Excerpted from Patty De Llosa's book, Finding Time for Yourself: A Spiritual Survivor's Workbook.
SEED QUESTIONS FOR REFLECTION: How do you relate to the notion of leveraging your inner world out of its momentary negative hell and back to ease and contentment? Can you share a personal story of a time you were able to do that? What practice helps you exercise your psychic musculature to develop a subtler awareness?
A very thoughtful and timely reading. I agree with the author that once the 'flood gates' are open they are very difficult to shut off. This makes it all the more important to learn to bring mindfulness into our body as soon as we can each day. I believe it begins with trying to wake peacefully and in a spirit of gratitude. Beginning each day with a reflection of gratitude and some gentle movement (walking or stretching) does wonders. Hydrating the body before drinking coffee or eating also helps to re-calibrate our body and mind. Pausing throughout the day is key!
When a loved one leaves for an indefinite period of time , even though part of me is glad that they are moving forward in life, a feeling of sadness and loss creeps upon my spirit. When I catch it at its inception with the realization that this is just a feeling, a universal feeling of self pity that isn't personal to me, it loses its strength and disappears.
The author is right. It is easier to stay out of negative emotions than to get out of them once you are in, or to leave a stream of negative emotion when it's small before it becomes a raging river. It is possible to leverage your inner world out of its momentary negative hell (which is dis-ease and dis-content) and go to ease and contentment. I used to be angry and judgmental often, and now I become angry and judgmental much less often, which has occurred by knowing that such negative emotions are not necessary, though I sometimes indulge in them anyway, by being more understanding and compassionate as a result of knowing that everything is temporary and will pass, by learning to be less attached to anything including to what I want, and by learning that we are one. Reminding myself of those truths helps me exercise the psychic musculature to move away from negative emotions.
At last night's Being American Circle with Aryae, I was thinking out loud about the challenges ahead, and this reading offers a remedy -- not an easy one -- but something to strive for atleast. Thank you.
Discipline, strength and totally taking my mind to a "new/different/Heavenward place" are key for me. For I know the plans God has for me are NOT for evil. Acting out on "momentary Hell" would be powered/inspired by the "evil one". "Think on these things ... whatever is true, honorable, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent and praiseworthy ... think on these things. Whatever you have learned, received, heard or seen from Me, put these things into practice. And The God of peace will be with you." Philippians 4:8-9.
"I can do all things thru Him Who gives me strength." Philippians 4:13