Month: July 2017

Sometimes working a very general statement can be so broad that it remains a kind of intellectual exercise—an exercise in abstract thinking. Which can be amazing sometimes, but sometimes it can feel a little removed from everyday experience. Kind of like reading abstract spiritual wisdom.

There are two ways to find examples for turnarounds. With regular turnaround examples I’m looking for why the turnaround is a as true, or truer, than the original statement. With living turnaround examples, I’m looking for how I can live the turnaround. Both kinds of examples provide balance.

Have you ever felt stressed doing The Work with someone? For me, it happens sometimes. Especially when I think, “They’re not really doing The Work.” This judgment pops in when I’m facilitating, and I immediately feel annoyed, powerless, wanting it to be over, or I start taking over and trying to do their work for them.

I tend to be a very thorough person. I usually think of it as a good thing. But sometimes my thoroughness is a hindrance, not a help. Here’s what it looks like when doing The Work.

For me, shame happens when I believe that something about me, or something I’ve done, is not accepted by others. The possible, or actual, rejection of a whole group of people is usually what makes me feel shame the most. But even potential rejection by one person can bring it on. This experience leads me to hide, to lack confidence, to lie, to be a perfectionist, to avoid even positive exposure, and to self-attack.

Showing up perfectly, every day without fail, is not necessarily the best practice. If I’m attached to doing it perfectly and some day I can’t make it, then I may never start again.

Sometimes, due to inexperience, attachment to being right, or confusion, the mind does not follow these simple steps. And the result is that the mind digs deeper into its own story.