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Camping in 2007, and as always, the fire kept us warm and cooked our food. There is something fascinating about fire, for us, as human beings. It is this very thing that kept our species alive.

Today, most humans only know of a fire through matches, and an occasional bonfire on a special occasion.

Fire is seen as dangerous in the modern world, something to be avoided, something that will turn our precious objects into ashes, and yet without the fire we would have been less than we are now.

So, let’s take a look at some of the emotions that perhaps could equate to fire, emotions that we are often told to extinguish, or dial back a bit.

Anger – often spoken of as fire. Someone telling you something that is at odds with your internal model of the world; and you are ready to burn them to the ground.

Excitement – if the other person cannot appreciate your excitement, they frown at you, tell you to dial it down, chill it out.

Enthusiastic – energetic, more energy than me, making you fidgety – Ah, well, you have ADHD you surely need medication; chill your boots, get back into your corner, do not upset the rest of us, extinguish that light.

Love – wow, seriously, just so you know I don’t like you, so stop loving me, dial it back, you are harassing me; you are stalking me, leave me alone – or – wow, amazing, I love you too; you are amazing; you are fun, let’s shack up together – but you know what? Pick up your socks off the floor, stop burping, wash those dishes, help with this, help with that. Wow, you. Changed, oh well… (chose your side)

Passionate – sorry mate, your passion is not mine, you are different, why are you in my face with your view? Dial it back, I am not interested, is not my thing, I don’t want to be converted; you are a conspiracy theorist; you spread fake news…

Sadness – you have no reason to be sad, why you crying, I will give you something to cry about in a minute, don’t cry because you make me cry…

How often have you heard all these phrases? Especially when you were a kid. “Stop running around, stop talking so much, stop asking questions, you can’t love that kid he/she is the wrong gender/wrong ethnicity/wrong family/wrong financial background; stop fidgeting; stop laughing it’s not funny, stop shouting, stop frowning; stop being sad, ….and so on”.

How much have you dialled back the fire within in order to fit in?

How many times have you repressed emotions because it was not acceptable?

How many times you chose the chill of the night, the chill of nothingness and emptiness?

Have you truly learnt how to control the fire within?

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.