Making the big decision

I have talked often about the all important decision in the healing process. Making the decision enables the switching of patterns and this is essential to healing. One metaphor that you can imagine that comes to mind is to picture yourself in a tall apartment building. Now imagine that your apartment building is engulfed in fire and you live on one of the upper floors. To your dismay you awake to the sounds of fire engines, the crackling sounds of the fire and you begin to smell the smoke, in panic you rush to your front door and you feel the heat radiating through the door. Fearfully you open the door and you are forced to quickly shut it as flames lick your body. You now know that there is no way out through that door, that leaves only the window, hopefully the fire brigade can send a ladder up to your window. You reach the window and open it and begin shouting to the distant crowd below. You see them point up to you and you feel a momentary sense of relief. Soon the firemen clear the crowd and rig a landing net.

Your front door succumbs to the fire and you apartment is on fire, your furniture is burning and the heat is unbelievable, you only have only a couple of minutes at most. You look at the net, so far down and they beckon you to jump. There is no ladder coming. You climb on to the window ledge, you feel that you can’t possible jump from here, are they kidding? What to do? The heat is unbearable. You know you have only one option, one chance, if you want to live. But the fear is overwhelming, you sense that you are incapable of making the decision to jump. It goes quite, you see the people below, but it seems as if they have all become quiet, you turn and look at the flames and you can’t hear the noise you know it must be making. Time stands still, all is quiet, you are filled with serenity, this could be your last moment and somehow it is beautiful and peaceful. Your hands automatically leave the window sill and you lean forward.

You’re free falling and you know you have left your apartment, your home, all your belongings and all that you have and in this moment you know that you are alive and being alive has never felt so precious, so powerful, so important and so magnificent.

You land in the net, you’re safe, you survived, you made it. You hear the crowd cheer and reach out for you. You feel relief and joy. And it dawns on you that you let go.

Philip Martin
Posted by How to heal cancer