A journey along life’s tracks brings us many different experiences. At every station, it brings us moments of divergence or moments of merging. We oscillate between these two states many times, as change is the only constant in life.
We need this oscillation as it provides a significant shift in perspective; without it, we can become stuck in our feelings, thoughts, and emotions, locked in an unsympathetic belief system and literally trapped in BS.
The result is to see the world as either a wonderful place full of kindness and without conflict, or a place where unkindness and hatred reign supreme. We need to be somewhere in between, somewhere in between tick and tock—a balance.
The most challenging encounter for many is reconnecting with their inner child. You see, I ignored my inner child for decades.
In the Trilogy, arriving at one station, dark and drab, I discovered an abyss.
Mini Me hid in that abyss, wet and cold, wondering why I wasn’t listening. All he wanted was my attention, my acknowledgement, my love, and to hear his pain, a pain caused by me mostly, and a society yet to see difference as a gift.
Once I recognised and acknowledged my part in the equation, our relationship blossomed. Society has yet to catch up. If we choose to become a pebble, society will eventually follow the same path.
Often, we learn by osmosis, absorbing the actions of parents, teachers, and society, and seeing how they react towards idiosyncrasies, learning to mask those in ourselves. The inner child absorbs these ideas quickly, and since they haven’t yet developed a coherent sense of self, they simply repeat those same actions around them. So good are we at emulating our elders’ behaviour that we turn that behaviour towards our inner child.
How can one learn compassion if we haven’t been shown? It’s only when we develop a sense of self, a self-awareness, that we can challenge what we witness. But then, since the deed is done, we are too late to modify our behaviour until a moment of transition occurs that triggers a shift in our consciousness.
The Seed
“Compassion is the language everyone can speak, but few take the time to learn.”
Seeds are an essential tool. Even though a seed will give everything it has to enable growth in the tree, its effect cannot be underestimated. Here is a simple seed, one that I offer for you to water, as it’s in the continued nurturing that the seed flowers into something unexpected.
I wrote about the Language of Compassion. In this article, I propose a simple concept: The ACE of Hearts. Few choose to face compassion as they see it as a ‘woke’ concept. And anything ‘woke’ is an anathema to them.
Many don’t want to acknowledge that the person in front of them is different and is unlikely to have the same views or beliefs. It is that difference that scares them.
The Focus
“Compassion is a tool for change. Change only happens if you’re willing.”
Many of us run scared of change, preferring to fight to maintain the status quo. Change is an essential element of life. We cannot evolve unless change happens. And we do evolve whether we try to prevent it or not. Every morning we are different. Our dreams show possible ideas for transformation into someone new. Each day we meet new experiences, some that shift us in unexpected directions.
- Are you fearful of change?
- Do you try to maintain the status quo?
- Can you acknowledge your inner child rather than ignore them?
- Do you still feel elements of your inner child are unworthy of your love?
The Practice
“Speak compassion and love instead of judgement once this week.”
Like everything we learn, you have to practice. Learning to walk takes time, learning to talk takes much longer, and learning to read music takes years. The more you practice, the more an integral part of you that practice becomes. The more you practice, the more muscle memory you build.
- To the next person you meet, smile and say something helpful and pleasant
- Your face and demeanour display all that you are carrying within
- Could you let go of a mask to see the reaction in others?
- Observe your feelings, thoughts and emotions instead of reacting outwardly, as words said cannot be undone
The Ripple
“Compassion costs us nothing, but it’s the richest gift we can give.”
I chose to call the newsletter series “Be The Pebble” as its concept is repeated many times in the Trilogy. As you drop a pebble into still waters, you get ripples. As you make changes within yourself, they ripple outwards and impact those you come into contact with.
I’ve noticed over the years that the more vulnerable and defenceless I became, the more people responded with kindness and non-judgement.
Excerpt from Book 1
“You know that change only happens if you’re willing,” I said, sensing confusion and sadness within him, accompanied by a lot of anger and frustration. He looked up at me and held my gaze, finally finding some words he was comfortable with.
“Am I so unlikeable that everyone rejects me? … Why can’t I just be me? … Why is it that no one really hears me or sees me?”
Those words were so unexpected that they struck very deep within my own nucleus, and that brought the defibrillator dream rushing back to be revisited. Out of the mouths of babes comes the essence I’ve struggled with for decades. It’s almost like I’d forgotten the question. Time seemed to slow as I grappled for an answer he would understand.
“I don’t want you to be someone you’re not. … See yourself for who you are, not what others try to make you. … I’m 30 years older than you. I’ve had so much more time to forget who I am. You’re here to remind me. … And I do see you and hear you.”
Joining The Newsletter
The content of each newsletter will be distinctly different, highlighting aspects of the Trilogy by selecting a quote or a paragraph to discuss the material within in greater detail. I also have a number of images I created for the Trilogy, as well as some that predate the writing, which will also be explained. Some may be quite challenging to see. Sometimes, the creative process is driven by both challenging experiences and other influences.
I will also reference some articles from the A Way of Seeing website, particularly the Spiral of Liberation, as these have a significant impact as well. As always, I will write as inspiration strikes.
