The Work of Byron Katie – Page 23 – The Work of Byron Katie with Grace

February 28, 2016

Leaping Into Heaven…Special Leap Day Ways to Do The Work

leapyearspecial Have you been wanting to enter the deep place within where you can see your stress or anxiety, look at it with eyes open….

….and turn your thinking around?

In honor of LEAP day (my favorite!)….let’s leap into The Work.

What’s your top repetitive stressful scenario you deal with in your life?

Some people answer this question with “my relationship!”

They’re talking about a primary person they’re coupled with in their lives, or the one they’re dating, or the one they divorced!

Other people answer this question with “money!”

Maybe a source of stressful thinking in your life is through other people close to you at work, in your family, your kids, your friends.

One of my greatest sources of suffering was my eating, body image, lack of confidence, feeling undeserving, being addicted to fear and negativity.

All of us sometimes feel anxiety, irritation, anger, sadness, or fear.

Those feelings are our inner compass.

They’re the key that says “Hello? Hello? Tension is here! You might want to slow down, see what’s really going on, and question what you’re thinking!”

Even though all these feelings are so uncomfortable, they’re awesome for pointing to what wants to be investigated.

So….good, if you feel some stress.

You’re not broken. You’re a human being with a Thought Detector (known as Feelings).

There is nothing like doing The Work for doing this investigation, at least for me (and for so many people I’ve worked with).

It’s four questions, followed by finding the “turnarounds”.

They take a little time, maybe 20 minutes.

It’s a practice, like meditation, or relaxation.

Sometimes I’ve said “but I don’t have the time, I don’t want to slow down, I don’t want to answer questions” and yet, every single time I have done so, my life has changed just a wee bit.

Or done a 180.

Complete. Turnaround.

Happy about the divorce, instead of terrified. Curious about the cancer, instead of an anxious wreck. Full of wonder about the new possibilities, instead of angry about getting fired. Relaxed about the person I’m connected to, instead of annoyed.

Safe. Inspired. Open.

In honor of this wonderful Leap Year February 29th which won’t happen for another four years….I’m opening up some options for you for guidance in The Work and this powerful form of self-inquiry that leads to awareness, and peace.

It’s only if you need a kick-starter.

I sure did.

When I first read Loving What Is, I sat down on my couch in my living room while my kids were occupied with blocks and books for awhile.

I leafed through the pages.

OK, I thought. I get it. Now I need to try it.

I answered the questions on the Judge Your Neighbor worksheet, that first step where you get to identify what you’re actually thinking without it whizzing by so fast, like a speeding bullet.

The worksheet said “Judge Your Neighbor” so I judged my neighbor. She was a little irritating, now that I thought about it.

I look back and I think to myself….really?

That’s all I could come up with?

I had a mountain of past suffering, pain, tension, grief and shock that were all running my life and very un-investigated at the time. Even though I had been in therapy. Even though I had come a long way, and was very stable and no longer suffering from an eating disorder or addictive behaviors like smoking.

It took a lot of guidance, and attending Byron Katie’s 9-Day School for me to actually buckle down and DO The Work. Until then, I was a great avoider.

After I actually questioned my beliefs, I found out it wasn’t so horrible to see them, and take them through the process of The Work.

I wasn’t so afraid of what I thought anymore.

But it took people helping me, facilitating me, for me to get there. I couldn’t have done it alone.

If you find you’re stuck-ish, or not getting to the heart of the matter with your inquiry, or persistently struggling and anxious, then maybe you’d like to try a different approach with The Work and join a class, do some one-on-one sessions, or come to retreat.

So that’s where Day of Leap comes in.

I wanted to do something special just for today, and only for today.

I’m offering a set of options. See if any one of them appeals to you if you’re wanting more clarity around your exploration of what youthink that brings on stress in your life.

This work is about how to turn what you’re thinking around and find peace in its place, new ways of thinking about your difficult situation, and brand new possibilities.

See if something here is right for you.

It’s my honor to serve you in this amazing, lazer-sharp work that has changed so many peoples’ lives for the better, including mine.

