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Everything
You Need to Know That Is Already Inside of You:
Wisdom of the Real Human Beings 101
by Suraj Holzwarth
In discovering what it means to be a real human being in my walk
upon the path of life, I have discovered what I feel are fundamental
truths to the healing journey. I will be sharing these in the first of
this series of articles.
The Body Never Lies.
As the walking autobiography of our life experiences, our bodies carry
ancient wisdom. Our bodies carry out over six million processes
simultaneously and instinctually, without us ever thinking about it!
Yet, many of us are disconnected from our bodies and have forgotten
this intimate communication and communion. The disconnection from our
Mother Earth in these times stems from this loss of connection with
the sacred temple of our own bodies. For healing to begin, we must
come home to our bodies and remember how to listen to their ancient
wisdom.
The Mind, Body, Emotions and Spirit are not Separate.
Our spiritual dis-ease and feelings of separation, isolation and
disconnection often stem from a deep inner split of the mind from the
body and emotions. In healing, we re-member, re-awaken, and re-connect
the innate communication of body, mind and emotions and use this inner
wisdom for self-awareness, self-healing and self-expression. To be ill
is to be disconnected from the whole; to heal simply means being
connected with the whole.
Healing Happens From the Inside Out, Not the Outside In.
When we want to change or blame others (rather than go to the source
of our own pain), we have betrayed ourselves with the lie that someone
outside us can fix anything for us or make us feel safe, loved or
whole. When someone "pushes our buttons," it is because we
have buttons to push! Focusing on the source of one's own pain is the
true path of the inner healer. Going outside the self has created most
of our addictions as strategies to escape the present moment. Hell is
the experience where we cannot love or forgive the self. Healing this
split involves welcoming home the unlovable within.
Healing is a Journey from the Head Back to the Heart, From
Logic Back to Love.
As we begin to be home in our bodies, we often remember the past
experiences that we didn't know how to process and, instead, stuffed
inside. This is why we started living more in our heads than in our
hearts and bodies in the first place! We forgot how to feel our lives,
to express our hearts in the moment. When these experiences go
unexpressed, the body and emotions can eventually no longer hold onto
them and they begin to signal us through physical and emotional aches
and pains. This is often when we reach for medication or many other
addictive behaviors to escape or try to "fix" it. It is no
wonder the deeper wisdom of our bodies and feelings have become
strangers! This is the very moment when healing can take place. By
trusting our deeper knowing or "gut feeling" as the inner
teacher, we allow ourselves to be guided back to intuition, back to
feeling and healing, and back to our own creativity and imagination.
We Cannot Heal What We Refuse to Feel.
When we have lost connection to our hearts and how to feel our lives,
it often results in a kind of schizophrenia where we think one thing,
feel another, and say a third! In coming home to the body, we come
home to our feelings, dark and light. As ritual artist and healer
Gabrielle Roth shares, "When we are grounded in our bodies, pure
in our hearts, clear in our minds and suffused with the spirit of
life, then we are living are our birthright."
We have but one Spirit, expressing itself in many forms. The gifts
of our emotions -- fear, anger, sadness, joy and compassion -- are
sacred teachers for our healing. When we repress our sadness or anger,
we also repress our joy. We stop trusting our feelings. The greatest
source of depression comes from not trusting our gut, expressing our
true feelings in the moment and acting on what we know. Healing is
natural when there is a compassionate space that allows us to explore
and reclaim the full spectrum of human emotion.
There is Nothing to Fix.
Not trying to change anything but creating a sacred space within and
around us by witnessing and listening with the heart of acceptance,
compassion and truth is the key to transformation.
You are What you Eat -- Physically, Emotionally, Mentally and
Spiritually!
To maintain our total well being, it is important to look at what
foods we are eating. We are polluting our Mother Earth because we are
polluting our own bodies. This is not only true of physical foods that
we eat, but also of emotional, mental and spiritual foods. Toxic
thoughts are just as damaging to our Spirit as bad foods. In fact, it
is often our toxic thoughts and emotions that lead us to eating foods
that are not healthy for us. When we become aware and no longer feed
these toxic thoughts, they move on. Finding the proper food is
everything in maintaining our total well being.
It is Not About Finding the Truth, It's About Shedding the
Lies.
At the core of each of us is a divine, pure spirit, pure truth. There
are many masks of fear that we have identified with as who we are.
