I realized how harshly the human mind judges vulnerability, particularly in ourselves. Today, consciously counter that tendency by showing kindness and acceptance to the vulnerable parts of yourself and letting go of shame.
I used to wonder why many Holocaust victims were reluctant to share their stories, even with their closest friends and family. Then, through my reading, I learned that even though the survivors were innocent, many of them felt profound shame for having been weak and abused.
I realized how harshly the human mind judges vulnerability, particularly in ourselves. Today, consciously counter that tendency by showing kindness and acceptance to the vulnerable parts of yourself and letting go of shame.
0 Comments
Give and receive help - and let go of any sense of pride, shame, or burden about either. Know that help, both given and received - is Love flowing through you. Don't let your mind unnecessarily complicate this holy and humble process by imagining that giving or receiving help makes you strong or weak, powerful or diminished, self-sufficient or dependent. Just let Love do its work and be grateful.
The Buddhist loving-kindness medication asks us to send blessings to ourselves, someone we love, a neutral person, a difficult person, and all beings.
I am going to discuss part one, sending blessings to ourselves. The instructions tell us to bless and care for ourselves with a phrase such as "May I be happy, may I be well, may I be free from suffering." For many of us, this is difficult - and so important. We must practice wrapping ourselves in well-wishing and caring. And here is the next, difficult step. We must live this prayer in action. Over time, we must learn what is keeping us from happiness, peace, and wellness, and take steps to make changes. We must ask for help in this process. We must be active and open-hearted in our care for ourselves. This is not selfish, but our job. Today, let go of ego. Ego feels pride and competition - let go of that. Ego feels smaller than others and discouraged - let go of that. Ego feels overly responsible for others - or resistant to its obligations: let go of that. Instead, feel yourself as part of Love's great movement, Love's activity, intelligence, and generosity to all creation.
Many of us believe that we have to say just the right words to be of genuine use to others - to inspire, comfort, correct, guide. In reality, the words are less important than feeling the powerful presence of Love in our relationships, in the spaces between us. Love does the real communicating - speaks to each of us in a language we can understand. Love wipes out hidden egotism or judgments or assumptions, which can undermine our message. Communication training can be useful, but cannot substitute for the presence of dynamic, embracing, intelligent, comforting Love, which heals both the speaker and the listener.
One of the ways we make ourselves too small is imaging that we know what others think of us and then navigating our relationships and taking actions in reaction to those assumptions. Today, admit that we don't actually know what others think of us. Even if we have made a correct guess, anyone else's opinion, even positive ones, are too limited. Today, listen more to Love's messages about your identity, your purpose. Know that even your own wise and intuitive thoughts about others are limited. Even your own opinion of yourself is limited. Open yourself up to letting Love reveal more to you about yourself and others - and be guided by Love, not by social dynamics.
I recently heard an interview on Fresh Air with religion scholar Elaine Pagels. She shared that after the death of her six-year-old son after a long illness, she felt guilty, even though she had done everything she could for him. In retrospect, she realized that the guilt allowed her to maintain the illusion of control, - she could have done something more - which her subconscious preferred to the feeling of helplessness.
If you are someone who feels too much guilt, today check and see if the guilt is really an effort to maintain a sense of control over what you can't control. Consciously let go of what is not yours to fix. At the same time, you can connect with Love and feel its power embracing you and all living beings. Today, feel Spirit with you as a power and presence. Spirit brings vitality to your body and life. Spirit brings refreshing ideas, growth, new perspectives, and energy. This spiritual energy is never manic, but steady and calm. It's activity is powerful, effective, and restful. This Spirit belongs to us - and to all living things. Feel this Energy moving in you and through you. Yield to it and trust it.
Today, know that Love meets you right where you.
In the Bible, the prodigal son has partied all his inheritance away, then crawls back home, hoping his dad will take him on as a servant. Instead, his father sees him on the road, runs to him, embraces him, puts a ring on his finger and has a big party of welcome. He meets him right where he is. You don't need to improve yourself before Love embraces you. You don't need to do good deeds to earn Love's love. You are loved in every molecule of your being. When we know and feel this, we will come to naturally, humbly, healthily, and productively care for others and ourselves. Today, welcome all parts of yourself with compassion and love - your awkwardness and failings. Know that Love embraces you just as you are - and practice accepting yourself with the same inclusiveness. When you enter any space with other people, know that Love fully and fiercely welcomes you, regardless of the thoughts or judgements of others. Be strong in steady in that knowledge. Extend that genuine welcome to everyone else, a welcome of acceptance.
|
AuthorTarn Wilson is the author of the memoir The Slow Farm and numerous essays. You may read more of her work at tarnwilson.com. Archives
September 2020
Categories |