Lessons in Trust Learned in a Float Tank

trustyourself“Trust your own instinct. Your mistakes might as well be your own, instead of someone else’s.” ~ Billy Wilder

“Trust each other again and again. When the trust level gets high enough, people transcend apparent limits, discovering new and awesome abilities of which they were previously unaware.” ~ David Armistead

I decided to take my own advice and do something totally differently and just see how it turns out. So I headed to Asheville for a weekend of R&R and against my nature I did not plan my activities.

I did not have dinner reservations already made for each night. I did not have a schedule of things to do. I did not have any idea what would unfold. What I did do is make room for something amazing and waited expectantly for it to show up. And it did!

I was in this wonderful teahouse there, Dobra Tea, having a nice cup of green tea, sitting on the floor cushion, just hanging out. The two young men next to me were discussing an appointment one of them was headed to in a few minutes to experience a float tank.

A float tank is a sensory deprivation tank that has a few inches of salt water in it. You are placed in the tank, the door is closed shutting off all light and sound, and you float on your back in the buoyant salt water for an hour.

This sounded so amazing I just had to apologize for eavesdropping and find out more information. As it turns out an Asheville spa, Stillpoint Wellness, has an amazing float tank. Right then and there I called Stillpoint and they had an opening the next day, so of course I grabbed it!

This experience was really wonderful and illuminating. Spending an hour in total isolation taught me a few things about trust and I’d like to share some of them with you today.

My Breath is Enough

“Breath is the bridge which connects life to consciousness, which unites your body to your thoughts. Whenever your mind becomes scattered, use your breath as the means to take hold of your mind again.” ~ Thích Nhất Hạnh

“Remember to breathe. It is after all, the secret of life.” ~ Gregory Maguire

When I was totally cut off from all other sensory inputs what I had was my breath. I could feel it like never before. I could hear it in my head as I inhaled and exhaled. I knew that as long as I focused on my breath then that was enough.

Your breath is an anchor. It has the power to calm and restore you. However since it’s so automatic and other things are brighter and louder, the breath gets overlooked. Breath can reset your nervous system and expand your energy. Notice right now how deeply (or not) you are breathing. Track not only your inhale but how fully you exhale. Trust your breath – when you get overwhelmed or freaked out lean into your breath and let it support you by bringing it fully in and letting it fully out.

Trust Creates a Dance

“The more you trust your intuition, the more empowered you become, the stronger you become, and the happier you become.” ~ Gisele Bundchen

“As soon as you trust yourself, you will know how to live.” ~ Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

I was only in about 12 inches of water but I felt totally supported and buoyant. As I floated around this large, dark tank I was able to really let go and unwind the stress from my body and mind. As my muscles deeply let go my body literally began to bend and dance in the water. My arms swayed back and forth, my torso bent in half causing my arms and legs to meet each other in a flowing dance.

By trusting the water to hold me I was free to move in ways I’m not able to do when on land. I could feel my tension slip away and my total consciousness, both physically and mentally, get lighter and lighter.

How You Handle the Wall is Key

“Adversity isn’t an obstacle that we need to get around in order to resume living our life. It’s part of our life. “ ~ Aimee Mullins

“Having hit a wall, the next logical step is not to bang our heads against it.” ~ Stephen Harper

When being instructed on the tank I was told to gently push off the walls when I bumped them. If I pushed off too hard then I would be propelled into the reciprocal wall. So as I floated about I would bump up against the wall and I would gently push off, just enough so I’d glide to the center where it was most expansive and I had the most room.

It struck me how this applies to life also. When we are in the creative dance of life we will bump up against walls. If we trust the flow to take us to the most expansive place then we treat the wall gently. However, if we think we need to “make it happen” then we tend to push off with great force, thinking erroneously that’s better, only to find ourselves hitting another wall very soon.

Without the more global insight we don’t see the correlation between how we treat the wall and our outcomes. They seem independent of one another. But I tell you it is amazing what you can “see” when you are in total darkness.

So trust the flow, the next wall you come up against push away as gently as you can. Give the smallest amount of effort or reaction and see if the result isn’t more open and freeing.

By being open for wonderful things to happen I allowed myself an experience I wouldn’t of had. I did not know about this floatation tank so it would have not been on my to do list. I would not have had the time to fit it in if I had already pre-scheduled myself.

I just went with the expectation of having a magical time and was alert for possibility. And lucky for me it showed up in the most unexpected place and led me to a most unexpected but wonderful experience.

Engage that level of trust in your life. This week announce that you are open to something wonderful just dropping into your life and then be watchful for it. And when you see it grab it – I did and it was magical!

Have fun with this and please let me know if you have questions or comments. I’m available by phone, email, or post a comment below.  I love hearing from you!

 

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Donna Burick

Donna Burick

Desire a results-oriented holistic solution? Do you yearn to: Create more balance in your life? Stop feeling so exhausted: Uncover your life’s passion; Attain clarity about what’s next for you; Revive your relationships; Craft a deeper spiritual connection; Access a place of health & happiness? Donna can guide you from here to there, call for your free 15-minute phone consultation and discover a different approach, 336.540.0088. Office in Greensboro or phone sessions available.

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336.540.0088
Transformational Services by Donna Burick
Board Certified Coach,  Master Certified Coach, and Certified Group Coach.

© 2020 Donna Burick. All Rights Reserved.
View Terms of Use
Made with ❤ by Heart Light Digital

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