Self-awareness through meditation brings a personal experience with
our divine true nature and begins to shed the false identities or
false self-systems. When it becomes more painful to live in the false
self-system than in the authentic self, we have arrived at the
crossroads where our healing journey takes a huge growth spurt and the
true flower of our being shines forth!
Suraj Holzwarth is a Shamanic Healer,
Energybodyworker and Ritual Artist offering both individual and
groupwork. She is the Director of The Whirling Rainbow Center and can
be reached at 907-336-7439 rainbowdream@chugach.net
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The
Power of the Unconscious Mind:
The Answers Are Inside You
by Arpana Greenwood
Have you ever made eye
contact with someone you know well, but just couldn't recall his or
her name? Did you ever need to get somewhere you haven't been for a
long time, realize you don't remember the way, and then surprise
yourself by driving to this destination anyway?
Everything you have ever experienced in life is inside of you.
While you may not be able to tell me the exact time you were born or
the name of your second grade teacher, nevertheless, these memories
exist. You were present when all of these things happened! So, where
has all this information gone?
The Mystery of the Basement
By analogy, we might say that we keep the storage of all the things
we are presently not using in the basement of our house. The basement
of the mind -- the place where everything that seems to have been
forgotten is stored -- is known as the unconscious mind. Most
hypnotherapy research reveals that only 10 percent of our mind is
conscious, while the remaining 90 percent is unconscious.
Think of it: if 90 percent of our potential and skills are hidden,
there are many more ways for us to heal our sorrows and solve our
difficulties than we have imagined! In fact, everything we need to
lead a life exactly the way we wish is already inside of us. Wouldn't
it be amazing to use this 90 percent in such a way that we can create
whatever we want that our conscious mind may not have allowed?
Consciously trying to change something we haven't been successful
with yet is like the Zen parable of the woman who loses a needle in
her own house -- she looks for it outside under the street lamp
because she can't see well enough inside!
The Power of Altered States
One of the first and most thrilling experiences I had with
hypnotherapy occurred when I participated in a hypnosis for healing
group. I attended the group because of the severe 36-hour migraines I
had experienced for years. When I went into the deep altered states
that had been outlined to us at the beginning of the group, I did not
consciously remember what happened.
After one of the sessions, however, I found myself in the canteen
pouring a cup of herbal tea. This experience was shocking to me for I
was addicted to coffee and hated the taste of herb tea. Slowly, I
began to love all kinds of herbal teas. I drank them more frequently
until one day I realized I had transformed my coffee habit.
I am sure this could not have happened through my conscious mind.
Moreover, I would never have connected the coffee drinking to my
migraines, nor would I have been willing to change. I could not heal
my headaches yet because this coffee habit was so strongly engraved in
my neuropathways and was located beyond the capabilities of my
conscious will. For the change to be successful, it had to happen in
an altered state. This one session was a major aspect in the healing
of my migraines, which I no longer have.
Talking to the Unconscious
Is it possible to change disorders, compulsions, addictions, or any
unwanted behavior? If you use the 90 percent of your unconscious mind,
the answer is yes. Wouldn't it be amazing to access information from
the unconscious just as easily as one goes into the basement and finds
a missing item? Here is a simple and much loved hypnotherapeutic tool
that can aid in precisely this way -- a pendulum.
You can buy a pendulum or make one by using the pendant on a
necklace. Holding the chain loosely in your hand, prop your elbow on
the table in front of you. Close your eyes and ask your unconscious
whether it is willing to establish this new type of communication. If
you receive a "no," explain to your Unconscious why you are
doing this so that it can relax. When you receive an intuitive
"yes," begin to establish signals for the pendulum to answer
your questions with a yes or no movement.
For example, the pendulum might make a horizontal movement when you
ask for a yes and a vertical movement for no. There are also diagonal
moves and circles and any combination of the above. After receiving
your personal signals for yes and no, ask your unconscious to confirm
these established signals. Once confirmed, you can now ask any
question that has to do with yourself and can be answered with a yes
or no response.
I suggest starting with simple questions, such as: "Is this
vitamin good for me?" With a bit of experience, you can then
begin asking deeper questions. It is best to stay with questions about
yourself, rather than about others. You might ask about your work
place, whether it is best to pursue a new career, which courses to
take, which travel plan to follow. No matter what your question,
though, it is important to always act and speak respectfully and
sensitively.
This simple experience can be incredibly deep. Remember that 90
percent of your unconscious mind is talking to you! You can manifest a
connection and receive information that you may have not received in
any other way.
