Security Blankets

Think of a child with their security blanket.  For some this ‘blanket’ is not a blanket at all but a toy, a habit, a piece of cloth; essentially it is something they are familiar and comfortable with.  The security blanket is often used to lead them to settle, sleep and rest.  What is your security blanket? 
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It is said that love makes the world go around and all we need is love.  Can we really live on love and fresh air?  Well, firstly how many of us think about how we breathe; I think many of us take it for granted that breathing happens naturally.  It is not something we have to think of until we feel we can’t control our breathing.  Actually, most of us have gotten used to shallow breathing, simply because that is all we need for survival.  Yet, shallow breathing causes several wellbeing issues that keep us in survival mode. This way of breathing never settles us and we find no rest; as what is in the air is fear based.
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The problem is that we do the same with love, we love and often except shallow love.  This kind of love is feelings based like a sugar fix.  Feelings are temporary, we have feel good experiences and we settle for what makes us feel good at the time.  For love to make the world go around and if we are to live on love, sustainable action is required.  Shallow love, like shallow breathing has no depth, it doesn’t provide security and does not sustain us in the long term.
 
A child only finds the ‘blanket’ comforting or settling not because they like it but mostly because they learned to trust the one who gave it to them.  We learn to trust when we encounter love.  We encounter love through repeated experiences that ensure us we are valued for who we are; trust is built and then security grows when we make good connections.  Sometimes our connections leave us confused, we find it hard to trust, our instincts are unsettled and we are not secure.  Not all connections are good connections.
 
If you are still trying to work out what your security blanket is, think about what gives you the confidence and courage to rest? If it is a thing, think about why you trust it? Then go further and think about who gave it to you? What connection do you have with this person? If you find it hard to rest, if you lack confidence and courage; your security has been compromised and contradicted. 
 
We discover security when we know and believe we are loved. This creates a blanket that covers us as a shield, protecting us internally and externally.  When we encounter love we learn to rest. Love is our security blanket because love casts out fear; enabling us to thrive in life.

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