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Resistance (part 2 cont.)

BASIC RESISTANCE

We have been told time-and-again by the mind that our body is our enemy. We treat it with contempt sometimes or may simply ignore it. However, the body is the greatest creation we may possibly possess. It follows the natural law of equilibrium. That is, it returns naturally to a place of balance. It is the perfect balancing system. When our thoughts and reactions interfere with that system, the body goes into overdrive to return to balance. Also, it is through our bodies that we will release the stored up emotions and therefore is a necessary aspect for healing and moving through to change.

Our body are not our enemy, as we would like to think it is. Sometimes it feels that way when we are not aware of why our body is reacting the way it is. So if we have thoughts of "What if ...", our body responds to the emotional fear reaction to that thought with the input of adrenalin into the physical system. Surely we are in mortal danger, so our body reacts to the fear emotional response with adrenalin, necessary for self-preservation. We all know the result of this - heart racing, and the rest. Once again, if we have the thought "How dare they ..." or "I don't like / want ..." the emotional reaction is conflict or resisting what is happening right now.

We react against a life occurrence, and our body reacts with a hit of anger energy. In turn, our thoughts follow our body's reaction of anger energy with a label: "I am angry," and pulls out the anger tape that tells us how we are going to react to that fact - either repress or project or what ever way we work with anger - and so the cycle goes.

It is similar with all the emotions we feel. Depression is perpetuated by the depression thoughts. Shame is perpetuated with the "shameful" thoughts. Guilt and the resultant feeling of unworthiness and "badness" is perpetuated by the harbouring on the guilt thoughts. If we can start to become aware enough to see that this is how our life is flowing, then we have a choice to make a change. If we like to feel angry all the time, or guilty, or "bad" or ashamed, or whatever, then we have the choice to remain in this state. After all, we hold the reins on how we are feeling. It is our own thoughts that roll the dice. Also, a point before we proceed, we have to remain true to ourselves. So if we are feeling a certain emotion at the moment, we have to work with that emotion and deal with it, then let it go.

Replacing reactive thoughts with "happy" thoughts is not going to work - it means we are avoiding (once again) our current state and are not looking at the reasons why, how and what to do to deal with it etc. Stay true to what is happening inside. We are feeling this now so find the way to deal with it. Also, dealing with this makes it so much easier to let it go and will increase awareness. Also, dealing with what is happening will allow us to let go of or modify the existing reactive tapes.

So awareness of the cycles and mind's role in all of these is important. With this we can then also see the resistances the mind places to actually breaking these reactive cycles:

No matter how great the motivation or intention to change, the mind will come between us and our goal. We may start out full of gusto - then discover that one or more of the resistances arise as obstacles in our path. Once again, awareness is the weapon we use to break down these resistances. Ultimately it comes down to us to do the work. Resistance can be tracked down to the mind's fear. It is very difficult while in the throes of resistance to see that it is in fact the mind's fear and not ours. We seem to feel the fear as flowing through every part of our system, but we are feeling the fear emanating from the mind. Because we associate the mind / ego as us, we feel it as ours. Resistance can be tracked down to a system of thoughts - usually very subtle and deep in consciousness.
On it's most basic level, resistance occurs on the mental/ thought level, emotional level, and bodily level. To start to look at resistance, we start with the set of beliefs and rules that we hold as true. Where those set of beliefs and rules originated are for each of us to ascertain. It may be different for each person. Usually we hold a belief due to some experience in our life. It may have been traumatic - therefore the greater the force or power holding that belief and maintaining it.
Some beliefs and rules are by indoctrination - by repetition. Like in school, we as a group learn our lessons parrot-like. We may not have experienced what we believe to be true, but it is held intact by the sheer power of unquestioning unconsciousness. We never question if it is true or not. It is in the very act of never questioning, or trying to see new perceptions based on our experience RIGHT NOW, that we become rigid. We never let go of the old beliefs, whether they are still valid or not. It is like a solid and rigid crystal molecule - held together by great forces - impenetrable. It is rigid and very limited. This forms our self-image. Who we think we are and what we think we can do or can't do, what we think the world should be like and how we / others should act. In general, it can be quite an idealistic outlook or a very negative outlook.

The problem with holding tight to a narrow and limited belief or thought is that it tends to be one-dimensional. It is cut and dried. It is only this and all else is wrong. That leaves a whole lot of experience that has to be denied.

Everything is going fine when life or experience verifies the beliefs - but when it throws us a curve ball and shows that it is neither one or the other, then we react. Some of these include all the aspects of what we consider "civilised" behaviour. Our concepts of how humans should behave, talk, be, etc. The ideal of course is for everyone to be happy, free or easy going, humorous, forgiving, tolerant, spiritual (or some), selfless and charitable and anymore that we wish to put on the list. This, of course, is true for all humans. We all contain these aspects - but there is also a hell of a lot more to us than that. To be only these ideal aspects creates incredible conflict within us and eventually we will display our other aspects. If those aspects are not allowed then we will give ourselves (or perhaps others) a hard time. Some examples may be:

Rule: Should never be selfish. We are asked to do things that we really don't want to do but use the rule against ourselves saying "how selfish of me" and do it anyway. We will probably feel resentful and perhaps angry and feel even worse for feeling this way - using many more rules against ourselves such as Should never be angry, Should be selfless, Should be charitable.
Rule: Should always do things the most efficient way. For the most part we regulate our lives into an efficient robot like fashion (don't get me wrong, efficiency is not a "bad" thing). We are doing things for the sake of having done and finished them, rather than the joy of doing them. It is like doing them just for that tick in the box. The problem comes in when others do jobs not as efficient as we think they should. It can cause a great deal of internal conflict and we may even feel like pushing them aside and doing it the "right" way ourselves.
Rule: Should always be happy and cheerful. An oldie but goody. We are definitely not always happy and cheerful and for the most part we can allow ourselves not to have to be happy and cheerful. What do we find ourselves doing when we meet acquaintances or friends. We instantly go into smile and cheerful mode. It's like that smile is painted on and we just can't take it off. Sometimes we can catch ourselves doing this. We may not feel like this inside, but we project this happy / cheerful persona.
Rule: God is blue. Just an abstract rule but good to show how some of these rules or beliefs can be indoctrinated and are not based on any real fact or experience. Someone is told repeatedly that God is blue. They believe that unquestioningly and yet have never experienced the actuality that that is true. What happens when someone comes along and says "God is pink"? Anger. The reaction of "You don't know what you are talking about and how dare you say such a thing".
Rule: I can't do .... Fill in the blank. We limit ourselves with our beliefs about our capabilities. Everyone can do almost everything with practice and the right instruction, it is our thoughts that limit us. It may also be what we have been told many years ago. Say our "I can't do .." is paint. We never test this rule so when a friend suggests having some fun and going to a new zany art class - our reply is ....... "I can't paint". End of story. We miss the opportunity of having fun and even pushing our skills beyond our limits.

For every rule or belief there are a million different scenarios that can trigger conflict. We will react whenever one of our rules is broken. It is always so if one of our rules or beliefs is seemingly broken - either within ourself or by an external force. Life always throws a zinger.

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