Nature made you healthy and joyful and full of inner wealth. The
answers and comfort you seek are already inside you. Allow yourself to
touch that place where you are closest to yourself, and use the power
of your unconscious to reach your own inner treasures.
Arpana Greenwood offers individual consultations and 1 to
16-day certified trainings in Neuro-Linguistic Programming and
Hypnotherapy in Anchorage and Fairbanks. Call 258-2608 or toll free
1-888-846-4251 or e-mail arpanagw@aol.com.
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The
Vast Unconscious:
Three Keys to Unlocking Our Hidden Potential
by Arpana Greenwood
Our unconscious mind
holds vast resources for change and well being. It is the treasure
keeper of our hidden potentials. However, the unconscious is also
very susceptible and childlike. It responds like little fishes in
the water - moving delicately and slipping away quickly.
In order to avoid resistance and make contact with our
unconscious, we need to be sensitive and cautious. We also need to
bypass the often hyperactive mode of our conscious mind, the natural
function of which is to think, analyze and control. How can we do
that?
The Power of Relaxation
Relaxation is the magic path leading to the precious, endless
realm of the Unconscious. Letting go and resting is how we can enter
those deep waters. This is exactly what our mind usually fights,
however, as it loves doing, achieving and producing. Non-doing is
often its greatest enemy and challenge.
Relaxation is the only way to reach altered states. Altered
states happen in various ways, allowing us to enter a multitude of
different combinations of conscious and unconscious mind activities.
For example, when we go into trance, our conscious mind may stay
present, remembering every word, each step of the journey. A waking
trance might occur as nearby events seem to disappear while we watch
television, read a book or look out of a window while riding in a
train. During times like these, the conscious mind slips away and
allows the unconscious to work alone. We might possibly remember
some information or possibly none about the journey afterwards.
Deep trance states that naturally occur may include the moments
before we sleep or awaken. Other examples include amnesia or
meditative states. When you go into altered states, there is nothing
for you to do or to decide but to let go and let the unconscious
decide which altered state is the appropriate one for you at that
time.
Hypnosis allows for profound healing to occur while in an altered
state. It is especially powerful for compulsive/addictive behaviors
and pain management. For example, some women give birth under
hypnosis without medication and experience no pain. The changes you
can expect from this type of work can be very subtle as well as
surprising and drastic.
Three Keys to the Unconscious
Although relaxation is the path to the unconscious, how do we
actually enter the unconscious and work with the valuable inner
resources stored there? We might imagine the unconscious as the
basement of our house. We often use a door to reach the basement.
Usually, the key is hanging somewhere in the house. The following
three keys may help open these doors for you, allowing you to gain
access to the vast power of your unconscious.
Key #1: Accept and Embrace
The first key has to do with cold and mold. Obviously, the
basement door keeps the cold and mold from coming in. One of the
functions of the doors between the conscious and the unconscious is
to prevent emotional wounds and painful past memories from surfacing
before we are ready to face them.
People often covertly believe that it is possible to avoid pain
and discomfort. That is like asking for the day and neglecting the
night. One of the most powerful aspects of working with the
unconscious is to know that you don't have to dig into these wounds.
Your unconscious may process what it needs to process without your
conscious knowing. All you will know for sure is your physical
experience of the changes in your responses and behavior afterwards.
There are wonderful ways to recognize and transform discomfort
safely. The first key is thus to embrace and accept negativity and
any dis-ease.
Key #2: Positive Intention
The second key presupposes that there is an unconscious reason
for every emotion and unwanted behavior. For example, drinking too
much coffee could have the positive intention of keeping one active
and awake. A sleep disorder may have the positive intention of
providing time for solitude.
Sink deep inside and make contact with one of the behaviors you
would like to change. Ask your unconscious mind: What do you want to
do for me through this expression of my body/mind? What is your
positive intention? Allow some time for the answer to appear. It may
appear in a multitude of ways -- as a picture, a sound or even a
physical feeling. Keep probing gently and with respect until you
receive a message that will help.
Receiving this answer from the unconscious helps to proceed with
creating change. You can encourage your unconscious mind to create
alternatives that will fulfill the positive intention of the old
behavior. Finding positive intentions is thus the second key.
