STRAIN AND COUNTERSTRAIN

2014, REST, WORK

OCTOBER 01, 2014

You have heard it said, and experienced, that for every force there is an equal counter-force.  This makes up work with down and gives effort its resting point.  Looking at this representation on a scale; it is an ebb and flow like the waves of the ocean, the rotation of earth, the entry into mortal life and the exit from it.

These principles are perpetually at work, from the largest construct to the smallest.  This includes You, your life, your mortal body, and the pattern of activity which makes the tapestry of experience that you will look back upon as a tableau of memory.  Effort and rest; confusion and clarity; outflow and inflow; taking and giving.

When either side of this formula becomes overpowering to the other, trouble ensues.  The dance loses its natural rhythm and time.  The dancers tire.  The music and mating loses its beauty and charm.  One cannot be all bounty; one cannot be all rest.
Look at your Life.  Where do you invest most of your energies:  to what purpose and with what outcome?  Is that satisfying?  We borrow the term today, “Strain and Counterstrain” from physical therapy terms**, because it so closely resembles what can best be done when one is out of balance in the work and rest cycle.

To Strain is to contract with force, sometimes beyond what is comfortable, sometimes to a point that is injurious.  How many of your diseases today are a result of this condition?  In how many areas of your Life have you taken your work beyond mere force, and pushed it into the domain ruled by stress and Strain?  Do you believe that the harder your work, the better the result, even when the results are not proving out your belief?

Strain breaks things.  It breaks satisfaction, and therefore, your sense of peace.  It breaks outcomes, and therefore, your gains.  It breaks fair division, and therefore, your balance.  It can break your body, your mind, and your Spirit.  To take tasks beyond fair work, into the domain of Strain, is to be self-abusive.

Counterstrain is Strain’s balancing force.  It is to momentarily suspend Strain—not to do the opposite behavior—but to remove the force from the levers and pivots and cogs that keep your Strain machine moving forward.  That might be your determination.  It might be your willingness to “go it alone,” to remain sleep-deprived, to have unreasonable goals and expectations, or to elevate tasks to statuses far above what is required or deserved.

Why are you here?  What does your Life mean?  Were you put here to do tasks?  Have you been charged to have the most beautiful lawn? the latest fashions? to be lauded at your workplace or in your circle of friends?  Why are you here?  What does your Life mean?

If you are in a state of Strain, perhaps you are confused.  Work and rest.  Create and rest.  Have conflict and know peace.  Begin a cycle and end a cycle.  And yes, have determination to see a thing through to its end—but at times appropriate, set down that load and enjoy the view.  Rest.  Laugh with your friends.  The world, though sometimes difficult, need not be so heavy.

You can pick up your load again and continue, rested, but rest.  Do not spend your rest time, not resting, by being self-abusing, negative, judgmental, and demeaning, believing that you should be working instead.  The rest time will then become Strain, for as you think and believe, so it is.  Do you see?  Decide to work and then, work.  Decide to rest and then, rest.  Do it purely.

What is your current relationship with your work?  It likely reflects your current relationship with your Life.  The Great All does not punish you.  The world does not punish you.  How goes your Life?  How go You?

**Because the Tribe has communicated to me and through me for many years, they often use conduits and terms specific to my habits and training.  This is a very specific example of such.

 

Blessed Be This Day

This is a Direct Voice Communication from my Tribe, Spirit Elders who share their wisdoms with me from the other side of the veil.

    Archives: October 1, 2014

visual by Walks With Fire