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All of us have had interactions with others that have been painful. Some of us move through the pain and release it, but many of us lug it around like tin cans tied to our ankles, creating distraction and an inability to move forward with our lives.
By holding onto pain, 1) we give away our power to a past that no longer exists, 2) we lessen our ability to create what we want right now, and 3) we hinder our ability to create what we want in the future. Fear, anger, anxiety and resentment scatter and thereby diminish our creative energy!
Below is an exercise to assist you in releasing your "tin cans." It’s purpose is to bring love, compassion and greater clarity into the picture in order to free you to BE HERE NOW.
REMEMBER THE INTERACTION. Think about an interaction you’ve had with another individual that was painful—one that you've been unable or unwilling to let go of. Describe it.
HOW DID YOU FEEL? What were the emotions you felt during and afterwards? How did you feel about the person involved? How did you feel about yourself?
HOW DO YOU FEEL NOW? How do you feel about that experience and the person involved in this moment? How does the experience still affect your feelings about yourself?
BRING IN KNOWLEDGE AND COMPASSION. We usually do better when we know better. Why would the individual have interacted with you in such a way? What life experiences, fears, beliefs and emotions could have led them to this behavior? What life experiences, fears, beliefs and emotions did you bring to the experience that motivated your behavior? How can this knowledge inspire more compassion and understanding for all involved?
WHY DID IT HAPPEN? For what possible positive reason would you have attracted this drama into your life? What did it teach you about yourself? What qualities do you now have or can you develop as a result of this interaction? What have you learned about the other person?
CREATE A STATEMENT OF POWER ABOUT THIS EXPERIENCE: "This experience was purposeful and had meaning because..."
CREATE A STATEMENT OF RELEASE ABOUT THIS EXPERIENCE: "I release my negative feelings about this experience and the individual involved because..."
Re-examine past experiences with love, compassion and wisdom in order to neutralize the original hurt and free yourself from the limitations of fear. We are here to teach and learn from each other. All interactions, both positive and negative, are opportunities for growth and greater understanding of the self and the world around us. Bring yourself up-to-date by releasing your "tin cans." BE HERE NOW!
Exercise designed by Cindy Oriente
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