What is Cargo?

Each one of us has something uniquely ours and inherently special to offer the world. The Dagara people of West Africa refer to this as our “cargo” and believe that every child is born with their own, with no two being the same. Sadly, upon entering the world, one’s cargo often gets lost, buried, or forgotten for various reasons. Perhaps we were made to feel ashamed of our cargo at a young age and, therefore, learned to hide it as a form of protection. Separation from one’s cargo can be quite painful and result in feelings of depression, anxiety, or—quite literally—being adrift.

At some point in our lives, many of us feel disconnected from our authentic selves or struggle to identify our purpose, or “soul’s calling”, as we have learned (either consciously or unconsciously) to build a suit of armor around who we really are. Unfortunately, the mechanisms we put in place to protect ourselves as children often end up serving as the very things that keep us stuck as we grow older. When this occurs, we are called to set out on the grand adventure of “disarmoring” ourselves and reuniting with our precious cargo so that we may share it with the world—as all cargo is meant to be shared!

I like to think of therapy as a journey to rediscover oneself, with the therapist acting as a guide along the way—someone who can assist in navigating the inevitable rugged mountains and choppy seas and shine a light on the path towards finding one’s cargo, specifically during those times when it feels farther away than ever. Sometimes, others are better at identifying our cargo than we are, as we are often blind to our own light. (If only we could see ourselves the way that others see us!)

Essentially, life is a hero’s journey of reconnecting with our true, authentic self and sharing that “self” with the world. I believe, in this way, we can all help one another heal. Each person on this planet is here for a reason and we all have something valuable and important to share. We must simply heed the call and accept the challenge to awaken the parts of us that have been lost, reclaim them, and bring them out into the open. Dramatic change occurs when we are brave enough to allow ourselves to be seen!

“It is only by sharing that we make a feast.” —From the European folk story, Stone Soup