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This plant was minding it’s own business today, and as an unobservant human I decided to park right beside it. This flower evolved to have spikes in the hopes that it will be defended against predators, and yet was defenceless against something much bigger than it.

Do you ever feel like you have to develop your own spikes in order to fend off your predators? What is you defence mechanism? What does your brain and inner voice tell you to do in order to fend off that which it feels it’s a threat?

Today I was once again speaking to a client about their lived experience and much of what they spoke of stemmed from a place of anxiety. Not only that they experienced anxious thoughts within, but they people they came into conflict with also responded from a place of fear, and a power struggle ensues on a regular basis. In the case of my client their inner voice is telling them that they are not good enough to pursue their own dreams, whilst the outer voice (the people around them) are re-enforcing the inner voice by their actions based in fear also. Negotiating a way out is never an option, for anxiety seeks certainty, when the world is uncertain.

In the case of the flower in the image, the spikes meant certain survival for it. The spikes kept all creatures away, including the human, and of course, once the life cycle of the flower ends, the purpose of the spikes is gone until the next generation comes along in a new flower. As humans our life span is significant therefore unless we learn to be less afraid of the world; some of our spikes become permanent, and the defence mechanism remains activated. I am wondering, what would make you withdraw your metaphorical spikes, and allow your whole being to experience the world without reaction and instead perhaps responding?

As always join in the conversation in a comment, or journal your thoughts. We are ready to evolve, join us on the journey of discovery.