Key #3: Respectful Verbalization
The unconscious is like a labyrinth. The third key responds to
finding your way and navigating the paths of this labyrinth. In
order to avoid resistance and stay in contact with your unconscious
mind, you need to ask permission for each step you take and be very
cautious. Verbalizing in a respectful manner leads us to the third
key, which is the use of hypnotic language patterns. This metaphoric
language engages the unconscious in a particular manner to search
for meaning. It needs to be learned.
Begin by talking gently to the unconscious in an inviting way.
Practice asking questions. By receiving permission with each step
rather than authoritatively suggesting or recommending your own
ideas, you can communicate with the unconscious so that it can come
up with its own solutions.
Of course, there are many more keys to unlock the basement doors
that lead to the unconscious. Remember that there is vast potential
within you -- much more than you are aware. The power of the
unconscious is always within. Given the proper tools and attitude,
you may access this storehouse of resources wherever you are, at any
given time. All that is required is learning to trust and relax into
that realm that already has everything provided for you.
Arpana Greenwood offers individual consultations and 1 to
16-day certified trainings in Neuro-Linguistic Programming and
Hypnotherapy in Anchorage and Fairbanks. Call 258-2608 or toll free
1-888-846-4251 or e-mail arpanagw@aol.com.
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Spiritual
Integrity
by Nancy Lee Evans
Realize
that you and I each will bring an aspect of
this new vision, and that’s what is important. |
What is integrity? Is it keeping
your word? Speaking your truth? Living your conscience? Taking care
of your responsibilities? Integrity is really about wholeness and
authenticity.
Each of us knows what is truth to us, yet we do not all hold the
same truth. We have all experienced two or more people sharing the
same event and reporting very different experiences. Are they lying?
Perhaps they are, if there is some underlying motive. But most
often, the inevitable differences are created by personal
perspectives and world views – or, perhaps, soul views.
We each come into this life with a different purpose; we have
different lessons that color the way we perceive the world and our
experiences. It is absolutely essential that we live in integrity
and truth. But how are we to know what is our truth in a world of so
many truths? In this information age, we have access to so many
masters in so many places and ages who have shed their light.
Surely, they must have the answers. And they have, for their time.
Some of it is still relevant today. Our task is to find the way that
expresses our personal truth and bring that truth into the world
through our life.
There is a tone that runs through the center of each of us, which
knows our truth. It sounds unmistakably when we hear or awaken to
the truth. Some people might perceive it as an illumination or a
resounding tone; others might sense it as recognition, as when you
finally remember that name you¹ve been trying to retrieve all
night. Emotionally, we feel a quickening of excitement, sometimes
with a touch of relief. The point is, the sensation is visceral.
You feel it. It is important to know that feeling, because it
will bring you home. Defining and refining the truth that is yours
is your life’s purpose.
Seek out the great teachings of our time, but do not lose yourself.
The importance of even the most renowned spiritual teacher is only
in those teachings that resonate for you. Beware of trying to force
yourself into a spiritual practice that doesn’t quite fit. It may
not be yours. When you discount your inner truth as not as important
as someone else’s or unworthy, we all lose. Does that mean you
can’t persevere with a new spiritual practice a while to see if
your old beliefs and habits are ready to shift? Of course, you can.
Take what’s yours and lay the rest back down with respect. It may
belong to someone else.
As the pieces of your truth begin to assemble, they will resonate
stronger and stronger, drawing others to you. Ultimately, you will
find pieces emerging spontaneously from within. This is the most
exciting aspect of the journey, for you are now a direct link to the
Great Mystery. At this point, you are the teacher of your truth, and
its living example. Integrity is essential. It must be impeccable.
We live in extraordinary times. Life as we have known it is
fundamentally changing. The institutions and ways of being that we
have known are proving to be unable to meet the stress of
environmental damage, population growth, social dissolution, war and
famine that threaten our well-being and future. We are called by
necessity or prophecy to invent a more responsible, humane culture.
It is an enormous undertaking with profound consequences, the very
contemplation of which is overwhelming.
And yet, each of us has a key. It is the truth – the individual
truth that we each carry – that is our contribution. This is not a
top down process. No one person has the whole picture. No one has
to, for it is not any one person’s task to do alone. Rather, we
each hold a thread of the tapestry that we are weaving together to
create our collective salvation. You only have to do your piece. So,
do it well. We are in this together.
Realize that you and I each will
bring an aspect of this new vision, and that’s what is important.
I need you and your truth. It inspires me. Perhaps my truth answers
yours. So, listen to that tone and respond to it. Let it guide you.