Here’s what’s on the menu:

Let’s Do The Work on Not Getting What We Desire:TeleRetreat Sunday March 6 8:30 – 11:00 am PT $37

Intro Foundation of Eating Peace Teleclass: Six Weeks of Exercises and Inquiry to help you question and shift your inner overeater. Fridays, March 4 – April 8, 2-3:30 pm PT $197

One month Eating Peace In-Person Group to identify and question what fuels crazy eating or thinking about food. Seattle Mondays March 21 – April 11 7:00 – 9:00 pm. $197

Four Individual Sessions for $375 Skype, Phone or In-Person

Special Solo Retreat: In person or via skype/phone. We spend three hours together on your work, we have time for questions, reflection, talking about your work, you create a map for your living turnaround. $197.

Spring Retreat May 15-17 Leap Day Special $325. Three Full Days of The Work on Your Stressful Situations and Finding The Living Turnarounds! For people with some experience in The Work. North Seattle Kenmore Lodge.

These special leaping-in rates….in honor of LEAPING….will only be available until tonight at midnight.

Use this unique link to sign up for your choice of leaping in.

Click Here To Leap Into The Work

Click the link above to head over to my website
Click the Buy Now button at the top
Once you’re in the paypal page, enter the amount of your program in the “Item Price” box and click Update
Complete your payment (if you are using a credit card, follow the link that says “Don’t have a paypal account?” even if you do)
Send me a personal email confirming you’ve signed up (so we don’t miss anything!) at grace@workwithgrace.com
I’ll send you all the details including possibilities for scheduling, and instructions for dialing in if you’re joining the Desire Tele-Retreat or the Eating Peace Teleclass.

Can’t wait to spend this powerful and sacred time together.

“So, how do you get back to heaven? To begin with, just notice the thoughts that take you away from it. You don’t have to believe everything your thoughts tell you. Just become familiar with the particular thoughts you use to deprive yourself of happiness. It may seem strange at first to get to know yourself in this way, but becoming familiar with your stressful thoughts will show you the way home to everything you need.” ~ Byron Katie

Much love, Grace

February 27, 2016

Ramit Sethi. Everything happens at the right moment.

Attending big events, conferences, workshops, retreats or courses are all something many of us have experienced.

It’s a big deal to have your curiosity sparked, decide to say yes to something, come up with the funds, make plane reservations or drive for hours to get somewhere, arrange your accommodations, leave your daily life behind, get time off work.

What’s more is….you want deeply to come away with vital or inspiring information, or a change of heart, or a completely new perspective that makes it all worth it.

That’s why you’re going in the first place.

There’s a lot riding on some of these things we attend!

The story in the mind is….when I get there and go through this thing, I’ll get “x” or I’ll obtain “y” or I’ll learn “z” and then I’ll have something I didn’t have before….

….and I’ll feel better, or I’ll feel fabulous, or I’ll feel transformed, or I’ll feel inspired.

So you know how I mentioned I was visiting New York?

Well, one reason I’m here was to attend a one-day conference all day long yesterday for people who run businesses, like me, who want to share their message, get their book published, understand publicity, share authentically with the world.

To be honest, this is not really my “thing”.

I’m usually headed to a silent meditation retreat, a personal growth workshop or a training that helps me be more effective with clients and students, or with myself.

I like studying peace, more than anything.

This was almost the antithesis of peace, for the introverted inner me.

Ha ha!

I was connecting and being with people all day long in conversation, with microphones, stages, chairs, coat-checks, bathroom lines.

Asking people what they do, hearing interviews, listening to a few experts, asking an editor about my book proposal next steps.

But after I’ve done The Work for awhile, I’ve got to admit, this is one pretty clear way I’m different, directly as a result of doing The Work.

I can still hear the internal thoughts float through, but somehow, I’m not really disturbed.

I really do know they aren’t true.

