letting go....

Very powerful piece in my contemplative reading this AM:

"As a culture we have come up with many ways of dealing with our emotions and espcially our emotional outburts.  Some of these ways are effective; others are destructive.  Blaming, drinking, "venting," overating, retaliation (now called "justice" or "closure"), confrontation, entertainment, vacations and "respites," sexual release, support groups, prescription drugs, and music all can at least change, if not improve, our emotional state.  But they can't change it permanently.  We have settled for the fix without going for the cure.  We have painkillers for the pain, but the broken limbs remain broken. What is actually broken is our mind. This is why , when it comes to emotions, nothing works for very long."

Thank God everyone on this board reminds me all the time that they didn't operate on our head/mind, that is MY responsibility and work.  The tool is fantastic but not a cure.  It has been an amazing journey over this last year learning effective, positive and supportive ways to deal with my emotions and my emotional outbursts.  Thanks to all of you for providing support, compassion, love, butt-kicks, safety, friendship and information during this amazing journey.  Many times I lurk but I am always here receiving all of those things from all of you and your posts.  Thank you.

k

oops.

Prather, H. (2000). the Little book of Letting go. Conari Press: Berkeley, CA.

thanks.....I needed to read that today.

And thanks to you for your kind words. You always have such supportive things to say.

PS, Love that you added a footnote! LOL

You're welcome on both counts.  Support is critical to this journey we are each living.

I was SOOOO mad at myself that I forgot it in the original post, I should know better!

That's a wonderful passage.  Except I don't necessarily agree with the support group thing.  I think support group CAN be a way to help "fix" the problem...granted, our "support" can't give us the answers, but they can point us in the right direction - a stepping stone if you will.

But, I digress, it was a WONDERFUL passage with very true points.

Pam

Pam,

I thought that too but I think he was including both positive and destructive "tools" or ways of coping so I don't think he was slamming groups because I agree that they are a wonderful way to cope.

k

Thanks Keri for sharing this. I really needed to put my thoughts in perspective today and your post reminded me of how much this board means to me.

Thank you for sharing this. I like the part about  We settle for the fix without going for the cure...that is so true with any kind of compulsive or addictive behaviors, When i have a painful emotion, i go for the fix not the cure.

HERE"s TO SEEKING THE CURE AND AVOIDING THE FIX

Thank you Kerri for sharing this....

This is along the lines of if you should find me while I am looking for myself please tell me to wait til I can catch up. I come on here to regain my composure and sanity and directions and to be put in my place when needed and feel other arms around me as I would do back for any of you. For that I am so grateful.