This is so good. The wings of mindfulness and compassion with a great example to illustrate how this can take us from unprocessed fear to compassion. When I lost Tim, I was led to lean into the darkness of grieving in order to experience light. It worked. I need to continue to process my feelings when I have thoughts that make me feel worthless or despising of others.
I’ve not replied to myself before. I should clarify something about grief, especially profound grief that comes with the loss of a child. When I said that leaning into the darkness “worked”, I don’t want to leave the impression that the grief suddenly disappeared. I cried every day for about a year. I still think of him everyday. But it “helped”. It is possible to gradually experience grief and joy at the same time.
TARA BRACH AN EARTH HEALER RIGHT HERE: This is it. This is right on. It does start within - also the only place where we have control. I always say, we got started on the wrong foot a long time ago with making NATURE our enemy. Like WOMEN also were made enemies - threats to the weak men and fearful men. As Sharon Blackie at the ART of ENCHANTMENT Substack talks about all the time in her wonderful books.
@sharonblackie
There are no more SABERTOOTH TIGERS ANYMORE... we have come a long way.
Super weird timing for this, because though I read "Radical Acceptance" years ago, I just woke up in the middle of the night earlier this week thinking about this book! Specifically, I realized that the reason it was so powerful and uncomfortable for me was because the very concept of "radical acceptance" flies in the face of everything I was taught about myself in the rigid world of fundamentalist Christianity in which I was raised. I am still wrestling with this, in my 50s, but books such as Tara's are helping me on the journey. Thank you for spotlighting her.
Just had a chance to listen. Loved it. Reminded me of a recent talk I heard by the author of “The Gospel of J Edgar Hoover”. He talked about how MLK did not go directly to active resistance. There were important steps before this, like self purification and attempts at dialogue with the one who was causing harm. While I dont want to walk away from activism as I think we need it more than ever in the era of climate change, it has to be activism with a lot of pauses and a whole lot of self reflection.
Thank you Tara, and thank you Kirsten, for such a rich and loving conversation. May your example inspire more of us to show up with openness and compassion for one another. So much love!
What a profound interview about very important issues, not just sacred pausing but the problem of anger which has grabbed this country for too long. We first need to heal the divide inside indeed. Thank you, Kirsten, and congratulation to a great interview!
Those who know the benefits of practicing daily meditations and a heightened, or deepened, awareness of the internal life are not so thrown off by what's going on in the external world, as horrible and painful as it might be. The world is not under our control. However, we have choices as to how we will respond to the s--t storm going on around us, wherever we may be. A sacred pause indeed. How about a "sacred" lifestyle, one that takes time every day to be in touch with holiness, justice, beauty, goodness and truth?
This is so good. The wings of mindfulness and compassion with a great example to illustrate how this can take us from unprocessed fear to compassion. When I lost Tim, I was led to lean into the darkness of grieving in order to experience light. It worked. I need to continue to process my feelings when I have thoughts that make me feel worthless or despising of others.
I’ve not replied to myself before. I should clarify something about grief, especially profound grief that comes with the loss of a child. When I said that leaning into the darkness “worked”, I don’t want to leave the impression that the grief suddenly disappeared. I cried every day for about a year. I still think of him everyday. But it “helped”. It is possible to gradually experience grief and joy at the same time.
TARA BRACH AN EARTH HEALER RIGHT HERE: This is it. This is right on. It does start within - also the only place where we have control. I always say, we got started on the wrong foot a long time ago with making NATURE our enemy. Like WOMEN also were made enemies - threats to the weak men and fearful men. As Sharon Blackie at the ART of ENCHANTMENT Substack talks about all the time in her wonderful books.
@sharonblackie
There are no more SABERTOOTH TIGERS ANYMORE... we have come a long way.
Super weird timing for this, because though I read "Radical Acceptance" years ago, I just woke up in the middle of the night earlier this week thinking about this book! Specifically, I realized that the reason it was so powerful and uncomfortable for me was because the very concept of "radical acceptance" flies in the face of everything I was taught about myself in the rigid world of fundamentalist Christianity in which I was raised. I am still wrestling with this, in my 50s, but books such as Tara's are helping me on the journey. Thank you for spotlighting her.
This is timely and profoundly needed “balm” for this time. Thank you for offering calming connection for so many.
Thank you for this, Kirsten. Wonderful interview.
Just had a chance to listen. Loved it. Reminded me of a recent talk I heard by the author of “The Gospel of J Edgar Hoover”. He talked about how MLK did not go directly to active resistance. There were important steps before this, like self purification and attempts at dialogue with the one who was causing harm. While I dont want to walk away from activism as I think we need it more than ever in the era of climate change, it has to be activism with a lot of pauses and a whole lot of self reflection.
Thank you Tara, and thank you Kirsten, for such a rich and loving conversation. May your example inspire more of us to show up with openness and compassion for one another. So much love!
What a profound interview about very important issues, not just sacred pausing but the problem of anger which has grabbed this country for too long. We first need to heal the divide inside indeed. Thank you, Kirsten, and congratulation to a great interview!
We “need to focus on the importance of bridging our inner divides before attempting to bridge outer divides.” Amen to that.
Those who know the benefits of practicing daily meditations and a heightened, or deepened, awareness of the internal life are not so thrown off by what's going on in the external world, as horrible and painful as it might be. The world is not under our control. However, we have choices as to how we will respond to the s--t storm going on around us, wherever we may be. A sacred pause indeed. How about a "sacred" lifestyle, one that takes time every day to be in touch with holiness, justice, beauty, goodness and truth?
KIRSTEN, check out my Flying Bra - JUST wrote a SUBSTACK about what you feel strongly about.
https://open.substack.com/pub/lauralasottile/p/nomadic-internet-ick?r=1s7uhn&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web
Thank you 🩵
Like your title, Kirsten 😇
A ‘balm’ indeed - just finished listening / good way to start the day - thanks for making this available.