What Alice tells us about surviving chaos

Alice falls into the rabbit hole into a realm of chaos.  Initially she's interested in finding the white rabbit, she's following her curiosity.  It takes a bit of time to realize that she doesn't really seem to fit in here, that this land is full of "nonsense".  

The Cheshire Cat is the first to suggest that Alice might benefit from getting clear about where she would like to be going.  In fact, this very advice, from a parent coach when my children were little, changed my life.  I had been trying to get away from what I didn't want in my life, but didn't have a solid sense of direction about where I was going... what I wanted to cultivate in my life.  This is a critical step for building resilience.  It provides a beacon... something we're moving TOWARD.

Alice, as a character, shows us that while she goes through many emotions, sometimes treats others badly, and is sometimes nurturing and kind... it is how she sees herself that colors the story (this is a dream, after all).  The moment that we get some inkling about how to get out of this chaos, is when we meet the Queen of Hearts, who suggests to us that the answer lies within us, not within our logic (or illogic, as the case may be).  Confronting the Queen forces Alice to decide what she believes to be true, and Alice decides that the soldiers are simply playing cards, and therefore have no power over her.

While the story ends rather ambiguously (don't ours too?)... it does tell us that those moments when we are consumed by chaos, are moments of deciding what we truly believe and are about, in order to assert ourselves and walk forward with strength and purpose... to get ourselves home.

Interested in going deep with fairy tales?  Intrigued by the possibility that these entertaining tales can provide us with a map to ourselves?  We can have fun while we dive deep, developing awareness, self-compassion, and resilience as we go.  Doing our inner work can be highly rewarding personally, and in relationship with family, friends, and colleagues.  And it doesn't have to be serious and curmudgeonly.  Join me for Moving From Stress To Resilience online beginning November 17th!

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