Resisting and Waking Up

“It may look as if the situation is creating the suffering, but ultimately this is not so – your resistance is.”

~ Eckhart Tolle

Wow – these are powerful words to read when we are experiencing acute pain, trauma or living in disturbing times.

We are all human beings with ego-minds that are ready to resist whatever we see as a threat. Our minds can deny and duck… push back and dismiss… defend or withdraw… lash out and blame… whine and complain… in order to avoid standing the pain of being out of control and feeling the fear associated with it.

When we face an unexpected traumatic situation we wake up to a new reality, where we no longer believe that we are controllers of our small world.

This transition to face a new reality is hard. If we are to survive and thrive, we must change the way we see things along with our behaviors.

Noticing our resistance to what is happening is a very good place to start. Wishing it wasn’t happening to you, or wishing it would be over is a very human way to feel, but this is resistance

It’s time to wake up and become a witness to our unsettling thoughts, our conditioned responses and the incredible attachment to our routine and habits. What we have taken for granted may no longer be part of this new reality. What we think we have had control of, is now a mirage.

This is a time to pause and reflect. To find our middle ground. Bring awareness inwards and notice everything that is coming up inside of you.

It’s not a comfortable place to be, so if you are not ready you may find yourself defaulting to distractions and ways to medicate yourself and dull the feelings. If you notice this, good for you! You are developing your ability to stand back and be the witness.

Here are some questions to ask, and to take time to journal on:

• “What is it that I am not accepting?”
• “What am I resisting?”
• “What can I do that is in my control?”
• “What do I have to let go of?”
• “What can I do differently here?”
• “How can I take care of myself and those with me?”
• “How does my deepest knowing want to act through me?”

Be kind to this awakening part of you.

When we are able to accept what is, without judgment and blame, then we can open our hearts and minds to a new way of being in the world.

With our hearts open, we can receive the gifts of love and compassion from others, and find the courage to give this to ourselves.

Love is the greatest healer of them all.