The market is flooded with self-help books nowadays, often preaching positivity and "laws" on how you can attract what you desire. The thing is, if you are committed to what these books are trying to disseminate, you may realise that they do work and you do get you what you want! Yet is this all? Leading a positive mindset and a wish-fulfilling life?
Well this is at best only 50% of the equation. With the way that we are raised and how we perceive the world, anything related to "pain, "suffering", ""shadow" etc generally have a negative connotation and are denied by the society, and worse still, ourselves. We are so deeply conditioned into believing that negative emotions and experiences should be compartmentalised, perhaps even controlled, suppressed, repressed or exiled.
Being positive does not equate to being whole and authentic. Rather, wholeness is achieved by embracing whatever emotions and feelings that arise in us. As the title of Mark Epstein's book suggests, it's by "Going to Pieces Without Falling Apart". Fulfilment through feeding and strengthening our ego can only lead to more dissatisfaction, and hence, suffering.
Cannot agree more - we need to remind ourselves to take the good with the bad, and accept all that life has to offer with ease, grace and flow.
ReplyDelete