserable. And I would just lie/sit there feeling sorry for myself and just do the bare minimum. And things would just fester and ultimately reach boiling point and a tragic!! implosion. At least, that was how I used to be.
What about now? Well, now I totally see how I as a creator of my precious!! life have the ability to choose where I direct my energy to… When I think of how I burnt my energies of existence away back then… ah!! The horror!
No, what I would do now is this. If I see that something is not working, what would I do? Well, I would communicate! It would be a grave travesty to throw myself into the pits because of this. Rather, I would try to resolve any major issue with the other party by coming to a compromise. Then!! If the negotiation fails, what would I do?
Well, maybe the past me would have frozen. As in, fight flight freeze ya know? No way to manage things, systems go shutdown?! But now it’s a different story. If it can’t work out, adieu, mon ami! And that’s how it is.
Yeah, I kind of grew past that stage of being in negative energy AND so doing nothing as a result and just lounging in the depths of misery! Nope.
Now I RECLAIM my energy and choose to positively expand with it. And obviously, for me, by me. Not because I feel incomplete and lacking and feel like I need to prove it to some people for validation. Really, more because I just feel enlivened by so-and-so act of expansion!!!
Anyway I suppose I’ve digressed a bit. What was my point anyway?
Hmm.
Oh yeah.
So basically, expansion is great. That’s the forward-moving side of ya.
However! Even as you progress in life, you gotta make sure that your vessel is sturdy and not full of cracks! It’s not gonna sudden explode!
And that’s why the regular check-ins and reviews are so necessary. I thoroughly view them as indispensable insofar as they help you stay grounded and not skid off the rails off your railway track. Think of children and how they have progress reports from their schools at semester end? It’s much the same concept!
Sure, go and have all the fun you one expanding in your regular 🙂 However! Don’t forget about the check-ins. This is all the more so essential for the people around you I would think. Don’t just… take precious others for granted and don’t check in on them. Ya see who knows? They might be ramping up towards boiling point fast, with you none the wiser! And when it erupts, man… you will be in for a tragedy…
And so, what I am trying to say is that we should all just habitually go check in on one another once in a while. Make that a good habit of life yeah! I mean, the contrast is like you are so! distant you’re like strangers. Well, even though technically you should be far more than that.
And in the process, don’t forget to take a leaf out of the book of said unforgettable activity I mentioned before! Be honest and express your true! feelings to one another. I know, this seems like a bit of a mission impossible in the traditional Asian household stereotype, but yo. The traditions can be part of a bygone era ya know, just like slavery is. Ha.
So the very most important thing is that we get a safe space where we can!!! just truly be ourselves. We can safely express our heartfelt and innermost feelings. We are so accepted and loved, needn’t repress.
Soak into that space where you can emerge from that turtle shell, just be you. Of course, I totally get that some of us come from toxic families. Still. Maybe you’ve no choice but to put your guard up and you don’t feel safe and accepted yeah. Still, trust that it’s for your growth, and one day! 4 sure! You will have that safe haven of your own, with camaraderie and love. Maybe you already do. Basically it could be your home but needn’t be.
(Besides the universe doesn’t put us in situations that are impossible for us yo. Usually if we get dealt a minus card in one area a plus card in another nicely helps alleviate that a little. You’re probably thriving somewhere!)
(Aka you probably got some amazing friends I would think)
One side of the coin – expansion. Boss/Girlboss (whatever you identify as)
Other side of the coin – heartspace. Communion/Luxuriate (deep bonds!!!)
That would be an ideal world indeed.
Towards Earth’s expansion!
End of article!!! 🙂