The alchemy of reclaiming your inner spark.
I’m not scared by a person’s pain.
Do I feel it?
Yes.
Do I care?
Profoundly.
Do I trust the process?
Absolutely.
Where there is pain, there is life as surely as when there is joy. And where there is life, there is space for healing.
It is deadness that frightens me.
Today I honor a client who walked in the door as numb as I’ve ever seen another human being. No visible spark. No pain, no happiness, no words. Sitting on my sofa looking at me…through me…as though I almost wasn’t there. As though she had already given up and was nearly in another world.
I fussed inside my head – about what to do – how to help – asking where the BLEEP was her spark?!
So I did the usual protocol…asked the standard questions…made sure safety nets were in place….and then I went out on a limb and asked:
“What are your favorite things? What do you love to see, to feel, to taste, to touch, to smell?”
Barely blinking, she looked at me.
I waited.
She closed her eyes.
I waited.
She said, ”Nothing…..”
I challenged: “Really? Nothing? There must be something you have taken pleasure in at some point in your life.”
She opened her eyes and said the magic words….”There is one thing….”
I barely breathed as I searched her face, “Yes?”
“Pumpkin pie. I used to love the taste of pumpkin pie.”
A wave of relief washed over me. “Done! Do you know what I’m going to do?”
“No?”
“I’m going to bake you a pumpkin pie. And next time you come in I’m going to give it to you. The Whole Thing. And you are going to take it home with one rule.”
“What’s that?”
“You need to savor it. And don’t share it with anyone unless you really, really want to. Eat it slowly – a little bit each day until the next session – and taste every bite.”
She smiled.
I rejoiced.
And THAT is what began the remarkable process of rekindling the heart of the inspiring woman who now enters my office with bear hugs for everyone and an impish smile.
Is her life perfect?
Oh, Heavens no!
Is it a hell of a lot better?
Oh my, YES!
Magic of the heart is this simple.
Now you know the sure fire secret to rekindling your heart. What are you going to do with it? What is the single most basic pleasure YOU have taken comfort in? What has brought you one true moment of warmth, peace, relaxation, happiness or strength? And what would you be willing to commit to bringing back into your life that you have left along the way?
One thing you love. One thing that wakes up part of you that’s sleeping.
Maybe it’s time.
I KNOW you’re worth it.
Comments (10)
Thank you for sharing this important action you took with your client. She was in a ‘dead’ space and you appealed to her senses. I hope she savored every bite of that delicious pumpkin pie! There is a Spark within each of us, and this Spark is the Magic of the Heart. Blissed Blessing for 2019 and Beyond Christy!
Exactly! This Spark IS the Magic of the Heart xoxo
It does all start with one small pleasurable thing to bring about happiness! Thanks for sharing this experience.
Reading your comment is one small pleasurable thing that inspires my happiness!
That is one mighty big question worthy of some serious journal time! Excellent.
Nothing will make me happier than knowing this has sparked some journal time 🙂
I love this post, Christy. And the pumpkin pie! You have a wonderful gift for getting people to rekindle their heart and share (in this case) an intimate detail that made all the difference in the world. The question that resonated with me is, “And what would you be willing to commit to bringing back into your life that you have left along the way?” I will be sitting with that question as I journal to explore my responses. Thank you…
Wonderful! I’m clapping my hands with delight knowing that you are sitting with one of my favorite questions.
May the inquiry…and the answers…nourish you.
The heart is important and so is the magic within it. We all have it within us, sometimes we have it hidden, sometimes we need to uncover it. I know what makes me happiest is staying close to nature and anything spiritual.
Yes! Nature is profoundly healing…and our hearts naturally feel more expansive in a beautiful, natural environment. Thank you for sharing, Heather.