Every courageous gesture we make, whether or not we think it’s successful, definitely imprints our mind in a positive way. The slightest willingness to interrupt our old habits predisposes us to greater bravery, greater strength, and greater empathy for others. No matter how trapped we feel, we can always be of benefit. How? By interrupting our defeatist story lines and working intelligently and wisely with our kleshas (destructive emotions.)
~Pema Chodrin
As I reflect and prepare for the upcoming Becoming Safely Embodied Online Course I found this quote which I wanted to share with you.
The struggle to get unstuck and become free of old habitual patterns can feel lonely and isolating. We doubt it’s possible. We feel the despair of ever changing. Yet it’s through slow, steady, repatterning, remapping ourselves, choice point by choice point that we take the baby steps to where we want to go.
It’s possible to change and intervene with these negative patterns. We absolutely can do that. Each time we make a shift the next baby step, the next choice point comes easier.
As Shantideva says, “No need to say that I will not lose heart”
Losing heart is part of the process. We need a community of people committed to their own healing and freedom to support us in our times of disconnect and despair.
It’s all part of what motivates me to continue to find answers and look for ways to support you. The Becoming Safely Embodied Skills have helped many people, well in the thousands, all over the world at this point. If you feel it would be a service to you I would welcome the chance to share the skills with you.
I’ll be sending out more information on the Becoming Safely Embodied Online Course over the next month or so as I get the details ironed out. If you’re interested in hearing more about the BSE course let me know.
Dear Deirdre,
I would so welcome an online course. I know that I am working hard at understanding the concept of “parts” and my therapist has agreed to work with me on this too.
Thank you for what you do, Deirdre.
Melissa
#
I feel very hopeful reading this, as what you say truly is my experience: “The struggle to get unstuck and become free of old habitual patterns can feel lonely and isolating. We doubt it’s possible.”
A Part of me is certain that in some areas, I’ll NEVER change. But then I need to recall that there have indeed been subtle shifts when it comes to some of the behaviors I’ve struggled with for what seems like the whole of my life. In retrospect, it’s really not as bad as it used to be.
So the ‘baby steps’ idea is good to embrace cuz I often loose sight of the fact that indeed I have changed, even when it comes to behaviors that have such a powerful stronghold on me, one small incremental step at a time. And remembering that ‘Loosing heart is part of the process’ makes it a softer landing when I revert back to old ways, after having had a little reprieve.
And I really like about imprinting. I know from my own experience that when I have a moment of clarity (not always in my control), and choose a different response, then it gets easier the next time cuz new pathways are being paved in my brain…new habits being born.
Glad you’re offering this on-line course to us! Thank you! I know for me that having support is invaluable when comes to “…working intelligently and wisely with our kleshas” (P. Chodron from above) which fuel these destructive behaviors I SO want to change!
#