I appreciate this! I am practiced at being with discomfort and seeing my thoughts as a "train," but not myself as one. However, I don't have as many tools for changing the thought/emotion cycle you mention here. Your ideas remind me that the tools exist alongside the slower work of time.
In my own faith journey, I draw on the ancient scripture...For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.
That aligns well with the marvelous insights you share here. When we are embroiled in fear we cut off options, possibilities and solutions. If we operate from a place of self-control (power), love and sound mind a whole world of possibilities opens up for us.
Such a helpful essay Teyani. I’ve been having some runaway fears accompany some unexplained physical pain this week and your writing helped me see how much it’s been subtlety consuming me. I appreciate the reminder to be kind to this natural part of our brains and also put some parameters around it!
Pain is a very challenging one. The alarms in my brain also go off when there’s new or additional pain. Sharon Salzberg also has a great meditation on the 10% Happier app to be with chronic pain… and how to be with it, noticing it’s subtle changes, noticing what doesn’t hurt, then returning to the pain. It helps me quite a bit to be more aware of its changing nature. I listen to it often.
Love this one Teyani. I wrote just today about how the Stoics taught Acceptance, Perspective, and Embracing Impermanence as ways to deal with fears or unfavorable outcomes—that we can’t control anyway 🤷🏻♂️
I appreciate this! I am practiced at being with discomfort and seeing my thoughts as a "train," but not myself as one. However, I don't have as many tools for changing the thought/emotion cycle you mention here. Your ideas remind me that the tools exist alongside the slower work of time.
A wise person once said to me “don’t believe everything you think.”
So true.
In my own faith journey, I draw on the ancient scripture...For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.
That aligns well with the marvelous insights you share here. When we are embroiled in fear we cut off options, possibilities and solutions. If we operate from a place of self-control (power), love and sound mind a whole world of possibilities opens up for us.
Thanks for adding to this conversation David, and I so agree that if we are able to gently back away from the fear, our possibilities open.
Your article was a marvelous exploration. Thank you for sharing it with me.
Such a helpful essay Teyani. I’ve been having some runaway fears accompany some unexplained physical pain this week and your writing helped me see how much it’s been subtlety consuming me. I appreciate the reminder to be kind to this natural part of our brains and also put some parameters around it!
Pain is a very challenging one. The alarms in my brain also go off when there’s new or additional pain. Sharon Salzberg also has a great meditation on the 10% Happier app to be with chronic pain… and how to be with it, noticing it’s subtle changes, noticing what doesn’t hurt, then returning to the pain. It helps me quite a bit to be more aware of its changing nature. I listen to it often.
I’m so glad this was timely for you.
Thank you! I think I’ll try that!
Let me know if you’d like a link to her guided meditation.. I have one guest pass I can use.
Love this one Teyani. I wrote just today about how the Stoics taught Acceptance, Perspective, and Embracing Impermanence as ways to deal with fears or unfavorable outcomes—that we can’t control anyway 🤷🏻♂️
I look forward to reading it! Seems like we’re on the same wave length🤗
Thanks for the kind words.
Different people. Same path. ❤️
Bah-dum-dah-ching! And that’s why you’re so super.
💪🏻😎😂