How Open Are You?

“Let’s open a window and let in some fresh air.”

Who hasn’t said that?

I think it’s a pretty good metaphor for changing up something that’s become stale in your life.

I’ve always found it curious that we seem to have this notion that some people are singled out to get fresh air . . . and some of us aren’t.

But fresh air is available to all of us. I believe it’s a birthright.

So are peace, luck, grace, forgiveness . . . all those things we sometimes think are meant for somebody else.

They become more possible when we’re open to them.

Now, being open doesn’t guarantee that any of those things will immediately show up. But it is a starting point.

If you’re looking for a refreshing breeze, it helps to open the window.

You can sit in a shuttered house and lament that everybody else is getting their cool breeze, but that isn’t going to bring any fresh air into your home.

Openness and willingness seem to have a way of inviting in the things that have eluded us.

You can’t get that which you you're shut off to. Quoting famed psychologist Carl Jung, "What you resist, not only persists, but will grow in size."

We resist by keeping the windows shuttered. And we claim to be "right" about it.

Nobody can hurt us here. We're safe . . . but stifled.

You can’t be “right” and open at the same time.

Something's got to give.

So here’s a thought . . .

Give “right” a night off. Let it take a little vacation.

Then open a window and see what blows in.

It might just be a breath of fresh air.

And it just might be the action that expands your view as to what's available to you.

All the best,

John