Relying on Others.

A deep feeling of gratitude can emerge, as we open to the experience of being helped. In order to pursue our goals, we need others to provide resources, support, and to listen to us. At WAW, we explore the "otherness", and the experience of interdependence, as propellers for growth.

Most of us pride ourselves on our self-sufficiency. We like to be responsible for taking care of ourselves and pulling our own weight in the world.

This is why it can be so challenging when we find ourselves in a situation in which we realize we need to count with others to achieve what we want.

This can happen as the result of an illness or an injury, or even in the case of a positive change, such as the arrival of a newborn. It also may happen that we need others to be enablers of the change in our lives we strive for. At times like these, we realize that there is an alternative to do it all by ourselves and accept the help and resources that others can offer. The first step is accepting the situation fully as it is. Too often we make things worse either by trying to do more than we should or by lapsing into feelings of uselessness.

In addition, we miss a valuable opportunity to practice acceptance and humility. The ego resists what is, so when we move into acceptance we move into the deeper realm of the soul.

In needing others to pursue what we want, and allowing them to help us, we experience the full realization that we are not on our own in the world.

This may bring up feelings of vulnerability, and a deep feeling of gratitude, as we open to the experience of being supported.

This realization can enable us to be wiser in our service of others when we are called upon to support the realization of their goals. It takes wisdom and strength to surrender to our own helplessness and to accept that we, just like every other human being, have limitations. The gifts of surrender are numerous. We discover humility, gratitude, and a deepening understanding of the human experience that enables us to be that much more compassionate and surrendered in the world.