Reading the book Iron John: A Book About Men, Robert Bly tells a multitude of stories about folklore, mythology, and poems that can speak to us if we read through the lines. This morning, I was on my patio and reading a chapter titled “To Bring The Interior Warriors Back To Life” and he made a thought-provoking statement:
“If we choose “the one precious thing” – the object of our desire – then, according to the alchemists, the inner King in us that has been asleep for so many years wakes up.”
This ‘one precious thing’ has remained true to my heart for several years. And it’s the belief that life comes our inner heart, mind, and soul – applied to our dreams, relationships, work, and future plans. I believe in most cases, the object of our deepest desire is a sacred box whose contents are only known to its owner, should we take the time to discover, guard, and protect them. Similar to the enthusiasm a young child has who dreams of being an astronaut, the contents of our heart are pure and free. It’s a beautiful thing.
What makes us happy is often quite different from what we think will make us happy. I’ve been doing my best to shed a lot of the materialistic patterns and habits that used to run my life. From deleting the apps on my phone that showcased expensive products, or the convenience of a 1-click purchase on Amazon, there has been a lot of stripping down the distractions and fluff I surrounded myself with.
If I’m honest with myself, I’ve never been happier – or more free.
Working from home can be a liberating experience. However, it can also be extremely lonely. Every time my phone rings, I light up with the anticipation of it being a loved one calling to say hello. It just did! At the same time, there’s a beauty to the silence and calm that isn’t interrupted by noise/clutter.
Bly writes that the path we follow when we awaken the inner King isn’t full of pleasantries – instead, it demands that our inner warrior be brought to full attention to fight and pay the cost of pursuing our choices. While we may get some wounds and scars along the way, I believe it’s worth every second.
I’m exactly where I need to be at this moment in time. And there is an abundance of gratitude for the circumstances – good and bad – that have led me to this point in my life.
With the right attitude, even a pauper can feel as rich as a king.
Featured Image From Deviantart
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