“Oh my”, a friend said to me after reading my recent post about the event I will be speaking at in The Netherlands. “Every time I was saying no to something because I got triggered, I thought it didn’t resonate. All I did was staying in my comfort zone,” she sighed.
To her, resistance and triggers had always felt as non-resonance. She had never looked at them as possible invitations. It had her wondering how I differentiated whether or not something resonates. So, here is how it works for me.
When I feel an instant yes, it is absolutely resonating. There is a fair chance it is within my comfort zone or related to a familiar topic. And that is perfectly fine. An instant yes is a clear sign for me to follow up on.
On the other hand there can be a clear no as well. When it is a clean no, a no without emotions, it simply isn’t for me.
Equally I will consider it a no, when I don’t feel anything at all about the opportunity presented to me. If it does not in any way touch me, it just isn’t for me.
And then there are the opportunities, the chances for growth and stepping forward on my path. I may not necessarily or instantly recognize them as such, but when they are presented to me, they will stir up something.
A little fear-devil may pop up. I may feel resistance. My mind may want to take over and come up with reasons, why I shouldn’t go for it. One way or the other I get triggered by what is presented to me. Over the years I have learned not to walk away from these, but instead give them a closer look.
What feelings are being activated?
Why am I being triggered?
What am I afraid of (and what is the worst thing that can happen)?
What does it tell me?
What opportunities are in it for me?
It may be about - yet again - learning new skills.
It may be an invitation to step out of my comfort zone.
And sometimes I just have no answers.
The latter cases are the tricky ones, where I might lean towards a no. That’s when I ask for guidance. I ask to be shown what’s for my highest good. And I will trust that the answer or sign will come to me. Whatever way it presents itself - a dream, a songline, a billboard, you name it - I will recognize it for what it is and I will know what to do. Even if I do not yet understand the reason, when guided to a yes, I trust there is a gift or opportunity awaiting me.
Does it work the same way for you?
You hold the answer to that question.
My friend will most probably look at new triggers in a different way, exploring what invitation they are holding for her.