It will ultimately lead you to the purpose of your life. The journey
is well worth the effort.
Nancy
Lee-Evans has a private practice as a healer and counselor and
is also director of The Anam Cara Program, a multi-year program in
spiritual development and healing arts. Call 345-6760.
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Creative
Introspection: How to Look Inside without Criticism and
Doubt
by Bonnie
Murphy
Wow!
2006 is three quarters over. What happened? What
have you been doing that brought you closer to your goals
and desires? Have you been daydreaming about what
you’d like to become? Have you written down some
definite goals and imagined yourself reaching them?
Our
imagination is very strong. Perhaps you have personally
experienced bringing about what you think—I know I have.
This works both for positive and negative thought. So, if
you are always thinking about lack then that’s what will
happen to you. Change your belief to abundance and see
what comes your way.
If
you change your self-talk, you can change you. If
you’ve been playing inner tapes about yourself that are
not supportive and enriching, then you need to change that
and spend your thinking time on positive thoughts about
yourself.
Let’s
talk about fitness since that’s my profession.
I’ve heard some of you say, I can’t do that! I’m
too old. If you dwell on the belief that you are
too old, then lo and behold—you’ll be old! When
you open up yourself to accept and try something that is out
of your comfort zone, however, you’ll be amazed at what
happens. I keep saying that we don’t get old and
stop playing; rather, we stop playing and get old.
What
about an old-fashioned game of hopscotch? If you
can’t remember what it is let me refresh your memory.
(Or, you can ask your son or daughter or your grandkids.
You can even ask them to play with you!) Actually, there are
many, many variations of this game. What follows are some
basic instructions, but feel free to improvise or recall
your own games of childhood hopscotch.
Draw
ten 18” squares on a flat surface (such as a driveway)
with sidewalk chalk. Put some of these boxes side by
side and some as singles. (See diagram for several
alternatives.) To play, hop in some squares with one foot
and designate other squares for both feet as a rest station.
Try using your right foot as you go up from square 1 – 10
and then use your left foot as you reverse the order. As a
variation, throw a small stone into square one and go
through your circuit, without touching that square. When
finished, toss your stone into square two and avoid that
square, and so on until you have gone through all 10
squares.
By
playing a game of hop scotch you not only have fun, but you
challenge your balance, help to strengthen and build your
bones, and increase your stamina. How’s that for
multitasking?! Why did we stop playing such a useful, vital
game?
How
about the bunny hop? Put on some music—anything with
a medium tempo and a strong beat will do. Push your
right foot to the side two times, then push your left foot
to the left side two times—then jump forward and back with
both feet together and then hop 3 times forward with both
feet together. That’s all there is. Get your kids or
grandkids to join in the fun, and repeat as many times as
possible. This dance promotes coordination and really
impacts your bones. If you have knee problems you can
improvise—just move to the music. For something more
challenging, try out one of the interactive dance machines.
Recently my friend and I have been going to the Fireweed
Theatre and playing the dance machine there. Some
unimaginative people look at us as if we’re nuts—but we
are having fun and we certainly don’t feel old!
What
about jumping rope or—perhaps more fun—pretend you are
jumping rope? It’s been shown that jumping rope is
the best exercise to reverse and retard osteoporosis.
You don’t even need a rope to do this: just hold your
hands at your side and pretend that you are moving a rope.
Man, you can do all sorts of fabulous tricks if you don’t
have to worry about tripping over the rope, right?
Your
exercise program does not have to be dull and mundane.
Use your imagination and have a good time. Above all,
don’t forget to play—it will sure make you feel younger
and in no time you’ll be able to do things you used to do.
Now,
look inwardly and see if there are negative thoughts hiding
in there about you or others. Get them out of there!
Why? Because they are festering in you. You can’t be the
fun, dynamic, loving person that you were created to be when
you are harboring hate and feelings of lack.
Instead, concentrate on all the things that you do have.
Think about what you’ve been able to do during your life.
Thank your creator for your family, friends and your
abilities. Think abundant thoughts and you’d be
amazed at the positive things that will manifest in your
life. And—don’t forget to have fun!
Contact Bonnie Murphy of
BFIT and Well for more ideas to keep you young and vital!
