Re: Willingness to feel the feelings we're scared of...

[Guest guest]

Very thought provoking and inspiring blog.....Thank you very much for sharing.

>

> I am glad you are stating to lean into such experience. I agree its a main

part of ACT, but its no easy feat when most of us have spent a long time doing

the opposite. Our mind does tell us we can't handle it as you say,and we have

been fused and obeying for so long, it takes some time to wedge ourselves from

this. 

> My habit for one is changing for the better, I now automatically open to many

situations of anxiety and often panic. I am nearly an expert with more low

weight experiences, and still practicing with the stronger experiences. The

things is to trust our capability, and to trust that the present moment is (no

changing that) and can be stayed with. I have so much work to do still... but so

happy with where I am in my path.

> What you say about control, I do think thats a key issue with anxiety in

general, we want control. We want to make sure that the future is

comfortable, manageable, that nothing will change, that no-one will leave us...

making friends with that uncertainty of everything in this world helps us to let

go of that control and life beyond the anxiety.

> There are indeed strong core emotions behind anxiety too, strangely if you

stay and let them surface, they are never so so bad as we imagined (mind making

bogey men up as usual). Tread gently XXX______________________Signature: Mrs Em

Equanimity 

> This is my personal blog where I record my experience applying Acceptance

Commitment Therapy to my anxiety and agoraphobia in particular, and my life in

general. Feel free to browse. 

>

> http://eyeofthehurricane-act.blogspot.com/

>

> --- El mié, 10/8/11, vcferrara escribió:

>

> De: vcferrara

> Asunto: Willingness to feel the feelings we're scared

of...

> Para: ACT_for_the_Public

> Fecha: miércoles, 10 de agosto, 2011 02:57

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>  

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

> Is the key

>

>

>

> We can diffuse thoughts all day and night, but if we keep it up on the mind

level, and are never willing to experience the feelings that these thoughts are

there to protect us from experiencing (because you believe you can't handle

them), then you are going to be living with this mental suffering forever...it's

always going to be looming in the background, big or small

>

>

>

> But when you allow yourself to feel them and see what they are, there is no

need to fear them anymore..

>

>

>

> Probably a " duh " to some, as " willingness " is a big part of ACT, but I have

spent a good 10+ years trying to resist my feelings in some way though thinking

and being mindful..

>

>

>

> Had a very intense and amazing experience with my therapist

yesterday...brought laser like focused awareness into the feelings of Fight or

Flight...which brought the literal feeling in my hands of wanting to fight, and

in my feat of wanting to run...I stayed with it for a bit, then underneath it

came out a huge cry of release of the core of where it all started for me.... " I

couldn't control

>

> that my father died " , which shook my core at the time

>

>

>

> It was quite amazing to say the least, and what I learned from it other than

the above was:

>

>

>

> Part of the mind's job is to protect you from experiencing what you believe

(erroneously) you can't handle, but emotions and feelings are here to teach us

something...what we generally deem to be " negative " emotions are our greatest

teachers...they secondarily teach us things like love, compassion, empathy, and

kindness, but at their core, are here to teach us that we can't control life,

nor do we need to., and that we are not separate from it..life is perfect as

is...it's your story of it, that isn't...therefore there is no need to fear

these feelings, as they are ultimately here to bring us back to our true

selves...

>

>

>

> When you let go of trying to control = flow

>

>

>

> Trying to control life with our superimposed view of what it should or

shouldn't be like = suffering

>

>

>

> Of course, tomorrow I could be singing a different tune

>

>

>

> * when I say " erroneous " , it's because there is not one situation looking back

in our lives, that any of us can say with any honesty that one " couldn't

handle " , other than thinking it so...

>

[Guest guest]

Thank you so much for saying so. Its funny, I was just rereading now a couple of entries where I would talk about situations I would expose myself and be willing. These situations don't give me any anxiety whatsoever now. Of course, there are many other things that do give me anxiety, but these are situations I would never even contemplate doing before. If doing my blog means that just one person thinks they too can have a life and go forward having agoraphobia/anxiety/panic, then its been totally worth writing it. Thank you. Tread gently XXX______________________Signature: Mrs Em Equanimity This is my

personal blog where I record my experience applying Acceptance Commitment Therapy to my anxiety and agoraphobia in particular, and my life in general. Feel free to browse. http://eyeofthehurricane-act.blogspot.com/--- El vie, 12/8/11, deborah_foord escribió:De: deborah_foord Asunto: Re: Willingness to feel the feelings we're scared of...Para: ACT_for_the_Public Fecha: viernes, 12 de agosto, 2011 10:29

Very thought provoking and inspiring blog.....Thank you very much for sharing.

