Holding Space, A Gift of Presence

My baby is learning to crawl. Watching her struggle is a lot like watching people moving through emotional pain. There is a pull in my stomach, a physiological response, an impulse to jump in and help, make the struggle go away. I take a deep breath and offer her space, my compassion and presence. I watch her struggle as I breathe deeply and I witness her mastering the movement and succeeding. Just like with people moving through emotional suffering, the impulse to jump in and save is there, but so is the breath. I breathe as I choose to offer my presence instead of rescue. And in this space magic happens. In this space people find passage through suffering, and as they move through the threshold they step out of pain and into their power.