*** Calling all my fellow “Type A” companions! ***

Alignment vs ALIVEment

Alignment = arrangement in a straight line, or in correct or appropriate relative positions

Alivement = opening up to the world around you and allowing your beautiful coordinating system to balance you as needed

Let me be VERY clear:

I am someone who wants to get things RIGHT. Usually immediately. (Hence the type A reference.)

I often try to arrange myself AND MY LIFE in a straight line, in an appropriate (correct) position in relation to ideas, people, tasks…literally everything. I like my work space to be orderly - if not tidy, at least organized in a way that makes sense to ME. I like when plans go according to, well, plan.

My penchant for organization CAN BE one of my superpowers. But it can also make me rigid, unspontaneous, tense, stressed out, and tired. And just overall lack-lustre.

When I try to organize my body with the same fervour with which I try to organize my life (hint: THEY ARE THE SAME THING), things just don’t work the way I want them to. For example, I get back pain when I try to “align” my spine “properly.” My breathing feels shallow when I try to lift my sternum and “open my heart.” My voice is thin and my sound is pressed and edgy.

Alivement is a choice.

Alivement is a moment-to-moment CHOICE I make to LET GO of my fixing. I choose to RELEASE my heart in order to allow it to open. I choose to RELEASE my neck and shoulders in order to allow my whole torso to open as my breath moves.

I choose to RELEASE my holding, my trying to be right, forcing outcomes, my “correct alignment” in order for my beautiful system to coordinate itself.

I choose to release in order to allow an opening.

Friends, this is NOT EASY. Choosing to let go and fully experience my aliveness in response to the world means also feeling the less pleasant sensations and feelings. I read somewhere that in order to feel joy we have to feel pain. I’m learning to trust that. And my back pain is gone. And my voice is full.