Ridgeline FarmsI’m going to admit something that, well, it may sound… ridiculous.
We both know that the human mind is hardwired for survival.
It’s designed to direct our attention toward threats.
And our fight-flight-or-freeze response is a critical function that has kept the human race alive for a long damn time.
These days, however, we don’t need it nearly as much as we did when we had to outrun dinosaurs and saber-toothed tigers.
Sure, it comes in handy if we cross paths with a bear (like I used to when tending to my guerrilla crops way back in the mountains of BC).
We need it for real danger.
The mind, though…
Well, it has a way of turning the silliest little things into hungry beasts.
Someone simply saying “I’ve got bad news” or “There’s a problem” can kick up the ol’ heart rate like the double bass of a speed metal drummer.
And for many people, even just a ringing phone, knocking at the door, or opening an unchecked email inbox can do the trick.
And if no threat exists, our mind has us covered and will happily fabricate one.
It’s incredibly efficient at finding imaginary things to stress over.
Hell, a good portion of the cannabis market is made up of consumers who just want to turn down the dial on that shit — something cannabis can be tremendously helpful with, especially indica. For some people, though, sativa can have the opposite effect.
The mind, unchecked, can be a fear manufacturing machine.
And since it was created — at least in part — to solve problems, that’s what it does — it gives us things to worry about.
“I’ve had a lot of worries in my life, most of which never happened.” — Mark Twain.
On that note, here’s something about me that I’ve admitted to very few people.
And I realize it may sound ridiculous. Because it is!
Even though I’ve been fortunate to generate enough money in cannabis to enjoy a comfortable life from here on out…
Lurking somewhere deep in the shadows of my psyche…
Is the feeling that if I don’t work my ass off, I could end up on the street.
And I don’t mean handing out Humanity Packs with our awesome Humanity Heroes team down on Skid Row.
I mean as a full-time resident!
In fact, I believe this is one of the reasons that I felt so moved to start Humanity Heroes.
This fear is a part of what drives me to work so hard.
You see, I’m motivated by both the carrot AND the stick. MOSTLY the carrot, but the stick certainly makes an appearance.
But how can I have such an irrational fear?
Well, when I was growing up, my family scraped by, often living day-to-day.
My parents constantly argued over our lack of money.
I’m talking GNARLY arguments.
They’d decorate the kitchen with broken dishes and condiment spatter — it would look like Jackson Pollock went to town on the linoleum with the ketchup and mustard.
And because of this, some of my wiring regarding money is… a little off.
In fact, I still feel out of place around other self-made individuals. I simply don’t feel like I fit in with the wealthy crowd.
An upper class soiree? Forget about it.
I’d much rather enjoy some dank with a bunch of fellow growers.
I don’t think I’ll ever feel “rich.”
And I may never completely shake that feeling that homelessness awaits just around the corner.
But, today, I’m awake to the effects of my childhood conditioning.
Though it’s taken quite a few years to get here.
Cannabis has helped. As has psilocybin and ayahuasca. (:
And doing deep dives with masters from different backgrounds.
The key to not being accosted by those silly fears and insecurities, I’ve found, is to remain as present as we can with our thoughts and feelings.
Which, as I recently explained in another post, is a moment-to-moment endeavor.
At least that’s been my experience.
Talk soon,
BigMike
P.S. See how these growers are having so much success with both the yields and potency of their crops…
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