Walking Between The Worlds

We are caught between illusion and reality. Although we may know who we are authentically, how we express that essence is challenged over and over again as what we believe is authentic clashes with what others believe is authentic. In this noisy world of differences, we become fatigued as we attempt to reconcile what we believe is true and what others believe is true with the collective reality.

Walking between the worlds is a way of focuses our awareness that minimizes our fatigue. It begins with an internal understanding of who we are authentically and how we are expressing these our truth. We note how our beliefs and core values inform our responses and catch us in reactions. This is often a difficult task for the noisiness of the world prevents us from listening to the whispers of our inner wisdom. Only within the silence of our quiet mind do we filter the external noises and attend to the clamoring within. 

More than a cessation of physical noise, silence is an environment in which our senses are heightened. We notice with greater clarity the nuances of our true self and the distractions that draw us away from our authenticity. Within the silence, we name how our behavior is incongruent with who we truly are. We recognize what hinders us from responding authentically.

Silence is an environment of focused bi-listening. We intentionally hear what the other is saying while mindfully attending to the nonverbal impact of our interaction with another. This delicate juggling act requires that we are fully present. It also requires comfort with the pause during which we gain information, process it, and then formulate our response. When we bi-listen we realize that even making an addition to a mental grocery list causes us to lose information vital to understanding the beliefs and values of another. 

In this fertile place we really notice the impact the external world has on the four aspects of our self — body, mind, spirit, and heart. We recognize feelings of calm or anxiety, tensed or relaxed muscles, heart rate shifts, anger spikes, or spontaneous thoughts — all these are potential cues to the clash between our reality and the reality of another. With awareness of these cues we move from fearful and potentially hurtful reactions to compassionate response.  

Friending the four aspects of self is vital in the recognition of what triggers reactions and contributes to our fatigue. We learn to navigate through reactions to responses that bring us from the brink of fatigue to a place of vigor. Through this navigation, we balance the four aspects of our being. Four aspects aligned, we are able to be authentic in our interactions.

When we comprehend the message our four aspects are relaying, we gain the power to address our potential reactions and formulate compassionate responses. We are better able to recognize how our beliefs and values power our interactions. We identify what is truly representative of who we are authentically and what illusions we cast to make us more comfortable in a tumultuous world. We walk between the worlds shining the light of our authenticity and encouraging others to be their authentic best.

Walking between the worlds increases our understanding of how our judgments are stopping us; powers us to listen to one another; and creates a world not in my or your image but a world that is better than anything we could have imagined apart. 

Vanessa F. Hurst, ms, is a Mindful Coach, Compassion Consultant, Professional Speaker, and Author who weaves her inner wisdom into all she touches. Contact Vanessa @ hurst.vanessa@gmail.com.

Her books are A Constellation of Connections: Contemplative Relationships and Engaging Compassion Through Intent & Action. 

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