Panache Blog

Wednesday, July 21, 2010

The Rise and Fall of Greatness

Having returned invigorated and inspired from a week of amazing sessions in Portland, Oregon, I discovered that the public’s attention had been diverted from one oil spill to another in the form of Lindsey Lohan’s meteoric rise and fall. This marks the beginning of her 90-day jail sentence.

The onslaught of blog posts, tweets, television sound bites and prime time news stories is living testament to how we as human’s love to revel in other’s misery. Those who live in glass houses should never throw stones!

At some point in each of our lives we are destined to experience our own rise and fall. From the popular child on the playground to the President of the United States, no one is immune. How quickly we can go from being admired to being despised. Furthermore, one’s fall from grace need not play out under an intense media spotlight for the emotional fall-out to be devastating.

Whether I’m advising others on the demise of a marriage, a financial failure, a job demotion or loss, or a myriad of other challenging situations, I am reminded of a principal that is important in my own evolution: live a life beyond praise and blame. If I could advise Miss Lohan I would share these same words. 

When you authentically live beyond praise and blame, you are merely witnessing your life as it unfolds. Resist the temptation of becoming invested in other’s praise and blame. A day may come when those who were your greatest advocates may overnight become your greatest critics. 

We are living in shifting times. Because of the rapid expansion of consciousness, life is showing up as an extreme sport. Your ability to remain calm amidst the chaos will allow you to witness something magnificent. In one moment you may feel confronted by everyone and everything. And in the next moment you can be experiencing indescribable joy. Your ability to stop identifying with what is unfolding is the linchpin in your ability to remain peaceful and centered. 

To each of you in the midst of transition, the landscape of life is shifting with dramatic frequency. Your experience does not define who you are at the deepest level. Allow emotions to flow through you. Don’t over-identify with feelings. These personal shake-ups are yet another mile marker of how quickly you are evolving.  However our ability to be with WHAT IS determines our experience of life.

Posted at 6:08 pm  |  Send to a Friend