Call: 907-646-4076 Email: bonnie@bfitandwell.com
Website: www.bfitandwell.com
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The Power of Story
by Dawn Baumann Brunke
If you are a
frequent reader of our magazine, you may have observed that each issue
of Alaska Wellness is unique in representing a particular quality or
theme. Sometimes our topics are influenced by the season and suggested
to writers in advance; other times they “just happen” and the
theme does not become fully apparent until the chosen articles are
assembled together. And
still other times an unexpected topic arises in mirrored conjunction
with a suggested theme.
This is just
such an issue. While the recommended theme was inner growth, what
began to unfold as articles arrived was the sharing of personal
stories. From exercise columnist Bonnie Murphy’s memories of being a
young girl twirling a baton and spiritual counselor Dr. Glenn Key’s
account of growing up as the daughter of a fundamentalist preacher in
Texas to herbalist Jerome Oates recollections of learning more about
black lung disease in the coalmines, this issue not only looks at
inner growth, but at story as a vehicle of inner development and
change.
As
storytellers have known throughout the ages, a good story holds
powerful medicine. So powerful, in fact, that some stories can touch
and transform us in ways we may not even know we need. What is truly
amazing about these types of stories is that in order to benefit, we
need not do anything but listen. It is as if the medicine is held
within the story itself. As we listen, the essence of the story enters
our ears, seeps down into our bones, our very being, until the deeper
magic of the story unfolds within us. And thus we open ourselves—to
new exploration, to different ways of thinking and seeing, to further
adventures and sharing of the infinite varieties of Life.
In addition to
presenting a variety of personal stories this issue, I am also pleased
to introduce our new Editorial Assistant, Catherine Bodry, whose own
story follows below:
I join the
staff of Alaska Wellness Magazine from Seward. An Alaskan for 6 years
now, my original roots are in the Pacific Northwest. I recently
finished my Master’s in English Literature at University of Alaska,
Anchorage, and am currently employed as an instructor at Alaska
Vocational and Technical Center. I’ll occasionally work stints as a
server at the Bear Tooth Grill in Anchorage.
My passion for
outdoor recreation and an insatiable hunger for adventure is what
called me to Alaska. When I’m not biking, hiking, or running (or
working!), I moonlight as a world-traveler. I’ve always been
enthralled by other cultures and this fascination has led to numerous
excursions abroad. I’ve been an exchange student in the Loire region
of France, a waitress in Galway, Ireland, and a lost monolingual
American in rural China. My most recent trip was a short month last
December to Laos, but before that I successfully completed a
round-the-word trip which covered, among other countries, China,
Vietnam, Cambodia, India, Greece and Slovenia. My next trip will most
likely be a visit to the Sunshine Coast of British Columbia, where my
new husband attends fine-woodworking school.
I’ve fallen
naturally into editing as I’ve always been a voracious reader. My
background editing stems from the informal proofing of teaching. I
taught several semesters of basic composition at UAA and hope that I
instilled in students my high standards for the written word. I
believe that clarity evolves from simplicity and that reading
someone’s work shouldn’t be difficult. My friends think I’m
crazy, but I actually enjoy deconstructing sentences and rearranging
them so that they are as clear as possible.
I
am pleased to join the staff of Alaska Wellness. I have always
intuitively gravitated towards holistic approaches to living, and I am
excited to immerse myself in writings about healthy lifestyles. I am
grateful that Alaska Wellness Magazine has chosen me as their
assistant editor, and I know my experience here will be one more
positive step in my progression as an editor, community member, and
world citizen.
Dawn
Brunke is the editor of Alaska Wellness and author of Animal
Voices and Awakening to
Animal Voices. See www.animalvoices.net
for more.
Catherine
Bodry
is a teacher, food server, traveler, hiker, and global citizen.
Currently, she calls Seward home. You can send her email at ilikemountains@hotmail.com
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From
Inner Slavery to Inner Freedom
by Arpana Greenwood
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Whatever
is in your mind, let it be there with consciousness, awareness
and acceptance. |
Whenever his voice becomes lower and louder and uses authoritative
instructions, she gets a piercing look and a squeaky pitch in her
voice. When he sees her look, his voice gets even louder. This couple
has had repeated fights that escalate into angry outbreaks for over 12
years. Although they have received marriage counseling and
participated in numerous relationship workshops, nothing has helped
them change their compulsive loop.
Does
this scenario seem familiar? Do you find yourself feeling the same
emotions over and over again with no apparent choice?
Are
you running yourself or is something running you?
