There is a path for every one of us. And we’re all different.

I repeatedly talk about how what works for me may not be appropriate for anyone else when I talk about healing. Well this extends out to our entire lives and spiritual pursuits too. Recently I wrote about how important it is to respect where people fall on the spectrum of psychiatric drug use as well.  SEE: To my friends and readers who still take psych drugs (and to the whole spectrum of folks on and off meds too)

This is the fundamental reason that coercion in psychiatry is wrong too. People all have their own way to find. And we know this deep within ourselves. This is why our idiosyncratic experience is only that. To generalize it to others is arrogant and misguided. Just as the psychiatrist didn’t know what was right for many of the readers of this blog, we too do not know what is right for anyone other than ourselves.

Below I share two examples from two wonderful women who share this perspective.

There is a vitality, a life force, a quickening that is translated through you into action, and there is only one of you in all time, this expression is unique, and if you block it, it will never exist through any other medium; and be lost. The world will not have it. It is not your business to determine how good it is, not how it compares with other expression. It is your business to keep it yours clearly and directly, to keep the channel open. You do not even have to believe in yourself or your work. You have to keep open and aware directly to urges that motivate you. Keep the channel open. No artist is pleased. There is no satisfaction whatever at any time. There is only a queer, divine dissatisfaction, a blessed unrest that keeps us marching and makes us more alive than the others. –Martha Graham

That is Martha Graham expressing her life path. Her message. This is in keeping with the idea that there is a path for every one of us. And we’re all different.

 LOVE this. We are all incredibly and importantly unique. “We need each other to be different!” says Tami. What a lovely and important thought and realization. “All of us are needed in this cosmic universal body.” 

“We have to trust OUR one and only awakening. Unprecedented. Cannot be repeated.” She continues... Again, YES!

On that theme I’m sharing this lovely video I’ve shared before with Tami Simon.

–(video deleted from YouTube)

some tweets on topic too:

When I was in the throes of my life’s worst trials I was only occasionally able to deeply appreciate how I was growing and evolving.

I’m now often grateful for my heinous experience – I’ve learned so many things. I also acutely remember what it was like to be in the dark.

I do not assume that all people make it thru the dark..clearly suffering on this planet is great and widespread and we have no crystal balls

For these reasons I know that it’s often cruel and not at all helpful to tell people that their trials are somehow for their own good.

People need to find that reality (or not) on their own. We are all on different paths and we know not what another’s is…

More on topic from Beyond Meds:

• If I can do it you can too — Really?
• There is a dance that only you know how to do
• Let life be your teacher
• We don’t know what is right for another. I practice that in speech and deed.
• You do not need to know precisely what is happening

May we all honor the mystery of our individual paths.