I was watching an interview of someone I know on YouTube. The video finished and automatically went onto the next. It was a talk given by Tara Brach entitled 'Learning to Respond, Not React'.
Being a child of the 60s I'm cynical about psycho-babble, the new age and self-motivational rants about how to be a 'better person' - how to be more functional in a system I think is completely fucked up. I wouldn't normally engage but I was doing some digital art and out of sheer laziness I let the audio roll on. In the end I listened to the entire 53 minutes. I'm glad I did because the speaker outlined a valuable and practical strategy, probably the best I have ever heard. Maybe it was the way she said it, or maybe it's just that I am ready to hear it now.
I created the above meme so I can look at it regularly and remind myself. I posted it on Facebook because it might just help someone else too.
That's brilliant. Thanks Michelle
ReplyDeleteI've actually been practising the 3-step strategy for the past couple of days and it really is making a difference. I know my head is full of shit but like most people, haven't found a consistent way to turn it off. This is working so far and I'm 'breathing' more, and generally more 'sanguine' about things when they don't go to plan - if you get my drift.
DeleteI've found Tara Brach and Pema Chodron to be most helpful in sorting out the tangled mess of our thoughts. I have learned to question my thoughts, take a pause and ask myself, "Is that thought really true?" 9 out of 10 times it is not. It's just me playing very old negative tapes. There's a freedom and new vitality that comes from being aware of what goes on it our minds.
ReplyDeleteI agree Tara. There is a real freedom in not being a slave to one's thoughts.
DeleteI think this is excellent. It's all too easy to believe what you think is the truth, especially if it's negative.
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