When you watch
a movie at home, you are listening to pre-programmed voices and sounds
that someone has designed. You are taken into a different world. You
automatically experience and feel a full set of mental and emotional
states. Moreover, the light that reflects through the screen and the
sounds you hear through those speakers actually seem real.
Indeed, these
external light and sound effects are just as real to your brain as
inner voices. Both function as triggers—resulting in specific
feelings, responses, and behaviors.
In the
external world, it is easy to say “it’s just a movie” and “not
real.” But are your inner thoughts and emotions not more real than
that movie?
What
is the phenomenon we call emotion?
We all
experience emotions as felt sensations in our body, along with the
appropriate changes in heart rate, sweat, skin moisture, breathing
rates, adrenalin and endorphin levels, and more. These felt senses
inevitably go along with inner images, internal dialogs, and other
sensory experiences. This is the fabric that creates the story we call
reality.
It isn’t the
tactile sensations alone that make us feel depressed or happy. Rather,
our mind translates those stimuli into an interpretation. It is
usually a memory of the past or an internal dialog about what could
happen in the future that are the main factors that create what we
call emotion, which we then experience as horrible or delightful.
When you wear
pink glasses, you see everything in pink. When you have a large funnel
in your ear, everything sounds distorted. Thus, it is not the other
person or outer circumstance that causes emotion but your response to
internal movies or voices.
So, it is not
about stories, because they are countless. The stories of “my
life,” “my money,” “my love” are all similar. It is only the
fabric, the material that makes the story, which we can change.
Stories go on just like dreams. In Sanskrit this phenomenon is called maya,
which means illusion or hallucination.
If we are run
by maya, or inner
hallucinations, the question remains: What is reality? And who
determines reality?
If you
realized you were being run by maya,
wouldn’t you naturally want to run
for freedom?
Our minds
cannot always believe that freedom exists inside of us. But, just as
your inner theatre influences you, you can influence your internal
voices and movies in ways that create new states and experiences. And
you have already done this—thousands of times.
Unlike other
animals, humans have choices. We have more brain capacity, a
frontal/cerebral cortex, and many higher intellectual functions, all
which provide us with abilities to discern and sort. Humans are
designed for excellence.
What’s
the secret to inner freedom?
Here is a
secret you already know: you are not a slave of your mind, but already
free.
Maybe you have
tried different spiritual practices, yogic or martial art techniques,
and meditation, but there was still doubt lurking: “How can I not
only experience and meet my inner freedom but stay connected to it,
regardless of triggers and circumstances?”
Take a moment
and look at whether you are truly ready to move away from being
enslaved by inner programs. Are you ready to move toward inner
freedom? You might expect that your mind will raise doubts. Why?
Because that is its job.
One simple
practice to help you move away from the slavery of your internal movie
theater and critical dialog and toward enhancing inner freedom is to
remember a time when you were able to change your mood—with the snap
of your fingers you could just shift. What did you do on your inside?
There was a change of internal dialog. It happened. You could do it.
Now try the same process with conscious intention.
Notice the
internal dialog that goes along with any damaging emotion. For
example, a nagging slow and low voice that says “I can’t do it.”
As soon as you
become aware of this made-up idea or hallucination, thank yourself for
that awareness. Once you decide not to listen to that depressed,
critical voice anymore, take a deep breath and move your body.
Whatever is in your mind, let it be there with consciousness,
awareness and acceptance.
Daring to meet
the fears which obstruct your inner freedom is a mark of true artistry
and personal excellence. Finding out how to become more proficient at
being the master rather than the slave of your mind brings you closer
to who you truly are.
Overcoming
inner slavery and meeting inner freedom is just as huge as the
Emancipation Proclamation—maybe bigger. We especially need inner
freedom at a time when society destroys itself with wars and
disappears behind the conditionings of enslaving its members every
day.
Let’s
get back to the end of the story of the couple enmeshed in their
emotional trap. Both engaged in Neuro-Linguistic Programming and Inner
Freedom practices. She learned to recognize the trigger evoked by his
voice and go to a calm inner place. He learned to identify when he
goes into his “emotional anger trance” and, instead, perform a
simple yet powerful inner shift, allowing him to pause, refresh, and
walk away. This couple has overcome the slavery of their emotional
patterns and successfully reached a new, inner freedom.
Arpana
Greenwood,
German ND and certifying Trainer in Neuro-Linguistic Programming, has
a 25-year background in Eastern and Western spiritual teachings. See www.conscioussolutions.com
for her new event series: Meeting Inner Freedom.
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