“We are so unused to emotion
that we mistake any depth of feeling for sadness,
any sense of the unknown for fear,
and any sense of peace, for boredom.
We are so schooled away from the life below, that anything beneath scares us.”
~ Mark Nepo from “The Book of Awakening”
It’s a scary place to start to look at ourselves beneath the surface. To face who we are when no one is looking.
We are afraid of what we might find and the depth of our feeling. Yet this is the place where the heart can truly open to all the experiences and feelings that have been denied.
I like how Mark Nepo reflects, “When we bring up what we keep inside, it is sacred and scary, and the rest of us don’t know if we want to touch it or not, like reaching from a ladder into a nest of baby birds….But I invite you to anyway… For each of us is a fledgling that eventually, if fed, will fly.”
May we find the courage to reach for the sacred place with kindness and a gentle touch.
Nurture your precious baby birds. Let them grow strong and fly.
Great post Val and I needed this today. I have time and sometimes peace enough to practice your advice here 🙂
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Irene, it is so lovely to hear from you. May you find courage and peace in your healing. 🙏 sending a gentle hug your way 💕
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Thanks so much, Val 🙂
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This is beautiful Val — Make Nepo is one of my heroes!
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Thank you Louise. He is an exceptional human being 💛
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“We are so schooled away from the life below, that anything beneath scares us.” This is so true. Could this be one factor at the root of addiction/addictive behaviors and/or failed relationships? I love the Book of Awakening!
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I agree, it is a significant factor Ramona 💛Avoiding discomfort and seeking out pleasurable experiences to divert us, is also the foundation of most marketing.
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I rather like the thought of there being baby birds within me. 😊
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Be ever so tender to these precious birds of yours Julie. 💕
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I find that slowing my breathing and consciously relaxing is always helpful. It gives me a moment to step back from the emotion and the situation at hand and take a more objective view. Emotion is part of our human-ness 🙂
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Finding that sacred pause and bringing awareness to our breath is such a supportive way to be with what we are experiencing. Thank you Amanda 💕
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Beautiful quotes from Nepo, Val. Such a simply stated call for courage.
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Thank you Diana. 💛 So glad you enjoyed this. He has such a caring way of expressing his thoughts.
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Another profoundly insightful post, Val. Must share something with you and your readers that I have sitting on my desk:
A self-affirmation
For today, I am in charge of my life.
Today, I choose my thoughts.
Today, I choose my attitudes.
Today, I choose my actions and behaviours.
With these, I create my life and my destiny.
Had this for years and my only regret is that I have long forgotten who wrote it!
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Its a powerful affirmation Paul. Thanks for sharing 💛
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You are so right on. Those deep feelings are very scary especially when we can’t immediately identify them. Most of us turn to some form of addiction to quiet the noise from below.
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Thank you Marlene for adding an important aspect of this. 💛
Because we are afraid to feel deeply, we try to escape the feelings or numb ourselves with drugs, alcohol, cigarettes, shopping, eating, work and a whole range of behaviors that we hope will quieten the noise below.
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Reblogged this on Teacher as Transformer and commented:
To sit and meditate, is to pray and study one’s self. It is exploring what lies beneath the surface that we take-for-granted. Once we see what lies beneath the surface, we have the opporunity to embrace it and understand it more fully.
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Thank you for the re-blog Ivon 💛 being with whatever we are below the surface takes awareness and some lightness too. When we feel something is wrong it can be a real journey into the depths…yet knowing it is part of live, it becomes freeing and not “wrong”
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Wonderful metaphor from Mark. A beautiful message Val 💕
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Thank you Karen 💕
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❤ I love the thought of that! Great images, too. 🙂
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Thank you Eiiza 💕
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The book of Awakening by Mark Nepo has been my favorite for long …I am so delighted to see your post with his beautiful words. 🙂
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Thank you PD 💛
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Beautiful.
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Thank you David 💛
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So beautiful!
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Thank you Sarah 💛
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I have often wondered if our constant “business” isn’t just a way of making sure we don’t have time to deal with our real feelings and emotions. Which is sad, because you are right…they are nothing to be afraid of, but should be recognized and nurtured instead.
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Yes. Thank you Ann for your practical wisdom and kindness. 💛
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Beautiful! I especially loved the last three paragraphs, Val.
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Thank you Russ 💛
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loved reading it. Beautiful post
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Thank you Tanveer 💛
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my pleasure Val
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Perfectly said! Great post:)
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Thank you 💛
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Lovely words….
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Thank you effcaa 💛
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Good post. While growing up, I was always taught that feeling ANYTHING is bad. Even positive feelings of happiness and love are not encouraged. Now, I am trying to be more expressive with feelings and not to suppress them. It feels so relieving
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Thank you ❣️ its is freeing when we allow ourselves to feel. Enjoy this life fully 💛
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This post is so nice! You described those beautiful words by Mark Nepo in such an amazing and satisfying way. Keep up!
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So true and inspirational! Thanks 😊🙏🏼 I also wrote about my feelings here https://minamarini.wordpress.com/2017/09/17/growing-up/ would be so happy if you checked it out😊 have a nice day! Marina
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Lovely♥ come and check some of my written work
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