One thing I wish I’d avoided with more diligence since doing emotional work is narratives. Narratives are safe, they keep the emotion at bay and thoughts running in circles. Obviously a large part of mindfulness is to switch off the incessant thinking, but when a story is fuelled by anger or fear it often seems completely true and legitimate.
Continue reading “Emotional Work: Part V – Avoid Loopy Narratives”Sometimes people who encourage meditation and mindfulness will say that much of your suffering will decrease when you switch off the mental chatter and embrace more silence. This is true to a degree. If you’re constantly worrying about the future, less what-ifs will lessen the suffering. But silence can also be challenging. Silence can make one more aware of your suffering, especially discomforts in your body.
Continue reading “Emotional Work: Part IV – Silence and Suffering”For me the main reason I started doing emotional work more consistently was because certain aspects of my life simply became unmanageable. Certain habits (like smoking) were negatively affecting my health. I was struggling with my health in general. I was absolutely exhausted on a regular basis. I was struggling creatively. Struggling to stick to an exercise program, struggling to be consistent in my personal efforts. The list goes on.
I have, in the past, tried to convince people in my life to do emotional work. This probably stemmed from my own suffering, a sense of wanting to save, or at least spare people some pain. But the truth is that no one should convince someone else to do emotional work. It’s too difficult. It’s really a decision that is made on a personal level.
Continue reading “Emotional Work: Part III – Why do emotional work?”My brother once asked me if I really think “emotional work” is work. My reply to him was, Yes, it is! Emotional work has more to do with awareness and going on an inner journey than doing something in the world—but it is still work. You have to intentionally feel emotions that you’ve been running away from for years. And this is very, very difficult.
What exactly is emotional work? In short, to me it means being with some uncomfortable emotion that you would rather ignore or suppress. It’s becoming aware of an emotion in your physical body and being with that emotion. Looking at what is actually going on in your heart, or solar plexus, or throat, or body. Looking at the discomfort inside, those feelings that you’ve avoided for years.
Is it really that simple?
No.
And there are a few reasons why.
Continue reading “Emotional Work: Part II. What exactly is emotional work?”There really are no words to convey how difficult the emotional journey can be. This is possibly why artists draw devils and dragons to depict their inner turmoil. Emotional work is not easy, convenient, or even something that can be neat and orderly. It’s a messy business and one that will make you feel that you are dying on the inside. But, for me, it eventually became necessary.
Continue reading “Emotional Work: Part I – Why write about this”
This is an excellent book to read if you’ve ever thought that fame and fortune will make you happy. It really does show that peace is an inner job and not dependent on anything happening on the outside.
I never intended to even read this, but I picked it up in the bookstore and got drawn in by one of the countless unbelievable stories of being a famous musician. I got so drawn in by the insanity of it all that I finished reading it in two days.
Continue reading “Book Review: Then It Fell Apart – Moby”
Often when I encounter a perceived problem or disharmony in some situation I ruminate on what went wrong, or what should have happened instead. These ruminations can go on for days or sometimes weeks. Strangely, the idea that I can’t mentally fix the issue doesn’t occur to me unless I become present enough to just notice what’s going on. When I notice what’s going on, I notice the inner fight, the resistance, the unwillingness to accept.
Continue reading “Spaciousness”
Meditation teachers often speak of the importance to bring your practice into your daily life. For example, finding stillness and spaciousness during daily tasks and observing your emotions and thoughts throughout the day and especially during turbulent moments.
Continue reading “Writing is a spiritual practice”Writing is an exercise in trust.
To hear the voice of a character you have to be receptive and calm. You have to sit at your desk, stare out of the window for a while, and trust that something will come to you. You don’t yet know if it will be a good writing day or a bad writing day but you’re showing up to find out. You’re sitting in silence, thinking about things.
Continue reading “Writing is an exercise in trust”
The power of science-fiction is to boggle the mind and this story definitely did that for me. I don’t think I’ll be spoiling anything by saying that The Last Astronaut is a first contact novel. However, it is quite unique so you can expect something different here. Without giving too much away let’s just say that how Wellington envisioned the ship and aliens was really interesting. Also, in terms of the science, this story was well researched but what stood out to me was the writing. It was excellent. At times it really grabbed me by the throat and forced me to pay attention.
Continue reading “Book Review: The Last Astronaut – David Wellington”