Compassionately relating to inner patterns.
This is a mindful exploration of an inner pattern that feels unhelpful,
That feels like it's holding you back.
It's this unhelpful story of my life experience.
We will be exploring its inner landscape,
History and effects and finding a compassionate way to relate to it.
So before we begin to settle into this practice,
Maybe getting a sense of the inner pattern or the story of your life that you would like to explore right now.
Just getting a sense of the atmosphere of that pattern or the story,
Letting it resonate inside you and inviting the body to feel as comfortable as it can possibly be right now and inviting the soothing breathing rhythm to emerge.
Feeling the soothing qualities of the breath flowing through the whole body and now recalling a recent situation during which the pattern you just chose was clearly present and imagine it coming alive again.
Were you alone or with others?
What details of the situation are you aware of?
Exploring the physical sensations,
Emotions,
Thoughts and beliefs that are coming up when this pattern is active.
Is there anything you try to do or avoid doing?
Anything you want to say or keep inside?
Anything you desire or resist?
Do you recognize any specific emotions related to how you see yourself in the situation or how you think others see you?
And then reflecting on the following questions and seeing what they're touching you,
Not feeling forced to find any answers,
Trusting what emerges by itself.
And there are no wrong answers.
Simply being present with whatever arises from moment to moment.
This would be the practice.
So how and when did this pattern arise in your life?
Are there any particular experiences at the root of this pattern?
How did the pattern develop itself further?
What experiences strengthened the pattern in the course of your life?
What about the activity of the emotion regulation systems?
The threat,
Drive and soothing when this pattern is in place?
What about the particular stress reactions?
Fight,
Flight,
Freeze or tend and befriend?
And did and does the pattern have unintended consequences and contribute to your own or others' suffering?
And if yes,
In what way?
Did you develop this pattern on purpose?
To what extent was it an attempt to survive?
Or deal with difficult circumstances?
Has the pattern helped you or has it been beneficial in any way?
Is this still so?
If yes,
How?
How many people on this planet do you think you share this pattern with?
A handful?
Hundreds?
Thousands?
Millions?
Could you give the pattern a playful name?
Let it be a name that brings a smile to your face,
Opens your heart and softens your relationship with the pattern.
What could be a compassionate wish to yourself related to this pattern with regard to the suffering that lies underneath it or the suffering it may cause?
And if a wish came up with this last question,
You may spend some time by gently repeating it on the rhythm of the breath or repeating the phrases of the self-compassion mantra,
Just spending some time by gently cradling all of your experience in this gentle,
Kindly atmosphere.
