Pygmalion and Galatea by Jean-Leon Gerome 1890
Have you ever noticed how many times we cling to the known rather than risk the adventure of the unknown… even when the known is not so good and the unknown full of alluring possibilities? Security is a major issue for most of us at some level.
I saw this in action recently as I watched an attempt to ‘go back’ to a place now long gone, by someone too afraid to move forward. I watched in sadness, knowing that the place that existed in memory was not the reality of that past, but an attempted escape from the present and the fears of an unknown future.
I recall a conversation with my boss very many years ago, when I was about to leave the security of her home and a decent salary for an itinerant musician. We sat in the garden just outside Paris, under the stars, talking for a long, long time over a bottle of Burgundy. It was a fabulous position with wonderful people, and in a place I loved. Possibly the first time in my adult life that I had been genuinely and consciously happy. Everything I could have wished for … and I was on the verge of giving it up and jumping into unknown territory.
There was no home to go to, and no real prospect of one at that time. Just a hotel room. He owned nothing but a guitar and a suitcase… I just had the suitcase, nothing more. There was no regular income, only the uncertain rewards of the music. There was, in fact, neither security nor stability in any material sense. Yet my boss put into words something I suppose I had always known but never understood. Material security didn’t matter much to me… emotional security did.
She was right, though I had never seen it that way. I have thought about that a lot over the years.
I had been raised in a family where there was always ‘enough’, though there was seldom more. There had been periods in my teens of truly abject poverty and near starvation, even in this civilised society… but they had been survived and had become just part of the journey. I knew from that experience how little one truly needs. Most of what we count as necessity is, in fact, luxury.
I had been a child then, secure in my mother’s love, and with that security could survive anything.
Years move on, perceptions change and so do we, learning from the experiences life offers, or clinging to them and stagnating. There is always that choice. I clung to emotional security for years, living in a fog of nebulous hope, even when I knew it was an illusion. Looking back at the blindness I suppose I was still seeking that security of the child who knows itself loved. In pursuit of that I forgot who I was and moulded myself to the desires of others. It is a sad way to be.
When you think about it, as I did, this squeezing of oneself into expected moulds, regardless of the fit, reflects only insecurity and a lack of value of self. I had myself convinced that I had to be someone else in order to feel of value, to feel worthy of being loved. It took a long time before I understood that.
We are all worthy of love, every single one of us. But we have to be able to accept that in ourselves. To see ourselves for who we are, the fragility and flaws, the rough edges of a work in progress that yet holds the perfection of the master craftsman, waiting to be realised. We are each our own Pygmalion and Galatea at the same time.
Do you know that story? Pygmalion, a sculptor, carved a perfect woman and fell in love with her. Yet she was made of ivory, cold and lifeless. It was only when Love intervened that she was awakened with a kiss and the two united.
So it is with ourselves, the outer self that moves in the world, seeking, perhaps, for something deeper, and the inner self, waiting simply for us to remember its presence and embrace it before it can waken to Life.
There is a lot of spiritual and self-help stuff out there at present telling us we have to love ourselves. It doesn’t feel that simple when we have a lifetime of layers built around us, so deep, sometimes, that we forget who we are. But there is truth in it.
We are each of us responsible for the surface we present to the world. Just as we are responsible for the reflection we see in the mirror of our own heart. Next time you look at that reflection, look beyond the flaws that catch your attention to the innermost core, that child of the universe, and be secure in the knowledge that this inner child is beautiful and worthy of Love. And with Love, comes awakening.
May 2013
Sometimes it’s just courage we need. Thanks, Sue
Yes, and maybe that is the root of security, something within ourselves.
Beautiful, Sue.
Thanks, Diana.
When I was younger … even when I was not MUCH younger, I was always charging into the unknown. These days, I need my medication, a comfortable bed, and stability. Security? What’s that? I’m not sure there such a thing. It’s an illusion.
I have a feeling that the only true security comes from within… and that is the ability to take each moment for what it is.
