In Newfoundland we are celebrating the discovery of Newfoundland in 1497 by John Cabot. As I reflect on this holiday, it comes to mind Sir John didn’t discover Newfoundland, he learned it was here.
Newfoundland was already herself long before John Cabot’s ship landed on the beach. She just introduced herself to this group who believed that they were conquering new lands. What followed was in part settling and in part conflict. Pretty much what follows self discovery.
Embarking on a journey of self discovery takes as much courage as it did for Cabot to sail across the seas without any certainty that he would discover anything. It may even take more. Most of us start with a belief that we are flawed and we have to discover the truth around that flaw. John Cabot started with a belief that there was something new and exciting to be gained by crossing the seas, and that he could profit from it.
Imagine challenging yourself to do the same. A journey of self discovery starts with crossing the seas of your emotions. The emotional plane is represented by water and diving into our emotions can feel like crossing a tumultuous, turbulent sea. And then there’s the mind! Some days my mind sounds like waves crashing against rocky shores, other times it is as if there isn’t a breath of wind.
We are all on a journey of self discovery. Embrace the journey as if you are an explorer seeking new lands, but remember that it isn’t necessary to destroy what you already find there. Over 500 years later Newfoundland is still reeling from the genocide, of the Beothuk people that followed.
Fear creates conflict. There was enough land to share, there still is. That doesn’t stop people from marking off what they believe should belong to them and challenging others to fight them for it. We will never be able to incorporate the lessons that the lost people could have taught us this beautiful land.
When you embark on a journey of self discovery, keep in mind that everything you find has been there before you got there. Let go of the fear of finding something that is different or new. I guarantee you will. I guarantee that whatever you find has something amazing to teach you about yourself. You might be surprised to find that you have something to teach as well. The soul’s journey is never linear. Travel across the seas, seek the calm mind and the stormy one. Dive in and discover the entire person that is the wonder of you.