“The fish only knows that it lives in the water, after it is already on the riverbank. Without our awareness of another world out there, it would never occur to us to change” – Unknown Wise Person
For those of you who don't know Aaron Turner, please watch the latest episode of my "Insightful Conversations." You are in for a treat. Aaron is one of the wisest, funniest, and most lovable men you could meet. He also happens to be the nephew of George and Linda Pransky. I asked Aaron how he first came across the Principle and how the understanding had impacted his life. He said it was a long story due to his stubbornness.
Aaron grew up in the UK and attended University there. As a starving student on summer break, he decided to spend his holidays visiting his American relatives. For a portion of his trip, he stayed with his uncle George and aunt Linda at their home in La Conner. At the time, George was a practicing Psychologist. During Aaron's stay with them, George and Linda shared that they had been studying a new paradigm in the world of Human Psychology and Spirituality with a man called Sydney Banks. Even though Aaron was struggling at the time with social anxiety and a string of failing relationships, he was not in the least bit interested in what they were sharing with him. George did not give up. He remembered Aaron as a vivacious free-minded, and free-spirited young kid. He didn't recognize the stressed out anxious young teenager that now sat in front of him in his kitchen.
The funny thing is Aaron wasn't looking for help. Lots of his friends had tried to help him over the years, but he thought that being shut down and burdened by analytical thought was perfectly normal. He had grown up believing that being self-reflective and thinking about yourself was self-indulgent and a waste of time. His mum had taught him that you don't adjust what you do based on how you feel; you carry on regardless. Like a fish in water doesn't know it's wet, Aaron didn't recognize that he was swimming in anxiety and that his suffering was optional. How many of us do the exact same thing? How many of us become so accustomed to the environment we are living in we don't even recognize when we are swimming in S%#T.
I remember a few years back before I came across the Principles, I was going through an incredibly painful period of my life. My therapist at the time, told me that I was suffering from depression. I remember thinking, "You're crazy. I don't know what you're talking about … I'm sad, fearful, and anxious, maybe, but other than that, I'm totally fine!" It was only after I was far enough removed from the situation that I was able to see how much pain I had been in. At the time, I didn't want to see it. I believed that this was as good as it gets, and I better make the most of it. I had such fearful thoughts of the future I couldn't imagine leaving the situation or that anything better might be available to me.
Thank god I trusted my wisdom and had the courage to leave. Armed with some distance and hindsight, I gained a new perspective. I saw that the world was not a scary place. In fact, it was a wonderful expansive world, full of possibilities and joy. Once I got a taste of what life could be like, I couldn't imagine ever going back to my previous existence. I couldn't un-see what I had seen. I couldn't fold myself back up and squish myself into the small box I had previously confined myself to.
I am so grateful that I came across the understanding of the 3 Principles and woke up to the possibilities of what life has to offer when you let go of preconceived ideas and self-limiting beliefs.
With love and appreciation, Del 💕