Science and psychology are discovering that most of us suffer from some level of shame and trauma, not just those crying out for help. Because trauma is so pervasive in our culture, many of us suffer from beliefs that we are worthless or inadequate.
People tell me, “I don’t trust myself” almost as often as they tell me, “I’m not good enough, I’m not worthy.” When I reply that these statements are not really true, people often counter with, “I know that intellectually, but it doesn’t help.”
“The most powerful, smallest, and largest thing in the universe is the Mind.” –His Holiness the 16th Gyalwang Karmapa When the human mind possesses such awesome power, why is it that so many of us feel weak and helpless, believing we are “not good enough”?
I grew up in a small upstate New York town in the afterglow of WWII when the US was economically flourishing. I had the good fortune to live in a peaceful neighborhood, with loving parents and a stable home environment.
In my long history working to help people resolve their most painful problems, I’ve learned that virtually 100% of our suffering is caused by thinking that our worth as a being depends on our satisfactory performance in the eyes of others.
4-Part Webinar Series with Jack Elias, CHT Here is a personal story Jack tells about learning from emotional overwhelm: “Many years ago, I experienced a prolonged period of unexpectedly deep, gut-wrenching grief.
Many of us think that, as long as we have good intentions, whatever we do will work out well. But if you have ever accomplished a goal and then were surprised there was no joy in the achievement, you know that’s not the case.
It’s no secret that our personal associations with the holidays can bring us sorrow as well as joy. Extremes of happiness and sadness may have good cause.
What would it be like to fully enjoy the holidays and feel confident as you approach the new year? Ironically, the upcoming season of joy, generosity, and celebration can be a time of fear, stress, loneliness, and disappointment for some of us.
First let’s be clear about what confusion means. “Con” means with. “Fusion” means to pour together. “Confusion” means putting things together that don’t go together. Our root confusion is confusing the worth of Being with our level of performance at Activities.