“When you walk through a storm hold your head up high…”
Some days that feels so much easier said than done. Sometimes we can feel ourselves moving through the world in a way that we're proud exudes the love and radiance that we want to share with the world. And other days that feels a little harder.
I had one of those weeks where I was weighed down everyday and I was drowning in sadness. At one point I curled into myself, I contracted my body physically, just because it felt like too much. And in that moment luckily a bell rang in my head and I started a conversation with myself:
“Remember there is more than one part of you.”
Then I responded, “What?! More than one part of me? What do you mean more than one part of me?”
“Matthew remember there are parts of you that actually see the hope and see you surviving through this moment. Don't forget.”
“Are you really sure?” “Yes, Matthew, absolutely.”
I slowed down to look at myself and talk with the part of me that holds hope. The part of me that remembers that things are possible. The part of me that is generative even in the midst of despair.
And you have those different parts of you too. We all have multiple parts of ourselves. That's why sometimes when we're scared it's hard to remember that things could be okay.
You can notice your different parts when you get scared in a familiar situation. For example, when you're going down a street in a neighborhood where you know the houses and the people, but the part of your brain remembers those people can't always be heard. All you notice is the fear and nervousness.
In those moments, you can slow down to actually have a conversation with specific parts of yourself.
“Walk on walk on with hope in your heart.”
That hope is the part of you that remembers that you are surviving, that you are making it, even in the hard times. And when you remember that you will never be alone.
I'm Matthew Armstead facilitating groups and justice-seeking people to integrate art and healing practices into your strategies and ways of working to transform this world.
Today, spend a little bit of time in conversation with the hopeful place within yourself - even if it's a moment while you're brushing your teeth and you give yourself a smile.
Asé