>

> I am glad you are stating to lean into such experience. I agree its a main part of ACT, but its no easy feat when most of us have spent a long time doing the opposite. Our mind does tell us we can't handle it as you say,and we have been fused and obeying for so long, it takes some time to wedge ourselves from this.Â

> My habit for one is changing for the better, I now automatically open to many situations of anxiety and often panic. I am nearly an expert with more low weight experiences, and still practicing with the stronger experiences. The things is to trust our capability, and to trust that the present moment is (no changing that) and can be stayed with. I have so much work to do still... but so happy with where I am in my path.

> What you say about control, I do think thats a key issue with anxiety in general, we want control. We want to make sure that the future is comfortable, manageable, that nothing will change, that no-one will leave us... making friends with that uncertainty of everything in this world helps us to let go of that control and life beyond the anxiety.

> There are indeed strong core emotions behind anxiety too, strangely if you stay and let them surface, they are never so so bad as we imagined (mind making bogey men up as usual). Tread gently XXX______________________Signature: Mrs Em EquanimityÂ

> This is my personal blog where I record my experience applying Acceptance Commitment Therapy to my anxiety and agoraphobia in particular, and my life in general. Feel free to browse.Â

>

> http://eyeofthehurricane-act.blogspot.com/

>

> --- El mié, 10/8/11, vcferrara escribió:

>

> De: vcferrara

> Asunto: Willingness to feel the feelings we're scared of...

> Para: ACT_for_the_Public

> Fecha: miércoles, 10 de agosto, 2011 02:57

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

> Â

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

> Is the key

>

>

>

> We can diffuse thoughts all day and night, but if we keep it up on the mind level, and are never willing to experience the feelings that these thoughts are there to protect us from experiencing (because you believe you can't handle them), then you are going to be living with this mental suffering forever...it's always going to be looming in the background, big or small

>

>

>

> But when you allow yourself to feel them and see what they are, there is no need to fear them anymore..

>

>

>

> Probably a "duh" to some, as "willingness" is a big part of ACT, but I have spent a good 10+ years trying to resist my feelings in some way though thinking and being mindful..

>

>

>

> Had a very intense and amazing experience with my therapist yesterday...brought laser like focused awareness into the feelings of Fight or Flight...which brought the literal feeling in my hands of wanting to fight, and in my feat of wanting to run...I stayed with it for a bit, then underneath it came out a huge cry of release of the core of where it all started for me...."I couldn't control

>

> that my father died", which shook my core at the time

>

>

>

> It was quite amazing to say the least, and what I learned from it other than the above was:

>

>

>

> Part of the mind's job is to protect you from experiencing what you believe (erroneously) you can't handle, but emotions and feelings are here to teach us something...what we generally deem to be "negative" emotions are our greatest teachers...they secondarily teach us things like love, compassion, empathy, and kindness, but at their core, are here to teach us that we can't control life, nor do we need to., and that we are not separate from it..life is perfect as is...it's your story of it, that isn't...therefore there is no need to fear these feelings, as they are ultimately here to bring us back to our true selves...

>

>

>

> When you let go of trying to control = flow

>

>

>

> Trying to control life with our superimposed view of what it should or shouldn't be like = suffering

>

>

>

> Of course, tomorrow I could be singing a different tune

>

>

>

> * when I say "erroneous", it's because there is not one situation looking back in our lives, that any of us can say with any honesty that one "couldn't handle", other than thinking it so...

>

[Guest guest]

I check in with your blog from time to time and always find it inspirational! Thank you for sharing!

Helena

To: "ACT for the Public" <ACT_for_the_Public >Sent: Friday, August 12, 2011 6:53:49 AMSubject: Re: Re: Willingness to feel the feelings we're scared of...

