TODAY'S PHOTO -
passion flowers on a vine, graced with afternoon sun
Last week when I featured the butterfly on the passion flower vine
I said I would most likely be following up with photos of the passion flowers themselves. As I photographed the flowers that day, they seemed to want to be seen in pairs. Maybe they were taking a strong stand for themselves.
For several days now, I've had this photo prepared and ready to be presented here and yet I continued to take more this morning, looking for the "perfect" one to feature.
In the process I had been totally disregarding the stateliness and grace of the two flowers show above. In the shadows they stand firm and are a reminder for decisive action and sticking with it.
SELF-REFLECTING QUERIES -
The theme that comes up for me strongly today is that of "comparison." Yesterday, when a friend came over and was admiring this vine and its flowers, my instant response was, "These flowers are not as nice as the passion flowers in Butterfly World."
I was so caught up in the "what they are not" or, rather, what I was saying they are not, that there was not even space to hear her acknowledgment of them. These flowers have been giving me pleasure and joy for the beauty they add to my backyard, for the butterflies they attract and yet I've been denying them and not giving them "their due."
As I reflected this morning,while still searching for the "right" flower, I realized how much these experiences were paralleling my life AND I, am certain, many of your lives.
I invite you take a few minutes, now, or sometime today, as well as in the next few days, to listen to where you are comparing yourself to others, or others to others. You may be expressing these statements out loud or they may simply be in your thoughts.
Now, I invite you to look and see, "Where are these thoughts 'robbing you' of your power? What would be possible if you put a different spin on them and searched out and acknowledged your strengths or those of the other people or situations you are comparing with others?"
It suddenly occurs to me that I'm writing this out of the assumption that the comparisons are negative. Even if the comparisons are all of strengths, can you see where the act of comparing may be
blocking the full appreciation for the "being" of what you are observing?
I invite you to one final check and simply "be" with whomever or whatever fully for who or what they are. What are there strengths and beauties?
Remember, as always, to play with this. You might even have fun having a "real" or imaginary conversation of acknowledgment with the person or "thing."
Lastly, keep yourself in mind and do a full acknowledgment of yourself and your strengths, especially if you are the one you've been comparing.
PASSION FLOWERS IN OUR NATURE ART GIFT SHOP -
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Sheila
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© 2006 Sheila Finkelstein
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