For most of my life, at least until the age of 50 or so, I would not have said I experienced trauma. It wasn’t until I re-entered therapy after a 7 year absence that I began to wonder if I may have been wrong in that beleif. It started with the idea that I mayContinue reading “The Roots of My Anxiety”
Tag Archives: emotions
Definitions of Trauma
Understanding trauma is hard and the more time we spend with it, the clearer our understanding gets. Here is what I know today. “Trauma is extreme stress that overwhelms a person’s ability to cope.” – Katherin Aubrey “If danger, perceived or real causes anything that overwhelms our system, we go into an energy conservation state,Continue reading “Definitions of Trauma”
The Ball of Wire
Why This Photo? This photo contains a story about how my schema’s developed. My brother and I appear excited to visit a strange and wonderous forest. My grandparents are less excited. If you look closely, I am not looking at the camera, have a look of anticipation, but I also look distracted. I am imaginingContinue reading “The Ball of Wire”
Distancing Myself from Empaths
Over 3 years ago I described my understanding of empaths and acknowledged that I fit the description. I reluctantly admitted that there was something more to the empath experience than just being a highly sensitive person (HSP). Today I revisit the Empath label, and explain why I can no longer identify with it. Firstly, inContinue reading “Distancing Myself from Empaths”
Pros and Cons of Being Highly Sensitive
Defining Terms Sensory processing sensitivity, SPS, is the accurate term for the trait behind a HSP or highly sensitive person. SPS is my preferred term because it describes the trait, rather than making the trait the defining attribute of the person. Variability in sensitivity is common across organisms and gives rise to at lease twoContinue reading “Pros and Cons of Being Highly Sensitive”
Coming Out as an Empath
The same sensitivity and awareness that causes increased pain, also empowers empaths to know deeper and richer levels of solitude, sabi, and mono no aware. They see all kinds of beauty and they tend to see it everywhere. They feel deep connections in nature, and with others. Their heart it touched every day. I intuitively knew that if I numbed my pain, I would also numb my joy.
Meekness,Wu-wei, and De
Because powerful people lose empathy the longer they have power, some mechanism is needed to counteract this phenomenon if they are to remain responsive to those they lead, and a benefit to the community. Various traditions, including Christianity, Daoism, Zen, and Stoicism, have all discovered ways to foster meekness and related qualities.
Sabi is the Bedrock of Zen
John G. Rudy in his book, “Wordsworth and the Zen Mind” says sabi is the bedrock of Zen enlightenment. Here is the full quote: Chief among the moods of Zen – and the one that, for all practical purpose, forms the bedrock of Zen enlightenment – is sabi, the spirit of non-attachment or freedom. – JohnContinue reading “Sabi is the Bedrock of Zen”
The Welcoming Prayer
Sadness, loneliness, depression — feelings most of us don’t welcome. Speakers like Tony Robbins and Sharon Pope as well as a growing number of Psychologists say that suppressing or avoiding feelings is not good for us. Experiments show that suppression of emotions leads to increased sympathetic activation of the cardiovascular system and worse memory forContinue reading “The Welcoming Prayer”
Still In The Stream 