22 Mar Instruction Manual for Flourishing
We all want instructions, at least when things are complicated.
Some things are easy to figure out. We know when we get a new gadget how to put the batteries in. We have the basics on how to do a lot of things on the computer. We no longer need instructions on how to get out of the chair and walk around.
But when it comes to our lives it doesn’t always feel that easy. Certainly isn’t that simple. Things don’t always make sense. We’re confused by how people respond to us.
When we’re faced with complicated relationships, jobs, life choices, illnesses we can feel lost, alone, disoriented by trying to figure it out by ourselves. As someone near and dear to me said yesterday, “How does it happen? I need some instructions.”
One of my Kripalu friends, Kalindi Trietley was famous for asking, “Where’s the manual?”
Confronted by the confusing morass of life we don’t know what to do. This is certainly true when we’re in a deep healing process. At those times life seems to pick us up, spin us around. We’re in the same place but everything is different.
Most of us deal with these situations by using the protective strategies in place. You know the ones. The patterns cultivated from a lifetime of experience to keep us safe, to provide us with some tools for navigating.
One of the big problems that happens is we end up carrying these protective layers around us collecting charge. Sort of like dust bunnies in the corner when we ignoring sweeping.
These layers make it difficult to see who we really are.
Yet we don’t know how to get back there. We can’t seem to activate the inner magnet that guides us from within.
The way through is always there.
The path, however, doesn’t come from looking outside for the directions or the map. We first have to weed out space inside to make room for our inner magnet to begin to pulse forth.
In the Internal Family Systems model we talk about Self Energy, this leadership qualities of perspective, confidence, compassion and acceptance that are in every person regardless of their life histories. Twelve step models talk about “higher power.” Other psycho-spiritual models might address this inner magnet as “source energy” or “Universal consciousness.”
The words all point to the same thing: our capacity to be at peace inside of ourselves, accessing our particular guidance through life.
How do we access that?
Therapy is a wonderful way. One offer I can suggest is the Becoming Safely Embodied Skills Course which has step by step tools to untangle the distress of life to begin freeing up the distortions and turmoil that are the result of a complicated life history.
These skills have been honed over many years and are now used by people throughout the world.
3-Week Free Mini-Course
If you’re all interested or curious you could check out the 3-week free mini-course that I am giving away. I tend to have way more material than can fit into a course, so this year I decided to give away what I consider the most fundamental parts of the course. I’d love to have you join us.
It’s easy and simple.
Each week (starting today) for three weeks you’ll get an email with an audio and some handouts for you to listen to at a time that works for you. I’ve also put together an online, private blog for people to interact with me on. I get so much about of supporting people in their journey.
It’s all free.
To find out more information: click here
The Longer 6-week Becoming Safely Embodied Skills Course
There’s a longer 6-week course that does cost money. It has the nitty-gritty skills that make a difference in moment-to-moment living and sets you up for a more satisfactory life.
You can find out more about that by clicking here
As always, I love to know what you’re mulling over. Post your comments below.