Guilt is slightly more energetic than shame. Healthy guilt does serve a purpose. When we do or say something which is derogatory or boundary breaching towards ourself or someone else, guilt arises to alert us to this. When we recognize our inappropriate behavior and discipline ourself to not engage in this again, the energy of guilt falls away. Its message has been received. There is no reason for it to linger. Many people wallow in Continue Reading
The ‘Map of Emotions’ – #1 – Shame
Shame is the most lowly emotion that a human experiences. There is no benefit in shame - no gain from experiencing it, no opposite to aspire to. Of all the emotions, it is the only one that is purposeless. It is shame from which we drop into absolute recklessness, carelessness and suicide - physically and metaphorically. Being the lowest or basest of the emotions on the rainbow, shame is often identified in the first chakra of the body - in Continue Reading
The ‘Map of Emotions’ – Intro
And so … as I guide you through this 'Map of Emotions',[1] keep in mind that you always have three options of how to relate to any of the emotions. I will guide you to briefly step inside of the energy field of each emotion to familiarize yourself with it. And then I will guide you to step out of it to the empowered place of the witness. This 'guided tour' is about lifting you out of denial and into your powerful recognition of the Continue Reading
3 Ways to Engage in Any Moment – #3
The third option - just like the 3rd Way to Express Anger - is largely unknown within our human culture. It is what meditators becomes so proficient at. It is simply observing. Witnessing. The power of the witness is little understood amongst humanity. Like in the quantum physics "observer effect", the power of the witnessing mind 'holds space' for transformation within the system that it is witnessing. We readily assume that, to Continue Reading
3 Ways to Engage in Any Moment – #2
The second option is to wallow in it. Many people in our culture are masters at this. The media thrives on it. Wallowing is about drama. It is about climbing inside a 'story' and stoking its fire with our attention. It is about exacerbating what is simply something to deal with - into something so colossal that it 'entertains' us. When we wallow in a moment - or in an emotion - we temporarily lose perspective. We believe that what Continue Reading
3 Ways to Engage in Any Moment – #1
Before we begin, let me draw to your attention that there are 3 Ways to Interface with Any Moment - and thus with any of the emotions that we are about to explore. The first option is denial - to 'not notice', to turn a blind eye, to be unconscious of. Denial serves a temporary purpose - sometimes. It allows us to remain unaware of something until we have the sufficient maturity, inner resources and attention available to deal with it. Continue Reading
Where Anger ‘Fits’ – Part Two
With this map in hand you will recognize the enormous value of befriending your anger - and the astronomical cost of failing to do so. ____________ At the end of this journey I will highlight for you a simple practice of how to - at will - position yourself anywhere on this emotional rainbow you wish to be. This ... is empowerment. This ... is liberation. ____________ Listen to this post as a ‘podcast’! Continue Reading
Where Anger ‘Fits’ – Part One
Anger is a vibration - an emotional vibration. It exists - it arises and it falls away - on a continuum of emotional vibrations. Just like a sound - a pitch - in a song. Just like a light in the sky as the sun rises, burns and sets. I am about to guide you on a journey that you are familiar with yet unconscious of. In-so-doing you will come to recognize where anger 'fits' on the continuum of emotions - what spirals down beneath it Continue Reading
Where Your Anger Hides – Part Three
Take a moment to imagine a future situation in which anger arises in you - either 'provoked' by an outer circumstance, or simply because your soul is asking you - inviting you - to grow. Notice yourself making a more empowered choice - choosing to respond to the message of your anger and either create a boundary where it was breached, create a boundary before it is breached, or follow the fresh, new guidance of your soul. How do you Continue Reading
Where Your Anger Hides – Part Two
Take a moment to reflect ... In which of these area(s) do you most often feel angry? Write whatever comes into your awareness inside of these piece(s) of your pie. Use extra sheets of paper if you need more space. Take a moment just to breathe. Relax. When you feel ready to, notice one of the entries you've written in your pie. Which of the 3 Purposes of Anger was occurring? Can you identify it? How did you express this anger? Continue Reading