Hi Robin – I’m pretty new to Gary and Linda’s books, but what I hear you saying is that you DO have resentment. I really get how that feels! So, if it were me (and actually it is, but different circumstances), I would tell myself to check out what’s lurking in the resentment. For starters, I’m having an unpleasant emotion triggered by a very frightened part of my personality (which you’ve read about in Seat of the Soul?). When I notice the emotion, I also get the opportunity to explore it and find out what in my personality needs healing: like, if I feel I need something my friend cannot give me, and then choose, say, to blame him or her instead of claiming my own inner wholeness, then I am saying I choose to be a victim until I get sick of it. OR, I could choose to open my eyes and heart to him even though I’m scared, and begin a more honest dialogue, knowing ahead of time that it may or may not work out according to my druthers, but it will leave us both better humans, more capable of real intimacy, and closer to being able to find fulfilling partnership, rather than living in fantasy land. Maybe the “victim” scenario is not you, but there will be something for you to learn about yourself, and I’m finding Gary is right – these unpleasant emotions are the best friend I could have right now. And they ARE unpleasant, painful. But little successes make it feel so worth doing. So much richer than the way I was living. BTW, as a woman who will be 80 in October, I can passionately say I WISH I had understood these things decades ago. You’ve got such a beautiful opportunity at this site!

Karel,

I started to read Gary’s books when I was in the 40’s. I have always felt I wish I knew Gary’s ideas decades earlier. I can totally understand how you feel if you learned his ideas in your late 70’s.

And, I want to echo Shelley’s emotion: Wow, Karel! That’s pretty profound for someone new to Gary and Linda’s teachings.

Shelley,

I couldn’t attend last month’s call. I listened to it yesterday after Gary and Linda posted the recording on this site. Was the first caller (that Linda called on) you? If so, I was happy to hear your voice.

With love and trust,
Sundar

Sundar,

Your warm reply, along with Shelley’s, came at a helpful moment for me, as I’m navigating a tough spot these days. I was particularly grateful for your tuning in to how it feels to be 80 and just putting things like this together. These Life School teachings clarify the “But HOW?” that I thought I had understood in previous teachings, but really had not. So the overall concepts here, though in different language, are not new to me, though many specifics are new. I feel so grateful to have some sense now of specific steps to take in examining my sensing, feeling, and thinking. I’ve spent too much time in the land of “can’t go this way, and can’t go that way.” Being able to better notice and understand my feelings, and make choices about them, is gradually coming to mean the world to me. I’ve been blessed to have an incredible friend along the way, whose steadfast and enlightened help knocked out most of my denial of destructive patterns, but these teachings somehow bypass the slipperiness I’ve allowed all my life, and offer secure, practical handholds that make sense to me. I have growing hope of – and commitment to – achieving a few years of living in conscious, loving connection with all, rather than forever being among the living dead, having unawarely distanced myself from life and love.

In response to your question, no I wasn’t the first caller in last month’s call. I did get to be in on it, though – my first time – and truly enjoyed it. I missed this morning’s, to my disappointment. Thanks for making this connection with me today.

Thanks, too, for your “With love and trust,” – it feels sincere, and is very welcome. The same to you –

Karel

Karel, it’s never too late to learn. And give and receive love and happiness. And conquer your frightened parts.

And yes, Sundar, I was indeed that first caller!

Shelley,

Glad to hear from you. Also, I’ll go back and listen to that program!

Barbara