Now for some of us, longing might seem like a fanciful word used in romance novels, or for others it might have religious undertones.
But I’ve come to understand it as one of the most powerful forces within us.
I’ve been talking a lot about desires lately (especially in the Ignite Your Desires e-course) and a big part of the reason I think they’re so important is that they’re a doorway to our longing.
“There is a space between man’s imagination and man’s attainment that may only be traversed by his longing.”
Kahlil Gibran
He’s speaking about longing as something that crosses the distance between what we have and what we imagine for ourselves. But it does much more than just bridge this gap.
Longing is the magnetic pull that brings us and our desires together.
Imagine an elastic band stretched between 2 points. The further apart those 2 points are, the greater the tension in the elastic.
We’re holding one end of the elastic.
And whatever it is that we desire is at the other end.
And that’s where the promise comes in.
The longing we feel for for what we desire is the tension in the elastic, the distance between Lover and Beloved.
And if there was nothing at the other end of the elastic, there would be no tension, and no longing in us.
So as soon as there’s a longing, there’s also a knowing – that there really IS something at the other end of that elastic.
And we’re being drawn to it and it’s being called to us. Equally.
We’re never given a longing that’s pointless or just a “whim”. I believe that longing can be one of the best indicators of where our true self is seeking to unfold.
Real longing always has truth inside it.
And yet, it’s not always the easiest thing to perceive in ourselves. And in our instant gratification culture we often bury it, thinking that it’s too painful to want what we can’t just go out and get.
Longing always points to something that won’t be found in a day or two. It’s always something that will take time. And the very seeking of it will transform us in some way.
And the seeking is ALWAYS worth it!
I’d love to hear your ideas and questions about longing. I’m going to do a follow up to this post and I’d love to know your questions. Please share those and your comments below.
And if you enjoyed this post, and want the next one sent fresh to your Inbox, go ahead and request them here.
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Interesting blog – I’ve just been through some excellent training on the different emotional states of success, two of which are desire and faith. Would you say longing is a combination of the two?
Iain Gray´s last blog ..How To Avoid Having Problem Clients
Interesting question Iain! Different people experience longing in different ways, and maybe as a combo of those two. I experience it as a separate thing altogether, a very unique heart- level energy or call.
Fascinating — as is everything you write
I’m curious though, what if your longing is something completely different than what you’re currently doing? You love what you do but your mind keeps jumping to a totally different path? What do you do then?
Sherice´s last blog ..The Three Secret Ingredients of Successful Websites
Great question Sherice! A longing for something new doesn’t always mean it’s time to throw away what we’re already doing. And in fact, some longings are for things that we can do right alongside what we’re doing now.
I find that when I have a longing like that, it’s a clue to start looking in a new direction and exploring it and maybe even finding a way to try it out, or learn more about it. Whatever it is, it’s usually a key to something I’ve been missing in my life and even small steps toward it can bring a lot of joy and fulfillment into my life in a surprising way.
Have fun with it! (and email me if I can help you find a way to explore it!)
Wonderful explanation of longing. I’ve never thought of it this way. I like your answer to Sherice, that some longings we can do along side what we’re currently doing. Pretty much eliminates the all-or-nothing approach. Thanks for the thought-provoking post.
Marsha Stopa´s last blog ..The Surprise of Spring Depression
@Marsha – Glad it got you thinking! Yes, our resistance loves to use the “all or nothing” logic as a reason not to explore our longings. But now, you’ll be wise to that trick. = >
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