Crossing the river is good metaphor. I latched onto it in US Army Ranger School because training was simulating patrolling behind enemy lines. Rivers are typically wide open spaces with good visibility making you an easy target but they also hide dangers lurking beneath. The worst river crossing I remember consisted of waist-deep water for a few hundred meters leading up to the river and then once we got in the river - mind you - we were crossing with 70 pound Ruck Sacks (backpacks with all our belongings on the patrol) - and although they were linked to the crossing rope, the weight was still pulling you and the rope down.
In this particular river, there were trees growing underneath - apparently, it was a swamped area - unbeknownst to us. The backpacks inevitably got caught up in the trees and because it was a night crossing with very little moonlight, Rangers kept getting into the water to cross not knowing there was a bottleneck. That crossing literally took hours as soldiers and backpacks were stuck in the river.
What does that have to do with getting above the line? Imagine instead of trees and branches, those were stories and phobia-like responses to challenges and triggers. Suppose that instead of backpacks, it was literally the baggage we carry around with us. Sometimes from crisis to crisis never realizing it may have to do with the baggage. The metaphor is twofold - 1) Sometimes we have to shed some attachments to get above the line and 2) due to the unforeseen Fixed Mindset Triggers, we can get stuck for a long time. My guess is a good river crossing to Above The Line with guidance can take about nine months to a year. Some people never complete their crossing despite multiple starts. Others never attempt. Still others get stuck in the trees (triggers) insisting on fighting it out.
There is no easy route or answer to get across because everyone is different and like what you needed to hear was just for you - your tip for getting across the river, may not work for the next person. Stay strong….its worth it.
Here is the link to watch the video version on YouTube:
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