Quite an experience reading these exchanges! I can barely keep up with the rhythm but love coming here and finding so many new posts. I am traveling right now so my time is limited. I just wanted to express appreciation and also to add on what Sundar wrote about the power of fps. As I recall Gary and Linda saying, fps don’t actually die but they lose their power over us with time as we continually recognize them and challenge them. I guess the end result is similar–what no longer has power is as though dead. It gives me hope that I can eventually reach the point where I see a fp trying to gain control over me without my letting this happen.
With love,
Catherine

What a rich conversation! Thank you all for sharing.

Steph, it did require courage to leave, that was probably the most courageous thing I did in my life up to then because I also left security, a family, friends, to find myself quite alone but free. I finally took full responsibility for my life. At the same time, so much support came to me that my experience was also filled with joy.

I felt the need to separate myself then but now I would be more compassionate and open, as I eventually became when relating to my family. I don’t know about your situation but I do know that creating authentic power means living in love and connection no matter what other people do. I don’t always remember that… although my conscious intention is there most of the time.

Pam, thank you for creating this experiment with the Authentic Power Guidelines. I will also post about applying them to my life. As regards commitment, I was reminded of it when I wrote, above, about “my conscious intention.” As long as I remember my intention, I am able to remember my commitment to create authentic power, but I still have to live it, not just intend it.

Last night I received a long message from my daughter, who has been keeping herself distant from me for over a year, with total silence. It was remarkable to read her. Her message triggered some frightened parts and also stimulated some loving parts of myself. I am committed not to act on the fps that have been triggered but to focus on what I can learn about myself in feeling the pain of these fps. When communicating with her I am also committed to acting on the lps and from the most loving place that I can find. What a beautiful lesson the universe is offering me.

With love,
Catherine

Stephanie, thank you for sharing and for your question. I am thrilled for you that you are reading the book and doing the questions, in addition to the e-course. It’s so meaningful, I understand that you would become distracted from work.

For me, I discovered Seat of the Soul in 2008, so I have been learning more over the past years. I always attend the 5-day summer retreat. I also joined a program that went on for 3 years, before a short break, and now I’m doing the Master Class Immersion since 2015. This means I go to Oregon three times a year–once for the main retreat in July then two more times for the Master Class meetings in Portland. I love this regularity because I am able to practice creating authentic power with the direct support of Gary and Linda, of course, but also with spiritual partners. It’s been quite a journey, learning a lot about myself. Not always comfortable, because frightened parts of the personality don’t like to be challenged! In the Master Class, I also participate on the monthly calls and write regular “life explorations.” This keeps me “honest” 🙂 I find that I can easily forget about the need to live consciously and to create authentic power if I am not in a supportive framework.

As for moving this discussion elsewhere, it’s really up to you. Later you might find that you want to write about something else and then you could create a new topic. There’s no rule that I know of for topics. Especially no rule like the one you mentioned. It sounds to me like there were frightened parts of someone’s personality active in the other forum.

I would love to know how you came across Seat of the Soul and what motivated you to pick it up again.

I’m glad you’re here and hope we have a chance to connect on the phone in a breakout group at some point.

With love,
Catherine

Welcome, Stephanie! I look forward to sharing with you.
In response to your question, “Seat of the Soul” offers a supportive overview of creating authentic power, but for learning about emotions, specifically (which means frightened parts of the personality and loving parts of the personality), I suggest reading “The Heart of the Soul: Emotional Awareness.” Some of the videos are also focused on emotional awareness/learning. Perhaps you will want to join the Master Class at some point to expand and deepen your learning. I would love to know what you learn as you continue your journey. Please do share in this forum. I’ll watch out for your posts.
With love, Catherine

Hello Everyone,
Over the past hour, I’ve been silently reading and appreciating your sharing. In order to be present with you, I have to challenge a strong fp that wants to stay alone in a corner. Your courage and openness have given me the strength to challenge that fp and let you know that I am here.
With love,
Catherine

Doug, thank you for sharing. Would you like to comment further on finding it more challenging to create authentic power as time goes on? For me, I sometimes notice that setting my intention to create authentic power / to challenge frightened parts of my personality, seems to bring more challenges. Is this what you meant?

• This reply was modified 9 years, 2 months ago by Catherine.

Diane, welcome and thank you for sharing. It sounds like you are feeling a strong frightened part of your personality. With respect to your son in particular, would you like to describe what you feel in your body and the thoughts that come up? I have a similar situation with my daughter. Lots of core frightened parts get activated. I have been challenging them for a long time, yet they are still powerful.

Combining beginner’s mind, absence of judgment, and equality, here is a brief excerpt from an article in the Sept 2 issue of The Washington Post: “The wonderful part about mindful communication, and the scariest, is it’s a judgment-free zone. ‘Mindfulness communication involves listening with a beginner’s mind — without judgment, without interruption, and with total receptivity,’ says McLean. This means in conversation with others and ourselves, we’re committing to no longer seeing something as good or bad, right or wrong; we’re no longer seeing from a place of betterness or less than, but as an equal.”
The whole article is worth a read: https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/inspired-life/wp/2015/09/02/how-to-communicate-like-a-buddhist-mindfully-and-without-judgment/
I am grateful that someone brought my attention to this article, which resonates for me with our discussion here.
Love, Catherine