You’d think the LAST thing anyone would want to give a
workaholic…would be something called, “The Work!”
Like adding fuel to the fire?
Like giving a cat burglar your house key?
Like giving a beaver a chainsaw?
Like Bill Gates winning the lottery?
And speaking from (LOTS of) experience, it’s actually
pretty hard NOT to try to use your own established, painful
patterns–in my case, workaholic-neurotic–when you first start inquiring
into your thinking.
Like the fly endlessly droning on the window, struggling in the
same old way to get out…and TRULY EXPECTING a different result.
In other words, we try to work “hard” to make “The Work”
work just that little bit better…
…just a little bit more control (which hurts)
…just a little bit more force (which hurts)
…just a little bit more manipulation (which hurts)
Like going bowling and watching the ball heading toward the
right gutter…so you tense up and lean to the right to “make” it go straight!
It’s funny what we do. If something doesn’t work, why not just do the same
thing? Only harder?
And when we’re in the midst of the desperation and struggle and
“workaholism”…it seems to make absolutely perfect sense.
We actually BELIEVE we’re going to “fix” the situation with
more of the same…harder, faster, more pressure…and more of
the INTERNAL VIOLENCE AGAINST OURSELVES that has
never worked in the first place.
It’s just more of the subtle ways we try to exert our “control”
over ourselves and everything around us.
We’re so amazingly laser-ed in on fixing ourselves so we
can finally have money, order, control, enough accomplished,
more time, and improve just a little more…
…that THEN, we can finally relax, take a break, and be happy.
It’s my story to the hilt! Years and years of agony, trying harder,
and more and more force that just made me more miserable.
Honestly, I was doing it a little to myself this past week, while
doing taxes! Here comes the mind, creeping in with it’s “good
ideas” for working harder…
When I first tried to do The Work I couldn’t sit still long enough
to really get anywhere.
Some people have breakthroughs by going to a “Katie event.”
Some by doing The Work on the Helpline.
Some by going to the School (which is what I did, 3 times).
Some by working with one of the many fabulous facilitators
on the Byron Katie website.
Some by working in teleclasses where you realize the
astonishing fact that everyone’s thoughts are just like yours!
Such a relief!
It can seem like a “new” revelation…over and over and over…
…as you educate your mind.
Because your MIND would have you believe that it’s JUST YOU.
That you’re the only one suffering…you’re ALONE…there’s
no one out there…there’s no hope…you’ll never succeed…
…so why bother trying? You never make it.
Some people see suicide as the only way out. I sure thought about it,
but that’s the mind’s job and it’s incredibly subtle in leading you
down the same old path…believing it will finally work…THIS time.
My new teleclass is for:
-work-aholics
-overwhelm-aholics
-money-aholics
-get-motivated-aholics
-stress-aholics
-finally-get-organized-aholics,
-fix-myself-aholics
-I’ve-gotta-quit-procrastinating-aholics
-success-books-aholics
-success-seminar-aholics
Because they all hurt.
The teleclass where we get to sidetrack those runaway trains-to-nowhere
and despair, and finally steer them to the gentle, peaceful station
that’s the home within ourselves…where we can breathe and let
our knotted stomachs relax and let our aching shoulders drop.
The teleclass starts on Wednesdays, Feb. 22nd for 8 weeks of working
together and partnering–to looking at the pain of work and money.
Sending you relief from stress and trying so hard,
Grace
“Grace, I love how you are so affirming of everyone’s process and are
such an accepting/loving presence.”–Celia, teleclass participant