“No mud, no lotus.” —Thich Nhat Hanh
This is one of my favorite expressions, and one that runs deep to the core of what transformational coaching looks like when we work together. A lotus flower is a beautiful flower that literally grows up out of the mud. From something dirty and ugly, like muddy water, this beauty rises up and blooms above the surface.
In life, we encounter those dirty and ugly moments—heartbreak, job loss, illness, loss of a loved one, an unexpected setback or challenge. These uncomfortable situations present us with the opportunity to grow and transform ourselves into the amazing people we were meant to be. Sometimes we are lucky enough to realize the lesson, but most of the time we are not aware enough spiritually to notice. And so, we go about our lives feeling victim to the struggles of life, or we keep making the same choices leaving us back in a similar hurt over and over again.
The lotus requires the mud to grow. Likewise, we require those difficult ugly moments in order to shift our lives. Here’s the scoop: without those crappy relationships, experiences, and situations, the growth doesn’t happen. Without the messiness of life, we can’t transform to that beautiful version of ourselves. Knowing that the dirty, ugly and uncomfortable is necessary, is it possible for you to embrace that process?
Always with love,
Heather