Thanks to winner Krista Kahl who posted her question on the ask Remabulous post yesterday! She will be at the March event this saturday with Gina Ratliffe and David Neagle. I hope she takes good notes, since I will be on vacation.
Here is her question:
"The seed cannot sprout upwards without simultaneously sending roots into the ground," says an ancient Egyptian proverb.
How can I go about balancing and stabilizing my ascension with a downward penetration?
(For example: I am building a career while living in a city I have roots in (here in LA), however, my dream is to live in a different city (SF/Marin) but still have the same career. Why does it feel complicated and far-fetched?)
Thanks.
krista kahl
image: Jess, BeeMouse Labs
Dear Krista,
(I am using your real name since you were brave enough to post your question in the comments!)
I think this is a really good question, and as someone who has moved many times, I understand your conundrum. Growing roots takes a while, when you think of them as the ability to feel part of a community, have all your resources lined up, and feel comfortable and able to navigate your area. The last one is especially tricky for new people in LA- directions took me years to get completely under control.
But I think that just like there are roots made from connections to a specific place and community, there are also roots that are made from practices and states fo mind. When comtemplating moving, I think this second kind of root is essential to get in touch with.
Let me give you an example. While I consider my community of friends a physical root here in LA- they live here and won't exist for me in the same way if I am not in LA, a meditation practice is something that can ground me no matter where I am physically.
Some things cross over this boundary: a yoga class can be a physical root because we love the space, the teacher, and our classmates, but doing yoga is a practice that can be carried everywhere.
In order to think about living a grounded life and career no matter where you live, I woudl start making a note of practices that assist with grounding and making you feel rooted regardless of location. This way you can assess if LA has roots you don't want to give up because they are location dependant, or if you simply need to put into place a network of practices and habits in order to settle in your new location.
Don't get me wrong- there is a lot more to moving- the expense, the adjustment, and the social network which takes time to build no matter what your strategy is. Anything that creates grounding based on contact with others means that their time tables will have to be respected also.
However, if it feels possible to move and take your roots with you, knowing you have a list- and I do recommend writing it down- of things you can do when you feel uprooted during a transition will help to get you through the inevitable bumps that a relocation can create. Or it may become clear that your roots are happy right where they are.
The other piece I might look at is to write about what you imagine would be different about your work or your life if you were in Northern California. What opportunities or experiences or qualities you think you would have in your life. Often we make something- like a place or a career- into a symbol for something we wnat in our lives. If we unpack what the symbol stands for- maybe you imagine spending more time out in nature in the Bay Area- we can incorporate it into the life we have now. So I would make a list of what you expect you would add to your life or what would change in the Bay Area and see if it feels necessary to be there in order to have it. This clarity can either improve life where you are or create resolution about changing cities.
I hope this is helpful. Please keep up us posted and feel free to share thoughts in the comments here!
All the best,
Caroline
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