I listened to a wonderful podcast The Huberman Labs with Dr James Hollis, a Jungian psychologist. It did get me thinking about how Mindfulness can make space for our soul to tell us what it needs. Just a thought, but you are doing great work on yourself, stay compassionate to yourself.
Thanks so much, Jerry! It took me far too long to recognize the importance of self-compassion, and it’s something I still struggle (compassionately) with.
Good for you, Derek. Sounds like you’re taking care of yourself.
I’ve been pretty damn miserable as well as we’re dealing with an extended heatwave! It makes me feel quite crabby, bitchy and snappy! 😈 And I’m trying to laugh at myself and my shitty attitude. It is about being charitable with yourself when you’re not feeling that the best part of you can show up. Maybe you’ll feel better once you take care of your dental needs.
Feelings don’t last forever. But, apparently, heat waves do! 😂
I had hundreds of pages of journaling that I just recently dumped in the trash. But, I also did a sage and lavender burning ritual too — just to release the negative energy from my space. A crucifix
might have been helpful too. 😂
For years, I couldn’t part with the words I had committed to the page. Some of it was still painful to review. I’m glad I’ve been able to move past some of the worst and most dark days of my life. I told myself I was going to write a memoir about what I was experiencing because I thought if I don’t write it all down, I’m going to forget. The truth is I haven’t forgotten the pain I experienced — I just don’t dwell on it as much anymore. EMDR helped me with that because it neutralized those past events.
I was for many years focused on my childhood trauma, not realizing that all of the mental illness: depression, anxiety and PTSD — and that associated experienced had created additional PTSD. That is, the experience of suffering and isolation were retraumatizing me.
Be gentle with yourself. I’d caution you to be careful going back and reading old journal entries especially if it feels activating. As my psychotherapist once wisely said, you can choose to close the book whenever you wish to do so — literally or symbolically. You can choose to close Pandora’s box by telling that part of yourself that you promise to revisit when you’re ready. It doesn’t mean the part is being abandoned. You can acknowledge that part that feels RAGE or SADNESS or GRIEF or FRUSTRATION or whatever feelings that have arisen. And, you don’t need to feed the flame 🔥
That’s what’s coming up for me. I hope some of the things I said may resonate with you.
I also hope my past comments about suicide were not triggering to you. I do believe it can be difficult to live in this world — and I think there’s still a lot worth living. ❤️
Thanks, Anna, you rock! No, not triggering at all. I'm glad you were able to part with some of your writing; that must've felt like giving away a piece of you? Most of my notes over the last 12-ish years have been digital, and I do delete those that no longer serve me. Based on where I find myself now, though, I learn a great deal about where I've progressed (and where I haven't) by reframing these writings and looking at them from the perspective of Derek 2.0. 😉
If it works for you, it works for you. You’ve got it figured out. “That which not longer serves me” — wish I had had the wisdom. Hindsight is 20/20. I just became a quasi-hoarder with boxes of paper an including some nonsensical writing. 😂 Holding onto the stuff — certainly wasn’t serving anyone!
Tracy Chapman has a line in one of her songs which I love —
carbon dated years, carbon dated tears. Yep. Pretty much that!
I did feel like I was letting a piece of me go… thanks for inquiring. I’m actually have been doing a lot of grieving right now. And, it’s okay — I feel like it needs to happen.
Look forward to reading more about your adventures in life.
I listened to a wonderful podcast The Huberman Labs with Dr James Hollis, a Jungian psychologist. It did get me thinking about how Mindfulness can make space for our soul to tell us what it needs. Just a thought, but you are doing great work on yourself, stay compassionate to yourself.
Thanks so much, Jerry! It took me far too long to recognize the importance of self-compassion, and it’s something I still struggle (compassionately) with.
Good for you, Derek. Sounds like you’re taking care of yourself.
I’ve been pretty damn miserable as well as we’re dealing with an extended heatwave! It makes me feel quite crabby, bitchy and snappy! 😈 And I’m trying to laugh at myself and my shitty attitude. It is about being charitable with yourself when you’re not feeling that the best part of you can show up. Maybe you’ll feel better once you take care of your dental needs.
Feelings don’t last forever. But, apparently, heat waves do! 😂
I had hundreds of pages of journaling that I just recently dumped in the trash. But, I also did a sage and lavender burning ritual too — just to release the negative energy from my space. A crucifix
might have been helpful too. 😂
For years, I couldn’t part with the words I had committed to the page. Some of it was still painful to review. I’m glad I’ve been able to move past some of the worst and most dark days of my life. I told myself I was going to write a memoir about what I was experiencing because I thought if I don’t write it all down, I’m going to forget. The truth is I haven’t forgotten the pain I experienced — I just don’t dwell on it as much anymore. EMDR helped me with that because it neutralized those past events.
I was for many years focused on my childhood trauma, not realizing that all of the mental illness: depression, anxiety and PTSD — and that associated experienced had created additional PTSD. That is, the experience of suffering and isolation were retraumatizing me.
Be gentle with yourself. I’d caution you to be careful going back and reading old journal entries especially if it feels activating. As my psychotherapist once wisely said, you can choose to close the book whenever you wish to do so — literally or symbolically. You can choose to close Pandora’s box by telling that part of yourself that you promise to revisit when you’re ready. It doesn’t mean the part is being abandoned. You can acknowledge that part that feels RAGE or SADNESS or GRIEF or FRUSTRATION or whatever feelings that have arisen. And, you don’t need to feed the flame 🔥
That’s what’s coming up for me. I hope some of the things I said may resonate with you.
I also hope my past comments about suicide were not triggering to you. I do believe it can be difficult to live in this world — and I think there’s still a lot worth living. ❤️
Thanks, Anna, you rock! No, not triggering at all. I'm glad you were able to part with some of your writing; that must've felt like giving away a piece of you? Most of my notes over the last 12-ish years have been digital, and I do delete those that no longer serve me. Based on where I find myself now, though, I learn a great deal about where I've progressed (and where I haven't) by reframing these writings and looking at them from the perspective of Derek 2.0. 😉
I love it!
If it works for you, it works for you. You’ve got it figured out. “That which not longer serves me” — wish I had had the wisdom. Hindsight is 20/20. I just became a quasi-hoarder with boxes of paper an including some nonsensical writing. 😂 Holding onto the stuff — certainly wasn’t serving anyone!
Tracy Chapman has a line in one of her songs which I love —
carbon dated years, carbon dated tears. Yep. Pretty much that!
I did feel like I was letting a piece of me go… thanks for inquiring. I’m actually have been doing a lot of grieving right now. And, it’s okay — I feel like it needs to happen.
Look forward to reading more about your adventures in life.
What a hard space to hold, Derek. Cheers for sharing. Congratulations on discovering a different quality of experience. May you never suffer again.