Here’s what they sound like, right in the middle of the conference, during breaks, keynote speakers, getting tea, walking from the front of the room to the back, seeing the person sitting next to me:

I don’t fit in
I should just take a picture
I should talk/shouldn’t talk to him/her/them
I don’t know how to connect with everyone
I am different than whatever’s going on here
this is not “my” greatest pleasure
it’s too loud
people are looking at me
I have nothing to say
what a fascinating world….look at her purple hair, his leather jacket, her huge smile, his tired worried face, their blonde heads leaning together, the sun pouring in the window.

It’s like a steady flow of thoughts, sounds, sights, smells.

Those thoughts float in, like little warning labels.

But then it’s like there’s a hand reaching out, as if to shake hello, saying:

“Oh hi…is it true?”

“Are you sure that’s true?”

“Oh…remember when you used to think that was true, like, all the time? Yah, that was funny, wasn’t it. Chuckle.”

All I can say is, this was probably the most fun I’ve ever had in my life at one of those conference-type educational meet-other-people and learn business thingies.

I even got surprised by meeting one person who popped in for lunch who was not an official part of the conference and didn’t speak publicly at all, and who happens to be a rock star in the business world.

I shared with him what a kick I get out of his newsletter writing about his mom, and told him it makes me happy about my own high-expectation parenting of my own kids.

I told him my son follows him, too, at my demand, er..I mean encouragement…and he apologized for using the F-Bomb sometimes, and he said I was a good mom.

It was so cute.

So fun to meet the delightful Ramit Sethi

OK….so maybe this type of event doesn’t necessarily offer a “spiritual experience”, or a shift of consciousness that’s totally life-changing so that it feels like rebirth, or a cracked open perspective, or a massive transformation in mind-body-spirit….

….or does it?

Why couldn’t anything have the possibility of inviting me to stop assessing constantly if something was “worth it”….

….but instead to simply flow into yes, or no, or maybe, and watch the way the environment around me changes….

….while something within is steady, persistent, and peaceful as a deep, vast lake.

I do fit in, always, and the world fits in me
someone else should take a picture, not me (see above)
talking just happens, or it doesn’t
I know how to connect with everyone
I am the same as whatever’s going on here
this is my greatest pleasure
it’s just right in sound level
looking is happening, and not happening at all
I have something to say (and nothing to say! halelujah!)

What if this quiet, empty room I’m in now, while writing this, was just as amazing as one full of people, or a meditation retreat, or the busy city Saturday streets?

Who would I be without my story?

Who would you be without yours?

“Everything happens at exactly the right moment, neither too soon nor too late. You don’t have to like it… it’s just easier if you do.” ~ Byron Katie

Much love, Grace

P.S. Some of the very best thoughts about a future success story are around money and business. Do yours cause you stress, when you aren’t “there” yet? Come do The Work on it! Abundance, Desire and The Work Weekend. March 18-20. Friday evening, Saturday and Sunday. $295.

February 22, 2016

Meeting together for meetup or retreat….to uncover your suffering and question it

If you're feeling alone, find group support — If you’re feeling alone, find group support

To celebrate leap year, I’m offering an early-bird special fee for the upcoming Spring Retreat in The Work in Seattle on May 13-15 (including all day Friday starting at 9:30 am). If you register by next Monday Leap Day February 29th, it’s $325 (you save $70). Click HERE to register.

Write me separately to reserve a room in the lodge (two left) for only $50 per night.

And, if you’d like to get a sense of this work of self-inquiry and un-raveling stressful thinking in your life, especially the way stress leads to compulsive behavior like eating, then onight I’m opening up my home for a new meetup called Eating Peace (which is a drop-in group for only $10 donation).

We’ll take a look at beliefs that drive compulsive reaching for food (or anything, really) and use self-inquiry to explore what’s going on in that stressful moment.

I had the thought….how can this topic be covered in two hours?

With people who have a full range of experiences, all of which may be completely different?

It’s difficult to hold still, and see what’s happening, when you’re used to popping something in your mouth when you feel bored, confused, angry, nervous, you’re around other people, or you feel uncomfortable in some way and the call of eating (or other behavior) is so strong.

But we’ll dive in, identify some of what we’re thinking, and investigate.

Often the very first place we start, when we’re looking at behavior we don’t like….

