I sometimes call the stressful moment the crime scene (the place where I got victimized). But in that one crime scene, there were actually several different crimes committed by different players. Each one deserves a different write up, a different Judge-Your-Neighbor Worksheet.
You might think that fulfilling a craving would then make it go away. But it doesn’t work that way. Cravings beget more cravings, and the vicious cycle of addiction is quickly born. Is it possible to ever break the cycle? Or will we always be victims of cravings, either fighting a losing battle against them, or joining them in their gluttony?
Do you need a cozy, protected, safe place in order to feel safe? This question came up recently in our online Inquiry Circle group. Two participants engaged in an emotional exchange in response to a perceived derogatory comment.
I spent the first part of my life with my head in the clouds. I put my highest priorities first. And that was not a bad thing at all. My life was all about meditation, yoga, enlightenment. And nothing about money, career, friends, family. What I liked about my life back then was that it was very authentic. I made no compromise on my values. What didn’t work for me was that I remained dependent on others to take care of me. My head was too much in the clouds for me. And eventually I fell hard to earth.
I don’t like Trump. I didn’t vote for him. And I was surprised that he took the US presidency. But I’m not stressed about it. Why? Because I don’t believe that it’s the end of the world. Maybe I’m wrong. But until the end of the world comes, I’m not going to tie myself in knots.
My mind could find a thousand reasons not to go back to it. First of all, I was feeling quite peaceful. “Why bother doing The Work when I’m fine?” I would think. And I put my attention on improving The Work 101 course, giving that a higher priority than doing my own work.
I love to do yoga every morning before meditation. But here’s what happens. At the beginning of the day, I also start thinking about all the things I need to do today. And if I look at them closely, I soon start to see that I don’t even have enough time to do what I’m “supposed” to do. Let alone add some luxury like yoga to my day. And with that, I find myself sitting at my computer before meditation answering emails, doing business tasks, etc. And yoga never happens
We are not meant to live stressed lives. Learn how to address the root cause of your stress and find your freedom again. Otherwise, stress will keep accumulating. Learn how to break the cycle of stress here.
