The long view is not about predicting or controlling. Often in financial planning there is the idea that future projections of financial flows and accumulation will dictate success or failure. It’s just a tool for the journey to enable the conversations and actions along the way. The long view is not a security blanket. Quite the contrary, it is a glorious revelation of Life and how the river continues to flow in ebbs and ripples creating and transforming regardless of personal desires. It is our blessing and responsibility to step into that river and take generative action. We can hang by the river edge drawing in the sand with a wooden stick, stacking shiny smooth round stones, and plucking a few pale yellow daisies in the rough. Or, we can step into the river current, looking up stream and down, and see the where the water flows from and where the water flows toward. What’s coming – where is it going? And how will my presence in this tiny space be _________________? (remembered, of service, judged, received, enjoyed, embraced, endured…)

The Benefit of the Long View

When I stop my incessant mind circling by the river edge of doing doing doing – because there are so many people, places and pursuits that call for my attention – the long view comes into my horizon. David Whyte says we need to pause, raise our eyes to the horizon, and deeply see what lies before us – I paraphrase. This horizon – both forward and back – points to what is important and simplifies the questions and confusion a short view creates.

Looking back I can see where I came from, the experiences along the way that have shaped me. I am able to claim my learnings, gain valuable insight, feel my feelings of despair, anger, frustration, joy and grief. Add to that betrayal, confusion, hopelessness and fear. Yes, each breath of sight offers a beauty to behold and the opportunity to claim those experiences as real and embodied. This is my legacy. A powerful stake in the ground holds the container for what comes next. We look back to seize our embodied presence of power, clarity, love and purpose.

Looking forward we see as much as we are able to see. Are there clouds, bushes and debris in the way of your sight? Clear the path. Do you need new muscles to cut the branches from the shore? What tools will support the sifting of subtle particles floating to the surface? Are the clouds thick and heavy, or are they wisps floating by? Look. What’s there? See into the horizon. Ask yourself what the horizon needs from you. Ask yourself what is required in me to meet that request. Be in the river. Nourish yourself with the rushing water, gain strength and inspiration of embodied presence, and let your heart sing toward what is next. Now is not the time to be hanging idly on the river bank.

My Life Legacy

In my reflection standing in the river flow, the clarity of my life legacy emerges. Joy. Love. Generosity. My life legacy is seen in these forms: my daughter, Katelyn, my son, Knight, my current creative expression, Somatic Finance® and my relationships with hundreds and thousands who I may never see again.

Viewed from this simple lens, I don’t get caught in the doing and responding to the myriad requests and frivolous free for all. My energy is exquisitely directed to the legacy only I can generate with the finite time I have in this incarnation.

I am also able to see where actions today – more simple – can affect change for tomorrow – perhaps more complex. What I mean by this is clarity emerges from the broader circle and capacity to see more. Recently I have felt tsunami ruffles of anger, grief and fear. No resistance to the emotions, the water rushes through me and peace settles in my heart. The opening shines clear light on my conduct. It’s called feel and deal. I just made that up. Can you taste the clarity, power and generative energy?

Here is my direct example:

My daughter mirrors for me a teaching every day. She embodies an infinite light of kindness and gentle love, a bounty of childlike wonder and mature creativity, and an innocent view cradling hope and exposing gaps of uncertainty. She is bouncing, not launching. She is S.L.O.W.L.Y. building her animation portfolio for job prospects. It’s taking an eternity and her gifts are needed NOW. I am impatient (feel) and in my impatience I am seeing my debris, the clouds and muscles I am called to build… so that I can offer my gifts which are also needed now. Before I can cleanly offer, the muscles are being built (deal). Perhaps she has not launched because she has more to teach me?

My son mirrors for me the flow of life and the joy that I am. He embodies presence like the tall majestic pines I view each day. His capacity to flow – in the river at a rhythm that meets now, as well as ground deeply in the earth’s crust – stuns (feel) me. Two recent visits to his college I witnessed his flow and grounding; he welcomed me into his ease with such ease (feel). I forgot how my body knows this already. We are playmates. I taught him and now he is reminds me. The debris clears. I am that embodied flow – capable, generous, joyful. This legacy touches all of my actions, including this writing to you (deal).Here is your three step Life Legacy practice:
Get in the river and view the horizon.
Acknowledge where you have come from and open to the future, claim your Life Legacy.
Feel and Deal.
These pith instructions may seem sparse. If so, check what’s sufficient for you and where you believe you need more. Your Life Legacy resides inside of you accessible and ready for you to supercharge and activate.

Living my legacy,