The Freedom of a Child

I have looked but never found anything better than the wonder I felt as a child. Now, six decades later, I still see the world,  . . . my time and my stance are as open and full of wonder as when I was at 4 years old. Still, at any time I do feel stress and pain like everyone else.

Byron Katie’s book, Loving What Is, says on page 8, words resonating so high with me, I just had to write this to share with you. She says in her own words:

“Its easy to be swept away by some overwhelming feeling, so it is helpful to remember that any stressful feeling is like a compassionate alarm clock that says, ‘You’re caught in the dream.” Depression, pain and fear are gifts that say, ‘Sweetheart, take a look at what your thinking right now. You’re living in a story that is not true for you.”

“Caught in the dream, we try to manipulate the feeling by reaching outside ourselves. (change someone else, or reach for sex, food, alcohol, drugs or money in order to find temporary comfort or the illusion of control.”)  

“We are usually aware of the feeling before the thought. Thats’s why I say the feeling is an alarm clock that lets you know there is a thought you may want to do The Work on. Investigating an untrue thought will always bring you back to who you are.

“it hurts to believe you’re other than who you are, to live a story other than happiness.”

“If you put your hand in a fire, does anyone have to tell you to move it?”

I’m sure there are more gems further inside this book.

Personally, holding onto my sense of wonder and, my happiness has a way of making reality irrelevant to my happiness.  I focus on reality which turns into a delightful display of happenings, wonderful visual elements and delightful sequences. I am sad for the bad news that constantly presents itself at every turn. But it cannot possibly compare to how I feel about life.

It’s nice to find some camaraderie with Byron Katie and the brilliance from the window she calls, The Work. I suggest you look into it.