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Sally C. Sumner's avatar

I totally resonate with this, Derek. Your honesty lays bare what so many of us carry in silence. That gut-wrenching feeling of missing sacred moments, replaced by anger we didn’t want but didn’t know how to stop. I’ve been there too.

Your insight reminds me of a Stoic truth from Epictetus: “Any person capable of angering you becomes your master; he can anger you only when you permit yourself to be disturbed by him.” But what if the one disturbing us is ourselves? That’s the deeper mastery, learning to rule our own reactions before they rule our lives.

Thank you for the tools and your vulnerability. You’ve turned pain into a path, and I’m walking it too, with more breath, more awareness, and slowly, more peace

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Derek Lakin's avatar

Sally, this is so beautiful and filled with wisdom! May you have the self-compassion and courage to continue walking the path.

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Marla Grant's avatar

I teach a powerful mental fitness practice called Positive Intelligence. Its process has some similarities and like you've mentioned here, the most important first step is awareness. How am I feeling right now? Recognize that I've been triggered - our bodies are wonderful partners in helping us realize something is wrong. Once we are aware, we can do whatever somatic exercise shifts us from our survival brain - from which we're very reactive - to the part of our brain that serves us with insight, empathy, clarity, etc. Great post!

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Derek Lakin's avatar

I very much agree! Our body can be such a source of wisdom, if we're tuned in enough to listen to it. Thanks Marla. 🙏

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Heartfelt Boundaries's avatar

This is really so well explained and I love how you framed dealing with uncomfortable emotions as well as the morning 1minute and gratitude. Thanks for this post! 💙

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Derek Lakin's avatar

Thank you so much! I'm thrilled it resonated. 🙏

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Amanda Woods's avatar

This is such a helpful framework! Thank you for sharing. It also helps me understand a couple someone’s in my life that struggle in this way.

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Derek Lakin's avatar

Thanks so much, Amanda! I'm so glad it resonates. 🙏

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