Peter Johnson & PiM

Insights Discovery & Deeper Discovery Licensed Practitioners

The tingle of being 'alive'

During the ‘lockdown’ due to the COVID-19 pandemic, like most other outdoor venues, the horseracing course close to where I live has not been in use for races.

As it is open for the public to use for walking, and more, it has been well used by many people taking exercise of various types. Be that with their dogs, children, partner or friends; it has been good to see many people outside, enjoying some exercise and perhaps the pleasures of nature. Albeit it does seem some are oblivious to the wonders that could assail their senses if they would look, listen and smell the changes that the months have shared with us. And now can even taste with the wonderful plump blackberries, before the birds suddenly tuck in...and they are gone.

There is a tarmac path that meanders around the outer part of the racecourse. It seems, some keen cyclists assume it is for their sole use, clearly pretending they are in a velodrome due to the speed they insist on travelling at, the amount of lycra they wear, plus their brightly coloured helmets – though sadly lacking consideration for other users of the path, as they shout at pedestrians to get out of the way. Social distancing ignored. All leaving a bad image for other cyclists in their wake.

What does seem strange, to me at least, is so few people walk where the horses would normally run. It is a wonderful grass track that the grounds staff have kept mown for most of the summer. This is where I have been walking. It is a pleasure to notice the changing flowers underfoot and more. I also tend to walk in the middle of the track as it is so spacious and feels wonderful to be out in the open. Yet I have noticed, right next to the inner and outer railings, those who do walk on the grass have worn a path close to the railings.

Initially I thought little of this. As a former track racer I am aware that one keeps as close to the inner line of the track, to reduce the race distance by a few metres on a lap of any track. Yet most people were out for a walk, in some cases walking around he outer part of the track, so certainly not looking to minimise the distance travelled; yet the worn path is still close to the railings. Hmm, interesting.

It seemed as if people wanted to walk in the shadows and not get noticed. This reminded me of the words of Marianne Williamson, a part of which Nelson Mandela used in his speech shortly after he was free from the Robben Island prison – here are a few extracts:

‘Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us…

'Your playing small does not serve the world…

'And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.’

Marianne Williamson, A Return to Love

This brought my thoughts around to the wonder of Insights Discovery, where one of the objectives is show the strengths that each and every one of us has. Strengths that need to be played into the world.

Having profiled, and worked with many thousands of people, I am all too aware that so few of us really appreciate our strengths. So few of us stand up and use those strengths for the collective service and good of all. So many of us need to let our own light shine.

By keeping close to the railings are we playing small? Indeed why are we not allowing our amazing colour energies, identified accurately in our Insights Discovery Profiles, to shine our radiance and unique rainbow of colours into the world?

As we hopefully surface from the ‘lockdown’ that has impacted the world, is there no better time to stand out from the protection of the railings and step into who we really are?

Remember, as I have stated before, we only get one lap on the track of life. No practice lap. No lap of honour.

Stepping out of the shadows may feel scary – or perhaps is that tingle we experience when we really feel ‘alive’!!?

Do get in touch if you want to feel the ‘tingle of being alive’.

My best wishes,

Peter