Our minds keep us busy and often it is simply to avoid connecting to our heart and listening to what we really need and listening to how we can nurture ourselves.
Below is a beautiful poem that Sa Silvano wrote to remind us that when we are busy with too many thoughts, we lose connection to our truth and from healing.
Whatever we are feeling about another person, is an emotional energy that lies within us – Sa Silvano
We have all been guilty of anger at sometime and maybe you are angry more than your are not, but the answer to letting it go, is to confront it, find the source that triggers it and practice a discipline that helps you let it go.
How many times have we heard ourselves or others say in an angry moment, “I’m not angry?” For some reason, some of us resist admitting to ourselves that we are and this is part of the problem. If we cannot begin with the first step of accepting that we are angry and that it is a normal emotion, then we cannot move forward in releasing it.
When an unpleasant emotion or thought arises, do not suppress it, run away from it, or deny it. Instead, observe it and fully acknowledge it. Being deeply honest and aware of our anger as it arises, helps us understand what triggers it in us.
When I am tired and run down I find I am more vulnerable to anger and my emotions, but with practice, I began to note there was a pattern when anger arose in me and I became aware of how long it took me to come out of it.
We all like to blame others or circumstances for our anger and yet, we have complete control over how we respond to others, as anger is not outside ourselves. Once you become aware of this, you will note that once you are in anger, you are not living from your heart with compassion but are living in your mind.
“When you express your anger you think that you are getting anger out of your system, but that’s not true. When you express your anger, either verbally or with physical violence, you are feeding the seed of anger, and it becomes stronger in you.” Only understanding and compassion can neutralize anger. – Thich Nhat Hahn
It takes courage, strength and discipline to work through anger in our life. Once I understood anger, I realised I had complete control of it and how long I stayed in that state. It takes practice and patience to achieve this and like all discipline’s in life like yoga and meditation, it becomes easier overtime.
Find time throughout your week to be still and see where anger is taking energy from you. Accept this anger and see what triggers it’s pain. Practice forgiveness and compassion for yourself and from that place, you will be able to allow others the same.
“I follow four dictates: face it, accept it, deal with it, then let it go.” ~Sheng Yen
I try to follow the dictates above as I find this process helps me work through the many challenges in my life. The one I struggle with the most is “Acceptance.”
When I cannot accept myself or the problem that is challenging me, then the next steps of dealing with it and letting it go can not happen.
Accepting and not interfering with the natural essence of nature, you will find it heals itself. It’s the same with us. When we allow ourself to be, to accept this moment or challenge no matter how hard it seems, we can begin to heal.
We all seem to be happy to identify our thoughts and what the problem is, but rarely do we want to identify or accept what the event reveals about us. Whenever I was confronted with a challenge in my life, I began to notice that feelings of frustration and anger came to the surface and I wanted to give up immediately.
These are the feelings that we need to face and acknowledge in ourselves because these are what are limiting us from moving forward and discovering our true potential.
When I started to see a pattern, I began to question why I wanted to give up when I felt challenged. I realised it was fear. Fear of being vulnerable and exposed and fear of not being good enough. It takes time to understand ourselves and sometimes we need guidance from others too, so be patient.
Once I accepted this and started to work at changing the limiting beliefs I had about myself, I was able to move forward and change.
Resisting the pain and not facing who we are in the pain, only prolongs our healing.
Become aware of the feelings that surface when life challenges you, because when you identify these patterns and face them, you can begin to practice letting them go.
We all have parts of ourself that we don’t like or don’t want to see and yet, facing those parts of self through meditation, counselling and stillness, you will begin to understand how to work with them rather than against them.
“The greatest challenge in your life is discovering who you are, the second greatest is accepting what you find.” – author unknown
LIVING IN THIS MOMENT 