….is pretty vicious:

there is something wrong with me
I should be completely different (thin, calm, peaceful, sober)
I can’t stop (compulsively eating sugar, drinking caffeine, spending, watching videos, drinking alcohol)
the thing I repeatedly want will make me feel better

We can take anything through inquiry, exploring what’s actually true, questioning the line of thinking.

Is it true that reaching for that thing will make you feel better?

Is it true you can’t tolerate feeling bad right now (before you take a bite, or do the thing)?

Are you sure there’s something wrong with you?

Are you really not able to stop?

For me….I keep finding the answer to be “no”.

How do you react when you believe any of these thoughts?

Ugh.

Drowning in the movement of compulsion. Trying hard to fix myself. Making plans to change, and this might even include “get enlightened”.

Anything but be here now, in all my imperfections and troubles.

So here’s the profound question that can sometimes be pondered for days:

Who would you be without your story?

Who would you be if there was nothing wrong with you, you shouldn’t be any different than you are? Without thinking you can’t stop doing what you’re doing, or that the thing you reach for makes you feel better?

Wow.

It seems like reading books and spiritual teachings makes me feel better. It seems like drinking coffee makes me feel better. It seems like doing “x” makes me feel better.

But what if you didn’t have that thought?

I notice, anything I’ve ever thought that’s outside of myself that makes me feel better….only does for a temporary amount of time.

It never really supplies a wonderful, fabulous feeling, or a peaceful feeling. Not completely, not permanently, not with full satisfaction.

So what to do?

Notice what you don’t like, right now, that’s happening. Notice what you don’t like feeling. Notice what frightens you, makes you sad.

Take these thoughts (and feelings) as a practice, through self-inquiry.

It’s not easy.

I myself would sometimes like a temporary, short, easy activity to end my boredom, or anxiety, or sadness.

It never does in the long run.

If you’re not sure where to begin, start to write in your journal what you’re upset about in your current condition, situation, life circumstance. Write about what you find disturbing.

Then….you can do The Work!

Join me if you’d like support at a retreat or meetup. There’s nothing like gathering together with others to give you the freedom to inquire, notice, slow down, feel the help available to you, personally.

I couldn’t have started out all alone….and being with others never stopped!

When I can’t seem to do it myself, the presence of others brings it all home, once again.

One week of special early bird sign-up for spring retreat in northeast Seattle. We’ll have an awesome time.

Much love, Grace

February 19, 2016

I hate thinking about this

darkness1 — peace is possible in every situation, even the one you hate thinking about

What do you do if you’re anxious, concerned, or troubled about what MIGHT happen in the future?

If the FUTURE is the thing stressing you out, how do you do The Work, or inquire, on that imaginary circumstance?

Someone asked me to write about this the other day.

Great question.

My first response is to chuckle a little….

….because that imaginary future scene we’re so afraid of feels like TOTAL imagination and making up a worrisome story, right?

Except, these memories or situations from the past….they’re also filled with imagination.

You might think….no.

That can’t be true.

In the past, this terrible horrible thing really did happen. I know it. I was there!

Doing The Work isn’t about denial, or saying something actually did not occur, because that would be weird or a bit crazy.

But this work is about investigating what we decided about that thing that occurred in the past. Our conclusions, the idea that we never, ever want to go through that again because we’re certain it wasn’t safe, it shouldn’t have happened, and it was unsurvivable.

Throughout life, to make matters worse, we learn about tough things happening to other people….and it’s natural to conclude that if bad things happen to people in this world, THEY’LL HAPPEN AGAIN!

And maybe to ME!

HHHEEELLLLPPPPP!!!!!

With the logical mind, you’d almost be bonkers NOT to conclude this.

But what I love about The Work is, we’re entering the mind, thoughts, imagination, thinking, visualizing and wondering what’s really true….

….and feeling what it would be like without believing our thoughts.

So let’s do a little exploration of Future Worries today and inquire.

Picture one of those upsetting things happening to you in the future.

If you really want to go for it, you can picture The Worst That Could Ever Happen.

I know this idea is intense.

