Author: Anne

This author has written 803 articles

THE TRUTH OF OUR CHILDHOOD

“The truth about our childhood is stored up in our body, and although we can repress it, we can never alter it.  Our intellect can be deceived, our feelings manipulated, and conceptions confused, and our body tricked with medication. But someday our body will present its bill, for it is as incorruptible as a child, who, still whole in spirit, will accept no compromises or excuses, and it will not stop tormenting us until we stop evading the truth. “

QUOTE by Alice Miller – Swiss Psychologist 1923 – 2010

Her books include: The Body Never Lies; The Truth Will Set You Free; The Drama of the Gifted Child; Free From Lies

REFLECTION:

  • Is your body presenting a bill for a childhood truth?
  • Is it time to examine this?  BE KIND and gentle with yourself…. and if you are ready, perhaps you can find a trusted person (therapist) to support you in unpacking this. 
  • If not ready yet, trust you will know when the time is right.  BE COMPASSIONATE with yourself  – no judgment. 

DISARMING

“If we could read the secret history of our enemies, we should find in each man’s life sorrow and suffering enough to disarm all hostility.”

Quote by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow American Poet 1807-1882

REFLECTION:

  • Reflect on an “enemy.” 

  • Can you consider the sorrow and suffering they have faced (but may be covering up with pride and ego).  Does this change how you view them?  Does it disarm your hostility toward them?

  • Explore the possibility of seeing them from this perspective.

LONELINESS

Usually we regard loneliness as an enemy.  Heartache is not something we choose to invite in.  It’s restless and pregnant and hot with the desire to escape and find something or someone to keep us company. 

When we can rest in the middle, we begin to have a nonthreatening relationship with loneliness that completely turns our usual fearful patterns upside down. 

FROM:  WHEN THINGS FALL APART Heart Advice for Difficult Times by Pema Chödrön. Pema Chödrön is an American Tibetan Buddhist and ordained nun. Born 1936 –

REFLECTION:

How do you view loneliness? 

What do you do with loneliness – do you welcome it in as a time of deeper reflection – a chance to examine at a greater depth what is really going on?  Or do you fill the time trying to find someone or something to avoid the heartache?

How can you sit with and rest with the dragon of loneliness?