Empty Hands Catch More Blessings

Dear Collective,

As we move deeper into the year, I’ve been thinking about the old things I have been hanging onto. The quote around an empty bowl has the most potential, but I had me considering…

You can’t grab on to new things when you hang on to the old. Empty hands can catch new blessings.

It sounds poetic, but in practice, it’s one of the hardest things we’ll ever do. We (I) are (am) experts at clutching onto our burdens. We hold onto the "old version" of ourselves because it’s familiar, even if it’s heavy. The devils we know are better than the demons we don’t know. So, we carry the familiar weight of old failures, old injuries, and the "way we’ve always done things" as if they are badges of honor. But when you are white-knuckling the past, you have no capacity to grasp the opportunities of the present.

If you are still mentally carrying the frustration of a mistake from a time ago, you aren't present for the moment that is in front of you right now. You are divided. How can you pick up new growth when you already hold onto too much?

Stop carrying the baggage. Empty your hands. Let’s see what we can catch this week.

With Strength and Adaptability,

Charlie We, The Collective Fitness