On my recent trip to NYC I had the delight of experiencing the Edge. For those not familiar with this touristy attraction, it is an “ out pouching ” of part of the 101st floor of this beautiful building. The floor is made of glass ! And it is strong enough to handle thousands of visitors a day to feel the magic of walking over air with the world of NYC miniaturized under our feet. I did it to get over my nervousness of heights. I weathered my fear with bravado building my own confidence and let the deeper fear of death go. But life is not without a sense of irony.
Standing next to me was a 3 year old girl with her parents right behind her as she ventured onto the glass floor. They grabbed her hand and kept asking her the same question over and over again “ Are you not scared?”
I thought about this while I witnessed this dynamic. Her answer was always the same “NO,” as she went further and further exploring this novel experience of seeing miniature cars and people under her little feet. I am sure she was quite amused at this new human experience. But what struck me was that after the 4th time of asking the same question, she said “Yes” and came back to her parents side. They looked pleased that their question resulted in an answer that they sought and picked her up in their arms, patted her on the back to make her feel safe and left.
I was bewildered at this behavior. The girl was clearly unafraid. Yet repeatedly questioning her led to their desired answer. Perhaps they were projecting their own fears as both parents looked quite terrified of the whole experience as they gazed below their own feet at these dizzy heights. She CHANGED her answer. Even as she was leaving I saw her eyes and they looked unafraid. How quickly and easily we are brainwashed to fit someone else’s narrative, by few pushy lines of questioning. We tend to doubt our own innate beliefs.
This is the secret of predictive programming when we watch the news, social media, and corporate or governmental propaganda material. Remember the news or media is not here to educate or inform, but to indoctrinate and conform the restless and unaware mind.
She was 3 !! She probably does not even know what she is afraid of yet, as everything around her is a source of wonder and learning. Yet does this not happen to us regularly and moreover it starts at a young age from our parents, teachers, preachers and peers. Being afraid and doubtful is driven into us. We are TAUGHT to become afraid. We lose our fearlessness from our childhood. Such is the nature of the mind. It can be blended in any direction.
Choose to bend it with imagination, unconditional love and learn to believe in the magic of life, guided not by the mind but by the heart.
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I love you
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