Lean Into Love
I’ve been watching the barn swallows that return each year raise their babies. There are two mud nests on our house that they faithfully return to.
Each year, I watch the babies slowly grow until they are bigger and strong enough to leave the nest. But as they grow, they’re wobbly and leaning into each other.
And I was inspired to share their message, which is so needed in these uncertain times. Below is a video and brief message (you’re welcome to subscribe on YouTube for more animal messages), and then let’s dive deeper into what it means for us.
If you’re a sensitive animal lover like me, I’m sure you’ve felt the uncertainty of these times. It can leave us feeling wobbly and unstable (like the baby birds in the nest).
One of the themes I’ve been hearing from family and friends lately is fear. There’s fear around current events in the world, as well as fear around health and living life in general.
I’ve watched people avoid doing things that would be helpful in the long run because fear has kept them stuck. I’ve done it myself. That includes avoiding going to the doctor for fear that there may be something terribly wrong with them, or fear of traveling because of what could go wrong on the trip.
And it pains me to see them feeling blocked by the obstacle that’s keeping them from living their best life. (This is something I’ve often worked with people on over the years, because when we get past those fearful blocks, then life begins to unfold in a beautiful way.)
When we consider that fear is the opposite of love, then we can begin to shift our focus to what is going to move the needle in life. And the baby barn swallows definitely know how to lean into love.
I watched them as they leaned into each other and felt the warmth from their siblings. They also aren’t shy about getting the support they need from their parents, particularly in the form of food.
They instinctively know their survival depends on it. It’s not about being “needy”, but truly requiring loving support from each other.
So if you’re feeling stuck, fearful, or wobbly in life, what can you do to find some support? Who do you need help from to get past a fear that’s preventing you from living life fully, and that also could help your health and wellbeing?
This isn’t about “bashing” ourselves and diving into self-criticism. But rather, congratulating ourselves for recognizing that support is important for our survival – not only in the bird world, but in the human world too.
It takes strength to realize that leaning into love is the ultimate answer. Love—in many different forms—is the glue that holds us together in life.
The baby barn swallows may be small, but they’re following the instinct and intuition they were born with, which guides them to love. And when we humans follow our own instincts rather than letting fear or insecurities drive us, then we can grow and spread our wings.
We can do this by not overthinking, because then we get stuck in analysis paralysis. Instead, we can feel our way to positive thought and shift our emotions.
Then we can move the needle from worry and lack to love and abundance. So find support, and really feel into it in a positive way.
It’s time to fly to a life that’s meant for you. So follow the advice of the baby barn swallows, and you’ll be leaving the muddy nest that you may have been stuck in, and gliding through life on wings of love.
