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Heartwings Love Notes 979 - Expanding and Contracting

Heartwings says, "It is important neither to over expand nor to over contract.

Babies are always expanding, both physically and in every other way. They eat, drink and take in constantly, whether actual food and drink or the sensations that give them information about their surroundings and the world in general. They grow in all directions as is appropriate. Youngsters do the same, though not as voraciously. Then for young adults the physical growth process slows and stops. However, in healthy humans the mental, emotional and psychological consumption—the process known as learning continues.

To the dismay of parents and the delight of shopkeepers, young children outgrow clothes and shoes at a remarkable rate. As well they eventually outgrow much of their mental conditioning, or limits learned as youngsters and venture further out into the world. Young adults and then mature adults learn new limits, some of which may be outgrown and some of which may not. However, at some point mental, emotional and psychological growth may stop and when it does, contraction may begin.

It's my experience that either we move in one direction—down, or toward contraction, or up toward expansion. Nature, as in the human and otherwise natural condition does not allow for us or anything else to stand still. Even rocks and cliffs are worn down by wind and water, and planets have their evolutionary directions. All of which is to say as we get older, the tendency to contract gets stronger and we may need to work harder to expand. For instance, I have found that I have lost inches from my original height.

Worse, my shoulders have a tendency to hunch over and my spine requires an effort for me to straighten it. I must constantly remind myself to practice good posture. In addition, I find I am accumulating habit patterns and ways to do things at a rapid rate. In other words, I am becoming fixed in certain ways and that is leading to contraction. What is the solution? Not only to work on my spine but also to remember to deviate from encroaching patterns. This is work! However, it is worthwhile work. All of this requires me to pay attention and to be mindful. This too is a way to keep growing.

I wish you the best of luck in your efforts to learn and grow,

Do you encounter limits to growth and find a need to expand? Have you begun to shrink, without perhaps noticing it? I so appreciate your comments and suggestions, they make my day. Please write to me at tashahal@aol.com, and for more love notes to enjoy, go to www.heartwingsandfriends.com.
 

I love to hear from readers and would be honored if you would comment and let me know any suggestions or thoughts. If a friend sent you this, you can sign up at my web site, www.heartwingslovenotes.com, where more love notes can be found in the archives.

Blessings and Best Regards,
Tasha Halpert
 

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