Thank you so much for saying so. Its funny, I was just rereading now a couple of entries where I would talk about situations I would expose myself and be willing. These situations don't give me any anxiety whatsoever now. Of course, there are many other things that do give me anxiety, but these are situations I would never even contemplate doing before. If doing my blog means that just one person thinks they too can have a life and go forward having agoraphobia/anxiety/panic, then its been totally worth writing it. Thank you. Tread gently XXX

______________________

Signature: Mrs Em Equanimity

This is my personal blog where I record my experience applying Acceptance Commitment Therapy to my anxiety and agoraphobia in particular, and my life in general. Feel free to browse. http://eyeofthehurricane-act.blogspot.com/--- El vie, 12/8/11, deborah_foord escribió:

De: deborah_foord Asunto: Re: Willingness to feel the feelings we're scared of...Para: ACT_for_the_Public Fecha: viernes, 12 de agosto, 2011 10:29

Very thought provoking and inspiring blog.....Thank you very much for sharing.>> I am glad you are stating to lean into such experience. I agree its a main part of ACT, but its no easy feat when most of us have spent a long time doing the opposite. Our mind does tell us we can't handle it as you say,and we have been fused and obeying for so long, it takes some time to wedge ourselves from this. > My habit for one is changing for the better, I now automatically open to many situations of anxiety and often panic. I am nearly an expert with more low weight experiences, and still practicing with the stronger experiences. The things is to trust our capability, and to trust that the present moment is (no changing that) and can be stayed with. I have so much work to do still... but so happy with where I am in my path.> What you say about control, I do think thats a key issue with anxiety in general, we want control. We want to make sure that the future is comfortable, manageable, that nothing will change, that no-one will leave us... making friends with that uncertainty of everything in this world helps us to let go of that control and life beyond the anxiety.> There are indeed strong core emotions behind anxiety too, strangely if you stay and let them surface, they are never so so bad as we imagined (mind making bogey men up as usual). Tread gently XXX______________________Signature: Mrs Em Equanimity > This is my personal blog where I record my experience applying Acceptance Commitment Therapy to my anxiety and agoraphobia in particular, and my life in general. Feel free to browse. > > http://eyeofthehurricane-act.blogspot.com/> > --- El mié, 10/8/11, vcferrara escribió:> > De: vcferrara > Asunto: Willingness to feel the feelings we're scared of...> Para: ACT_for_the_Public > Fecha: miércoles, 10 de agosto, 2011 02:57> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > >  > > > > > > > > > > Is the key> > > > We can diffuse thoughts all day and night, but if we keep it up on the mind level, and are never willing to experience the feelings that these thoughts are there to protect us from experiencing (because you believe you can't handle them), then you are going to be living with this mental suffering forever...it's always going to be looming in the background, big or small> > > > But when you allow yourself to feel them and see what they are, there is no need to fear them anymore..> > > > Probably a "duh" to some, as "willingness" is a big part of ACT, but I have spent a good 10+ years trying to resist my feelings in some way though thinking and being mindful..> > > > Had a very intense and amazing experience with my therapist yesterday...brought laser like focused awareness into the feelings of Fight or Flight...which brought the literal feeling in my hands of wanting to fight, and in my feat of wanting to run...I stayed with it for a bit, then underneath it came out a huge cry of release of the core of where it all started for me...."I couldn't control> > that my father died", which shook my core at the time> > > > It was quite amazing to say the least, and what I learned from it other than the above was:> > > > Part of the mind's job is to protect you from experiencing what you believe (erroneously) you can't handle, but emotions and feelings are here to teach us something...what we generally deem to be "negative" emotions are our greatest teachers...they secondarily teach us things like love, compassion, empathy, and kindness, but at their core, are here to teach us that we can't control life, nor do we need to., and that we are not separate from it..life is perfect as is...it's your story of it, that isn't...therefore there is no need to fear these feelings, as they are ultimately here to bring us back to our true selves...> > > > When you let go of trying to control = flow> > > > Trying to control life with our superimposed view of what it should or shouldn't be like = suffering> > > > Of course, tomorrow I could be singing a different tune > > > > * when I say "erroneous", it's because there is not one situation looking back in our lives, that any of us can say with any honesty that one "couldn't handle", other than thinking it so...>

[Guest guest]

That's really nice of you to say so, thank you XXXX______________________Signature: Mrs Em Equanimity This is my personal blog where I record my experience applying Acceptance Commitment Therapy to my anxiety and agoraphobia in particular, and my life in general. Feel free to browse. http://eyeofthehurricane-act.blogspot.com/--- El vie, 12/8/11, hbbr Asunto: Re: Re: Willingness to feel the feelings we're scared of...Para: "ACT for the Public" <ACT_for_the_Public >Fecha: viernes, 12 de agosto, 2011 11:02

I check in with your blog from time to time and always find it inspirational! Thank you for sharing!

