There is a new trend to push for products
to be unaltered and raw. We want our
food to be unprocessed with no additives.
We want our clothing to be void of synthetic dyes. We want our water bottles to be free of BPA
and our cosmetics to have no harsh chemicals.
We are beginning to see the value of that which was intended to be
raw. If you doubt this, look at the boom
in organic products, farmer's markets, and craft fairs. Do we hold the same opinion about emotions,
perspectives and values, however? Do we
want to express these in a raw fashion, and do we appreciate when people
provide these to us in that manner? If
we are advocating for a whole, raw, and organic universe, should it perhaps
begin from the inside out?
As a recovering perfectionist, getting me
to expose my raw core was very rare.
Painting a picture of “having it all together all the time for everyone
I encountered” was my mantra. I still
struggle with this, because it is my protective instinct to lead people to
believe that I have my life in order.
Recently, however, I was presented with the daunting challenge of
deciding to unveil some rawness to my family.
However, this kind of raw was like ripping off a stale bandaid on an
infected wound. I was scared to pull off
the bandage for fear of what was hiding underneath and what my family would
think of my raw wound.
To my amazement, my family didn’t shake
salt on the open sore. Instead, they
provided me with healing ointment of acceptance, forgiveness, compassion and
love. Once they saw the wound, they
understood me better and loved me all the same.
Perhaps they loved me even more.
A wound can’t heal if it festers unattended under an infected
bandage. True wounds that are raw need
cleansing, fresh air, and a tender touch.
I am grateful for the people in my world who have decided that who I am
in my rawest state is worth the investment.
There is a cost with the investment in
raw. You can’t buy organic fruit
for the same cost as traditional fruit.
But, if you value getting your produce in its raw state, you are willing
to make the investment. The same can be
said for human emotion. Just like the
getting a strawberry to be grown in organic conditions may initially take more
upfront work, the resulting harvest can be magnificent. People invest in that labor of love. When we decide to be raw with who we are in
the context of our emotions, perspectives, and values, there is a lot of effort
that comes with this. But, the harvest
can be plentiful and rewarding. People
invest in that labor of love. Raw is
real and real is where it is at.
Changepoints:
We may be protecting ourselves from being
raw if:
·
We are afraid of being judged
by our authentic feelings and perspectives.
·
We avoid topics that we believe
may make us vulnerable to others.
·
We use other emotions – such as
humor, avoidance, or anger – to deflect from how we truly feel.
·
We doubt that the people in our
lives will accept us right where we are, so we shy away from transparency.
If you are
seeking to become raw:
o Find an individual who you can discuss your desire to be
authentic, and then gauge their reaction.
If they appear amenable, start with a small area to evaluate their
ability to meet you on the journey.
o Journal your experiences that cause you to feel vulnerable. Explore how you feel about those experiences
and why you might have associated emotions with those experiences.
o Ask someone who you love to share with you. Being on the receiving end of allowing
someone to be raw can create deeper and greater compassion for the process.
Plant yourself in the raw movement – the
harvest that results is worthwhile.