Bravo! Well written and, you are one who has been part of my recovery from ‘Disaster Looming! Patterns repeating! Heard this before! Don’t trust a single blooming thing has changed, and…and…” to ‘ what’s the risk/reality, really, now, if I just smile, wave and say, “Okay! You’re of majority age – Hope it turns out well for you and if not call – I may/may not be at place to help you do clean-up on aisle 4” in my mind – – 🙂
😀 Yep, that’s pretty much the journey 🙂
LOL – here, there are the cliches, “the wheels of (insert fave ‘justice, democracy, law’) grind slow – to me mind? Your picture of who I am, just now, is from 10 years, ago, please update your hard-drive – – LOL
Trouble is, I think a lot of us have that same outdated picture of ourselves and forget that we learn and grow every day 🙂
I REALLY! Really loved the angel that walked a portion of my path by my side, who was creator and author of my bestowed tag-line, “Oh, That was SOOO 2 seconds Ago” – said kindly when, my little researching, be aware of upcoming changes coming down the pike, maybe best to go with this service, instead of that one, cuz, it’s more flexible/adaptable/transportable, should you want to expand/change providers, later – ” – worries – – LOL – – Bless those who see, always, I’m trying to convey, “um..yeah, but…think you’ll have more freedom, later, if….just a thought…” LOL I LOVE people who see your heart and gifts, waaay before you do – – LOL – trying hard to be a better person that provides that to others – – 🙂
Ordinary and extraordinary… I wonder, really, if there is any other difference than our own perspective. 😉
P.S. – I just jumped off my last section of old bridge, this last week – GAWD! It was scary, because it COULD SO AFFECT someone other than me – but, I didn’t spend hours trying to explain why, just said, “this is what it is and where I’m at, I have old history and wounds that make me question whether things will turn out the way you think they will, but I’m going to take you at your word, and good luck with that, I truly hope it turns out just like you envision and if not, I will do whatever I’m able to be there for ya – but realize, I may not be in position to anything other than listen, offer support – who knows what the future brings?” – Will let you know how it turns out, in the end – 🙂 LoL – happy I got there within 10 minutes instead of 6 weeks – celebrated the ‘gain’! 🙂
Have missed you and here, so much – slowly, slowly, life put on hold for “WHAT?!?” past year is starting to more resemble my declared fave ways to spend my free time! 🙂
Breaking old habits and re-drawing our self definitions …always scary and we can only hope someone is there who ‘gets’ us during the process. 😉
Was made aware of jumping off bridge opportunity last week – scared to death, trying to see the beauty and perfection instead of instant fear/worry of it all – (I don’t hold a grudge, I just never forget patterns that seem to never change lol) – gave myself a good talking to – didn’t reach out to talk to anyone else, cuz, I’m scared, right now, and wouldn’t ya know? current angle walking path with me, texts, out of the blue, “Hey! Passin’ through and seeing if you’re up for company – will bring supper” and I put on smiling face, fearful they had a bad day and in need of support – without extra (yup, I do that, still – – LOL – not sure when, if ever, I’ll outgrow/unlearn it – ) AND, upon finding out everything was peachy fine, for them, and my, “OMG! You SO HAVE ESPN, want to hear the comedic version of a story?!?” said yes and not only laughed while I went overboard on descriptive language for stage effects BUT made me choke while taking a drink with a dry response – I love it when the Universe says, “you’re on the right track – keep it up – try not to get lost, again….” – – LOL
Yep… those moments are just beautiful. 😀 x
We have to be bold!
I think so, Mick.
I guess it’s this reconnecting with our inner self that will lead us to the security that we need, the inner peace, the balance, the feeling grounded…
Yes, I believe so. It all has to begin within.
Reblogged this on Anita Dawes & Jaye Marie.
Thanks, Jaye 🙂
what if you’re too old to be bold? Or am I merely a coward?
With all the new things you try, from publishing to technical stuff, I hardly think that applies, Jaye. Far to the contrary 🙂
Thanks for that, Sue!
🙂 xx
Reblogged this on Matthews' Blog.
Thank you!
A beautiful reminder, Sue. Many of attempt to hold on to, or recreate, that sense of security that we felt we once had, that might not have really been that secure in the first place. Embracing change, accepting who we have become, and not who we were…powerful. Thanks for this one. 💖
Thanks, Van. We can only move forward, but that sense of security is something we can carry with us, regardless of what we leave behind. x
Reblogged this on graemecummingdotnet and commented:
It seems to me, the older I get, the less attached I become to things. A lot of people I know don’t seem to “get” that, themselves still striving for the material things in life. To be fair, that’s fine with me if it gives them pleasure and fulfilment. Sadly, we are in an age where the acquisition of products (gadgets, houses, cars, lifestyles) is perceived to be a meaningful goal in itself, and yet many still feel unfulfilled when they obtain those things.
This post by Sue underlines where our priorities should lie. That doesn’t mean we shouldn’t want some of those “things” as well, but we’re much more likely to appreciate them if we deal with the emotional stuff first.
Thank you 🙂
A very true and lovely put analogy, Sue! One keeps wondering though if with the attachments clung to, part of our true vision/inner dream hasn´t been covered up, put to sleep almost…It is hopefull realizing that self-love brings healing and can unlock our ´self-made` prison. However, this process is not necessarily a painless one, considering the other analogy of the butterfly, leaving its coccoon.
No, it isn’t painless for the majority of us… but, like the butterfly, it is worth it if we can earn our wings.
This is lovely Sue.
Thank you, Penny.