You might want to do it in a group, or with a facilitator, and make sure you have support–you do anyway, no matter what, but having people with you can help.

(Just remember, it’s all in the mind, you are actually safe even if you think of horrible things).

I did this work myself.

The worst thing I could ever imagine happening was my kids dying suddenly.

It made me feel nauseated and I’d shout “DON’T THINK ABOUT THAT!” at myself.

I remember how vividly I considered this loss right after my first child was born.

My son, lying in his tiny car seat, seemed too delicate to even place in a car. I suddenly felt like I should never ever leave the house. Ever.

I was stunned with what I had just done. I had given birth and created such an intense tie with this human life, it dawned on me I could lose it.

I WOULD lose it, one day.

We were in separate bodies now (unlike pregnancy), and one of us would move on out of a body, who knew when, into this thing called “death” and the other “left behind” for awhile longer. That’s the only thing that could be known. No timing of it, no order of it, nothing else could ever be known about this process of traveling through this temporary life. My child might die before me, or me before child.

Only one thing was for certain. We both would eventually die.

So I sat with this imaginary horror show experience. Both my children dying.

Let’s do The Work.

Is your terrible vision something you are sure you couldn’t handle?

Are you positive it would be impossible to go on clearly, if it did?

Can you find, even a teensy eensy speck, of acceptance that these things do happen in reality, and life does indeed go on, and people not only survive but thrive sometimes?

Are you sure it’s true what you think about such difficulties isactually true?

Are you certain it’s as horrible as you think in this moment right now?

Byron Katie used to have a question she’d ask from time to time. It’s pretty blunt, and might sound kind of harsh.

And yet, I find very worthy of deep consideration.

“Who needs God, when we have your opinion?”

Gulp.

Even if you don’t like the word “God” you can substitute “Reality” or “Life” or “What Is”.

You mean….I might be….wrong? Or have one tiny perspective here that’s not the whole entire picture?

Oh. Right.

I notice, even if I don’t like something, or am terrified of death, hardship, separation, whatever….these events exist.

Could I look at them differently?

Who would you be without the belief that this vision you have, that’s pretty worrisome or devastating to think about….is bad, terrible, not handle-able, total destruction, evil or wrong?

Again, you aren’t denying the heart-breaking experience of loss, and change, and the feelings that pour out of it.

In fact, I learned of someone today, who I don’t know personally, whose son and 11 month old grandson were killed by a drunk driver one week ago.

I burst into tears.

But without the thought that this should never happen, or that nothing ever good comes out of it…..

…..without feeling terror of it, or against it, what might this be like?

You know when you go to the movies, and you see a very sad event occur, and you’re filled with sadness or fear? You might even cry in the movie theater.

Then the movie ends, and you wipe your eyes and ponder. Maybe you even sit quietly for awhile, in silence.

You’re aware that something deep has moved in you, and it’s moved through you because you felt.

You also know, it’s not real.

It was just a story.

Stories seem to happen in the human condition. Every kind of story you ever dreamed of (or had a nightmare about) happens in the human condition.

Everything.

But who are you, right now, without knowing exactly WHY anything happens or even needing to know?

Who would you be if you could relax in the presence of suffering, and hard stories, and the mind imagining all kinds of troubling things whether past or future?

What do you notice is here, besides “thinking”?

Even if you have visions of the apocalypse….what do you notice is here, now, holding all these stories and surrounding these difficult visions?

“Love can take everything into itself and remain complete – it can take in heartbreak, pain, fear, anger, sadness, total devastation. It can be crucified over and over again, and still remain whole. It knows no opposite, no enemy, no other. Only itself. Eternally, timelessly, Now.” ~ Jeff Foster in The Deepest Acceptance

Now….here’s the interesting part.

Turn your thoughts around about that possible scene making you anxious about the future.

Could anything interesting, or good, or beneficial, or helpful come out of that vision that scares or repulses you?

Has anything OK come out of that kind of thing ever before in the history of humanity?

As I do this work again today, I’m brought back to my nightmare vision of my kids dying.

