To be able to invite pain to join in my experience and not have to control my life to avoid pain is such a freedom! --Christina Baldwin
If we really stopped to think about it, we would be astounded to discover how much of our time is spent trying to avoid pain.
We are afraid to say what we think or tell others our needs because we fear rejection.
We are afraid to face the pain of our own anger.
We are afraid of telling others who we are.
When we are afraid of opening up to others for fear they will hurt us, we are not free, we are prisoners of our own fears.
Pain is a natural part of life, and we are gifted with the ability to feel it.
Pain teaches us, makes us work harder sometimes, and it helps us appreciate pleasure.
When we accept pain, and stop exhausting ourselves trying to avoid it, we will be free to live life more fully and without so much worry.
How has my own fear limited my freedom?
Honest. I was gonna skip the reading from this book this morning and go about my business for the day.
ONE more cuppa coffee...I'm not due in for another two hours--quit going in early every freaking day, Mel. If you show up on time, people will call it 'late'. (and undoubtedly they will)
And then I opened the book with that ONE more cuppa coffee.
I have some unpleasant, un-fun things to take care of today between me and other people. Big people, not the short persons in my life that I get the privilege to work with. Frankly, I'd rather be dealing with the short people--ignorance really can be their answer and oft time is.
But we're talking big people who oughta, shoulda and DO know better.
They didn't DO better.....but they DO know better.
I get to go do some things, have some moments with folks that I'm not looking forward to. There's gonna be some painful moments. That's unavoidable. And I'm not sure avoiding it is the answer, obviously.
Nope, I'm not worried about their 'rejection'.
I'm not even worried about their anger--they can feel everything they feel.
But there's fear in there and I'm about to pick that apart to know where it's stemming from.
I can deal with pain....
But fear sucks. LOL
Well, SOME fears suck.
But I will give that it's purposeful.
*sipping coffee and going to take a peek inside*
4 comments:
I realized at one point in my life that I had really worked hard to be this reasonable, easy-going, not easily offended, low expectations person because the alternative was to confront people and deal with conflict. Something which I prefer to avoid at all costs for all those fear reasons you mention!
I have faith that you're going to be able to work through this fear.
One thing that's helped me is to know and remember that those things I have feared are usually things that weren't as bad as I had expected in the end.
Peace, love and understanding.
((((((((((Mel)))))))))))))
I'm not doing very well on the pain or fear front at the moment
but there is no alternative but to keep going
*gifted with the ability to feel it* Oh! Ouch!!!
Post a Comment