Its Mama…
Burning the Ship & The Gift of Challenges
As with most things in life, there are times it is appropriate to “burn the ship” and then there are times to see the challenge as the gift it is – an opportunity for change and personal growth. What is hard is discerning between the two.
What helps clarify the difference for me is my personal alignment with God and my reliance on faith, prayer, being in the Word, and staying close to Him in worship, in family relationships, in friendships, and in interpersonal time.
Personally, the more I stay on task with these things, the more joyful my life in good times and in non-joyful times.
There are dangers to “burning the ship” so let’s talk about some of them first.
For example, if you burn the ship with no safety net, as did Cortes and his crew, and there is failure, then you are subject to collapse. Safety nets can appear in many different forms –
Cortes may have burned the ship, but he did it with the support and presence of others. He did not do it alone and had comrades with him along the way. BE SURE TO INCLUDE HEALTHY COMRADES as you journey through life.
Burning ships can lead to heightened stress and pressure – leaving you feeling overwhelmed and making decisions based on fear. This does not typically bode well for life, this increased stress, so always have a plan in place for finding peace in these times. Know yourself well and what helps you reduce stress. For me, it is walking, taking a drive, being in the presence of Ian and you children and Baby “D”. It is playing Rummy daily with Ian, working in the dirt. Laughing with my girlfriends. BE SURES TO INCLUDE OUTLETS FOR REDUCING AND COMBATING STRESS as you journey through life. 
Burning ships can lead to inflexibility and potential for rash decisions. Put a “cat in the corner” and it is often the cat will scratch you. The same is often true when we burn our ships and force ourselves into a corner. When we burn our ships, we typically do so for the sake of getting to our “base self”. Or, as we therapists call it, our “reptilian brain” or “primal brain” which can be healthy. But it also can leave us feeling naked emotionally and personally so it is important to plan and to rely on a power higher than yourself – which for you and me is God, our Father. One name or God is Elohim and this indicates God as the Supreme and true God on whom we can fully rely. BE SURE TO KEEP ELOHIM CLOSE WHEN YOU “burn your ship” relying on a power greater than yourself.
These are just a few things to consider before lighting the torch.
There are also some benefits to “burning the ship”.
One is that when you have torched the very vessel that carried you to new terrain, you are fully committed. You cannot go back to old ways of transport because you no longer have that ride. You then are forced to progress into new territory or lay down and die. Clearly, the latter is not good so it is my hope you will embrace the journey in front of you. BE SURE TO FULLY EMBRACE THE JOURNEY IN FRONT OF YOU.
Another benefit when you burn the ship is it is simpler to break with the past and old patterns. New environments necessitate new ways of doing things. Things that worked before may not work in your new environment and you will have to use your creativity and ingenuity to create ways to solve problems and create adventure. BE SURE TO EMBRACE NEW WAYS OF SOLVING PROBLEMS AND CREATING ADVENTURE.
Further, burning the ship can spur motivational symbolism and inspire courage. There is a belief that stepping outside of your box is a very healthy way to live a life of inspiration and aspiration. We only have one life and it is very easy to get “stuck” in familiar patterns and ways of doing things. When you burn the ship, you often are forced to re-think your life and in this re-thinking, you reinvent yourself, your behaviors, and your courage to dare to do things differently. BE SURE TO LIVE IN INSPIRATION AND COURAGE! BE BOLD. BE BRAVE.
I love that Cortes burned the ship and in fact, all of the ships had no choice but to remain and conquer. His act became a powerful symbol of total commitment. It communicated not only to his men but also to allies and enemies that retreat was not an option. This boosted morale, discipline, and the perception of Cortés as a determined leader.
So, while the phrase “burning the ships” is more metaphorical than literal, it has since become shorthand for cutting off the possibility of retreat in order to force full commitment to a chosen path.
BE SURE TO LIVE LIFE FULLY AND ON PURPOSE FULLY COMMITTED TO YOUR CHOSEN PATH.
Wholeheartedly,
ILYAOYMC,
Mama
