The Necessity of Resiliency

By Ingrid Kincaid ~ 3/04/2010

Resiliency is an interesting and oft-forgotten word that refers to the ability to bounce back; to spring back; recoil; resume original shape after bending, stretching, compression, shock or depression. I felt it might be a good word to explore this week considering how the times in which we live—times of tremendous challenge and threat as well as opportunity and possibility—require us to be resilient in order to survive as well as thrive. How often each day are we stretched or bent, compressed or pulled out of shape? How often are we shocked or depressed?

I was led to this simple poem by the Japanese poet Masahide. It affords an eloquent outlook on resiliency:

Barn's burnt down...
Now I can see the moon

Rumi spoke to me of the source of resiliency in this poem:

"Two Kinds Of Intelligence"

There are two kinds of intelligence: one acquired,
as a child in school memorizes facts and concepts
from books and from what the teacher says,
collecting information from the traditional sciences
as well as from the new sciences.

With such intelligence you rise in the world.
You get ranked ahead or behind others
in regard to your competence in retaining
information. You stroll with this intelligence
in and out of fields of knowledge, getting always more
marks on your preserving tablets.

There is another kind of tablet, one
already completed and preserved inside you.
A spring overflowing its springbox. A freshness
in the center of the chest. This other intelligence
does not turn yellow or stagnate. It's fluid,
and it doesn't move from outside to inside
through conduits of plumbing-learning.

This second knowing is a fountainhead
from within you, moving out.

After reading Rumi's poem my question was, "How can I access this second kind of knowing?" My answer rests in my belief that my ability to be resilient—to thrive and flourish—depends on my willingness to leave each day, if only for a short period of time, the noise and confusion of constant input and stimulation to spend time in stillness and silence, listening to and partaking of the waters in my inner fountainhead. I am reminded of the Muses, Greek goddesses of creativity and inspiration who returned each evening to their home on Mt. Helicon to be refreshed and replenished by the wells and springs and fountains on the mountain.

May you be blessed with times of silence,
Ingrid

Ingrid Kincaid is an internationally known storyteller, teacher and spiritual mentor. She is an intuitive reader of ancient runes. She gently shows her clients how to tap into their own inner wisdom by weaving together creativity, spirituality and ancient knowing. Ingrid is available for interviews, private consultations and group presentations. You can contact her at ingk@ingridkincaid.com or 415.652.3990.

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