Emotional Freedom with Rumi

[historyteach]

I found this, and, knowing how much Ann loves Rumi, I thought I'd share it.
It's also so very appropriate.
I hope you'll all like it.

Want Emotional Freedom Today?
Mondays Mindful Quote with Rumi
By Elisha Goldstein, Ph.D.
October 26, 2009


“Don’t turn away. Keep your gaze on the bandaged place. That’s where the light enters you.”

Here is yet another quote that points us to the reality of what most of us habitually try to avoid or react to. The way to emotional freedom is through “being with” and embracing that which is painful or difficult in us rather that “trying to fix”, push away, or run from it.

Now, there’s nothing wrong with trying “to fix” things. Without this ability you wouldn’t have the seat you’re sitting in, the computer you’re looking at, or the clothes you’re wearing (if you’re wearing them). Most the time we’re not even aware we’re trying to avoid it.

However, when it comes to our emotions, trying to think our way out of them is only a path of avoidance. This avoidance creates further suffering.

Think about it for a second. What happens when you try and think about becoming less anxious or depressed? You go up into your head and start swirling around about why this is happening and maybe what you can do about it. In other words, we add stress to discomfort.

Another way to look at this is to ask: Where are you not? You’re not paying attention to the reality of the moment which is this feeling, the feeling of sadness or frustration or even joy. Yes, for many of us joy is mixed up in uncomfortable feelings so we avoid that too.

It is in the very moment that we become intimate, in a nonjudgmental way, with our discomfort, that we send the message internally that we care about ourselves (”the light enters you”) and this begins to transform the moment.

Franz Kafka, author of Metamorphosis, said:

“You can hold back from suffering of the world,

...you have permission to do so,

......and it is in accordance with your nature,

.........but perhaps this very holding back

.............is the one suffering you could have avoided.”

Ponder that for a bit today.


Try this today as an experiment when you experience an uncomfortable feeling for a single minute:

“Breathing in, I feel this feeling, breathing out, I let it be”

You can shorten this to just saying “feel” on the in breath and “let be” on the out breath.

The instructions are simple, but they may not always be easy. Be kind and gentle with yourself through this process.

But, as Nike says, just do it.
(all emphasis in the article was added by me.)

Shalom!

[Ann]

“Don’t turn away. Keep your gaze on the bandaged place. That’s where the light enters you.”

I know that in my darker days, it was the pain I felt that eventually led me to the good place of light where I live today. I have no doubt that I had to go through the door of pain and distress to arrive here.

I notice Rumi says "the bandaged place", meaning he didn't ignore his wounds but acknowledged them and tended to them and knew when the healing began he would find the lesson that would take him forward.

Thanks, Teach, Rumi and the Sufi poets have been great mentors to me all through recovery.

Hugs

[indigo]

(((teach)))
Shalom.