How many of us feel that it is sources outside ourselves that are responsible for most of the discomfort, fear and pain that we experience daily. It is our partner, clients, children, boss, the weather and the endless silly stuff the politicians do that cause us to become angry, depressed, frustrated, hostile and unproductive. We conclude that it is what others say or do that are mystically detected by our five senses that trigger the wide range of emotions in us as described above. The transmitter of the message is thus responsible for how we feel and the way we act or react. We have been convinced since early childhood that the pain etc. that we experience is caused by the acts, deeds or reactions of someone or something outside our field of control. We think that the RESISTANCE that we experience is fathered by the actions and reactions of our parents, partners etc. It important that we grasp that the RESISTANCE that we experience comes from within. Our brains are a switchboard that automatically triggers the feelings and emotions that it deems appropriate at any given moment. Our switchboard immediately deploys our protective shield as explained in the previous post and “wake up” all the dormant thoughts and feelings that match the level of perceived threat detected. Streams of historical images, feelings and examples of past similar threats are flashed on the screen of our mind. The higher the threat level as perceived by our senses the more drastic and solid the RESISTANCE we experience. We become so busy fighting the perceived enemy that we fail to grasp that the sources of the drama comes from within. Nothing happened and nobody said anything until we react to what we detected via our five senses. The perceived enemy cannot have any impact on you without your permission. It is not what a person says or does that cause the pain and discomfort. It is our automatic unmanaged reactions that we habitually revert to that cause the most damage and insecurity. See in your mind’s eye a person that is shouting at you, but notice that there are no sounds that reach your ears. Would you become upset if you heard nothing and did not notice the person’s threatening display? You would most probably feel nothing and simply continue with whatever you were busy doing. This illustration should prove to you that it is not the outside source that generated your discomfort and pain, but your reaction to the input received.
Spend some time today and notice how you remain composed notwithstanding the stuff that happen to you when you stop linking what transpired to your historical reaction patterns. You will be blown away when you discover that it is not the stimulus that is causing most of your discomfort, but your RESISTANCE and interpretations of the messages or images experienced. Lower your protective shield and just relax while the individual express his thoughts and feelings. Do not go into combat mode. Remain in a state of NON-ACTION. Ask questions and see if you can understand why the person is acting in this manner. You will be surprised when you notice that it is often a misunderstanding that is at the root of the problem. I will continue this series tomorrow.
Rene