Helena

To: "ACT for the Public" <ACT_for_the_Public >Sent: Friday, August 12, 2011 6:53:49 AMSubject: Re: Re: Willingness to feel the feelings we're scared of...

Thank you so much for saying so. Its funny, I was just rereading now a couple of entries where I would talk about situations I would expose myself and be willing. These situations don't give me any anxiety whatsoever now. Of course, there are many other things that do give me anxiety, but these are situations I would never even contemplate doing before. If doing my blog means that just one person thinks they too can have a life and go forward having agoraphobia/anxiety/panic, then its been totally worth writing it. Thank you. Tread gently XXX

______________________

Signature: Mrs Em Equanimity

This is my personal blog where I record my experience applying Acceptance Commitment Therapy to my anxiety and agoraphobia in particular, and my life in general. Feel free to browse. http://eyeofthehurricane-act.blogspot.com/--- El vie, 12/8/11, deborah_foord escribió:

De: deborah_foord Asunto: Re: Willingness to feel the feelings we're scared of...Para: ACT_for_the_Public Fecha: viernes, 12 de agosto, 2011 10:29

Very thought provoking and inspiring blog.....Thank you very much for sharing.>> I am glad you are stating to lean into such experience. I agree its a main part of ACT, but its no easy feat when most of us have spent a long time doing the opposite. Our mind does tell us we can't handle it as you say,and we have been fused and obeying for so long, it takes some time to wedge ourselves from this. > My habit for one is changing for the better, I now automatically open to many situations of anxiety and often panic. I am nearly an expert with more low weight experiences, and still practicing with the stronger experiences. The things is to trust our capability, and to trust that the present moment is (no changing that) and can be stayed with. I have so much work to do still... but so happy with where I am in

my path.> What you say about control, I do think thats a key issue with anxiety in general, we want control. We want to make sure that the future is comfortable, manageable, that nothing will change, that no-one will leave us... making friends with that uncertainty of everything in this world helps us to let go of that control and life beyond the anxiety.> There are indeed strong core emotions behind anxiety too, strangely if you stay and let them surface, they are never so so bad as we imagined (mind making bogey men up as usual). Tread gently XXX______________________Signature: Mrs Em Equanimity > This is my personal blog where I record my experience applying Acceptance Commitment Therapy to my anxiety and agoraphobia in particular, and my life in general. Feel free to browse. > > http://eyeofthehurricane-act.blogspot.com/> > --- El mié, 10/8/11, vcferrara escribió:> > De: vcferrara > Asunto: Willingness to feel the feelings we're scared of...> Para: ACT_for_the_Public > Fecha: miércoles, 10 de agosto, 2011 02:57> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > >  > > > > > > > > > > Is the key> > > > We can diffuse thoughts all day and night, but if we keep it up on the mind level, and are never willing to experience the feelings that these thoughts are there to protect us from experiencing (because you believe you

can't handle them), then you are going to be living with this mental suffering forever...it's always going to be looming in the background, big or small> > > > But when you allow yourself to feel them and see what they are, there is no need to fear them anymore..> > > > Probably a "duh" to some, as "willingness" is a big part of ACT, but I have spent a good 10+ years trying to resist my feelings in some way though thinking and being mindful..> > > > Had a very intense and amazing experience with my therapist yesterday...brought laser like focused awareness into the feelings of Fight or Flight...which brought the literal feeling in my hands of wanting to fight, and in my feat of wanting to run...I stayed with it for a bit, then underneath it came out a huge cry of release of the core of where it all started for me...."I couldn't control> > that my father

died", which shook my core at the time> > > > It was quite amazing to say the least, and what I learned from it other than the above was:> > > > Part of the mind's job is to protect you from experiencing what you believe (erroneously) you can't handle, but emotions and feelings are here to teach us something...what we generally deem to be "negative" emotions are our greatest teachers...they secondarily teach us things like love, compassion, empathy, and kindness, but at their core, are here to teach us that we can't control life, nor do we need to., and that we are not separate from it..life is perfect as is...it's your story of it, that isn't...therefore there is no need to fear these feelings, as they are ultimately here to bring us back to our true selves...> > > > When you let go of trying to control = flow> > > > Trying to control life

with our superimposed view of what it should or shouldn't be like = suffering> > > > Of course, tomorrow I could be singing a different tune > > > > * when I say "erroneous", it's because there is not one situation looking back in our lives, that any of us can say with any honesty that one "couldn't handle", other than thinking it so...>