David Bowie, Life Path, & those little voices

First Statue: DON'T GO ONNNN...
Second Statue: GO BACK.... WHILE YOU STILL CAN...
Third Statue: This is not the way...
Fourth Statue: Take heed, and go no further...
Fifth Statue: Beware, BEWARE...
Sixth Statue: Soon it will be too late...
Hoggle: Ah, don't pay any attention to them, they're just false alarms. You get a lot of them in the Labyrinth, especially when you're on the right track.
 

Do you remember the movie Labyrinth? 
It's one of my FAAAAAVORITES. 
(And not just because of David Bowie in tight, shiny pants. But also because of that.)

I could go on for four hours about the ripe metaphors in that film, alluding to life, soul, following your path, and the crap we carry with us emotionally and energetically that weighs us down. 

But that scene is goodie.
It was the part when Sarah was actually getting closer to the center of the Labyrinth -- to the castle -- and those cautionary statues were merely doing their jobs, warning her against continuing along her path. 
But they were hollow warnings; knee-jerk reactions.

They're a lot like those inner voices -- the nasty voices, our inner 'little monsters'  -- we all have that try to keep us "safe" by keeping us on a predictable and well-worn trail.

And it's incredible how loudly those 'gremlins' show up when you decide to cast off the safety harness and step confidently (or even tentatively) into the wild unknown of your soul-path. 

"Are you sure that's a good idea?"
"What will the neighbors say?"
"What if [insert any number of doubts or fears here]?"

And those voices know your soft spots. 
They know exactly where to press to leave a mark. 

They mean well, those voices. 
They want to protect you.
They want to be your insulation against the varied pains of the outside world.
They're you, after all -- and they've been keeping you 'safe' your entire life. 

But 'safe' isn't always where your soul wants you to reside. 
When your soul calls, you answer. 
When your heart speaks, you listen. 

And it is then your duty -- your job -- to quiet those voices, calm those gremlins, and reassure them that you'll be okay. 

I actually just had to do that myself this weekend.
I thought, "Okay, if I were coaching someone -- if she came to me feeling the way I'm feeling right now -- how would I coach her?"
And then I turned some of my techniques and practices onto myself. 

And it's still incredible to me, in this work, how such seemingly little exercises and subtle tweaks can lead to such powerful shifts within. 

It came with a big cry, a big release, and some much-needed peace -- putting some of those voices to rest. 

Sadly, it didn't also come with David Bowie in tight, shiny pants. 
 

Seventh Statue: I'm sorry, I'm just doing my job.
Hoggle: Well, you don't have to do it to us.
Eighth Statue: [deep, booming voice] Beware, for...
Hoggle: Just forget it.
Eighth Statue: [normal voice] Oh, please. I haven't said it in such a long time.
Hoggle: Oh, all right. But don't expect a big reaction.
Eighth Statue: No, no, no, of course not.