Autobiography in Five Short Chapters
— By Portia Nelson —
I
I walk down the street.
There is a deep hole in the sidewalk
I fall in.
I am lost ... I am helpless.
It isn't my fault.
It takes me forever to find a way out.
II
I walk down the same street.
There is a deep hole in the sidewalk.
I pretend I don't see it.
I fall in again.
I can't believe I am in the same place
but, it isn't my fault.
It still takes a long time to get out.
III
I walk down the same street.
There is a deep hole in the sidewalk.
I see it is there.
I still fall in ... it's a habit.
my eyes are open
I know where I am.
It is my fault.
I get out immediately.
IV
I walk down the same street.
There is a deep hole in the sidewalk.
I walk around it.
V
I walk down another street.
Familiar at all?
The stubborn among us may take 10 or 15 or even 20 chapters to get there (if we get there); but, ideally, we eventually get it. We learn from these holes, and adjust our walk in life.
In our own ‘neuroplastic’ brains, as we learn, adapt and grow — forging new territory — we create new neural pathways — new grooves — as if learning to walk down another street in our minds. Crafting a mind full of new thoughts, beliefs, feelings and actions. By increasing neural growth factor Lion’s Mane mushroom can offer a serious helping hand in this.
Lion’s Mane mushroom has the potential to reduce the number of chapters needed to get there (and the amount of unnecessary bumps and scratches along the way) while inspiring new ideas, and ways of being. Effectively helping open new doors. It takes a clear mind to recognize, adjust, and re-create inspired. The clearer our mind is — the more present and open the senses, the more available our inner wisdom and intuition is, the quicker we recognize, the faster we learn, the easier we adapt and move.
We fortify that change with help from all our friends. (We’re talking both the human and animal friends that support us unconditionally, even when we do stupid things like walk into the same hole again and again until we learn; and friends like the medicinal mushrooms and supplemental support that help us recover physically and mentally.)
So, when you think of a hole you keep falling in, what’s the first thing that comes to mind? What street do you keep walking down? And why? Is it just habit? Is your mind not present enough and, lost in thought, you suddenly snap out of it finding yourself facing (or in) that same damn hole again?
Is it an attachment to the helpless feeling that subconsciously pulls you into that hole?
Is it that you just can’t envision another way…. Yet?
Make yourself a cup of Clear mind (which is infused with Lion’s Mane), or take some Lion’s Mane if you have it handy.
Sit back in a chair, upright so you won’t fall asleep, but relaxed enough that you can enter that dreamy territory of mind somewhere between waking and sleeping.
Envision that ‘hole’ you are all too familiar with. Ask yourself, ‘What’s one pathway I could take differently?’ And literally let yourself be imagined. Let yourself be shown an alternate route.
Imaginally take it; and see what subtle feelings or thoughts arise in your mind in going this new direction.
Then find a way to familiarize yourself with it. Become accustomed to those new sets of thoughts and feelings. Get used to that ‘new street’ so to speak. And watch what happens in life.
The Lion’s Mane will help fortify this new pathway and possibility in your body-mind; and even affects the gut (and potentially, gut instinct) positively. (It’s called a psychobiotic for a reason!)
Alternately:
Take two pieces of paper. Write down or draw your ‘hole’ on one piece of paper; and an alternate possibility on the other piece of paper. Another street.
Put them down on the floor far away from each other, and stand between them.
Now take a step towards ol’ familiar hole. Watch what it feels like in your body. What happens to your thoughts and feelings? Any imagery arise? Tension? Associations?
Now walk towards the other ‘street’. What does that feel like in your body? Notice anything different? Any subtle changes in mind or thought?
Familiarize yourself with that new street. Hang out near it. Have a cup of tea (or ideally Lion’s Mane infused Zensations) next to it. Colour on it. Beautify it somehow. Become attracted to it in some way and watch what happens in your life. See if you fall into that old hole less often; or suddenly one day you may realize you had made a choice that was different, and didn’t end up in the hole again.
Then take a good dose of Lion’s Mane after this time with your ‘new street’ to help fortify that within you; either in capsule form, or by sitting back with a Zensations Clear Mind to have a moment of ‘clarifying rest’ so your system can update itself to the new thoughts and experiences.
Also, another simple practice is to, quite literally, take new streets. Just change the roads you walk on the regular. Take another route. Make a different turn. Teach your mind in the map of life that it’s worth doing!
Let us know what happens!
We’ve been there too.
We’re with ya.
Here’s to clear minds that make for better and better walks, and brighter and brighter days!
Cheers!