What would be OK about it, or what might happen after that happens, or is there anything at all I can think of that would be acceptable about my nightmare?

What I thought about at the time was hard, but miraculous that I could find even one thing. I found three.

I wouldn’t have to worry about making enough money to support them, feed them, pay for college–I was financially in ruins later on in life and horrified I couldn’t buy them clothes, school supplies, or music lessons.
I could move anywhere I wanted in the entire world.
They would never have to suffer through losing me, or their dad, or just about anyone in their lives.

If you can’t find any examples, let it sit there.

Notice in the world what has happened when the thing you’re afraid of has occurred in someone else’s life.

“I just met my thinking with a little understanding. I no longer saw it as an enemy that needed to die, go away, be–what was the term we used?–let go of it. Why would I let go of one of my children? Does that make sense? Our thoughts are our children. Why would we want to banish them? Why can’t we just join with them? And that’s what this Work does: it meets every concept with understanding.” ~ Byron Katie in Who Would You Be Without Your Story

Much love, Grace

P.S. If you want to question your wants about the future that appear favorable….the ones you cross your fingers for, pray for, hope for, come inquire and open to peace, now. Abundance, Desire and The Work Weekend. March 18-20. Friday evening, Saturday and Sunday. $295.

February 8, 2016

Being Completely Loved Doesn’t Depend on Him/Her

LoveStories2-2016 Of the Top Ten Suffering Hits….

….you know, the experiences we humans have that take us to our knees in pain….

….Love is up there.

Romantic love, coupled love, commitment, jealousy, rebellion, anger.

So many times people have come to work with me because of love-gone-wrong.

If it’s not a break up or divorce, then it’s extreme irritation with the one you’re actually with, whether dating them or living with them for 30 years.

Our partners offer tremendous opportunity to look and feel, and question what we believe is real.

And I mean whatever partner you have.

Whether you dated them twice, or hung out with them for most of your life.

And all these experiences with partners (I know some of us have many)?

They can sometimes add up to Big Global Statements about Love.

People say things like the following (I probably have said them all myself at some point):

marriage is completely ridiculous, a business deal for asset sharing
partners are so great, they help you feel connected to the universe
romance, sexuality, lust, ecstasy are highly desired and I must find them at every available opportunity
staying in one relationship is super boring
staying in one relationship is impossible
staying in one relationship is heaven
when someone breaks up with you, it’s pure hell
long-term relationships are an achievement

It’s awesome to say whatever you say about relationships….

….it’s what you’re feeling and observing in any given moment in time.

But when it causes doubt, a feeling of betrayal, disappointment, or rage….

….you might want to take a good look with inquiry.

Is what you’re thinking really true?

Is it true all the time?

Are you sure what you think means what you think it means?

Do you really need to “x” (leave, stay, get married, find a partner)?

Before you rush in with your answer, I love doing The Work first.

The mind goes all over the map. It can actually oppose itself, depending on what you’re looking at.

Today, it sucks you’re stuck in a marriage. Tomorrow, it sucks he left you.

Who would you really be, in this moment right now, without your thoughts about couples, or romantic love (the ones that hurt–keep the good ones)?

Who would you be right now without the belief that other people should agree with you and hold the same beliefs, otherwise….

Otherwise….what?

Who would you be without the belief that there is danger anywhere, lurking in the background, ready to pounce when it comes to love, falling in love, romance, sex, attraction, wanting, desire, playing, leaving and staying?

Well.

I don’t know about you, but at first…..

….I could hardly find it.

There are so many thoughts about what is right and what is wrong, and so much suffering.

Not long ago, someone close to me confessed his desire to divorce his wife of over 20 years.

He already had another lover.

Many people would think in our culture based on the “rules” that this is bad, bad, bad.

He should have waited to move towards someone else.

But the outcome…..is the SAME.

There is movement outward, to a new life, to a new experience.

Who would you be without the thought people shouldn’t move on to new relationships? In whatever way it takes?

How do you know it’s not a good thing, ultimately?

One of the best things that ever happened to me in my life was my former husband deciding to leave the marriage.

He never left me as a friend and someone connected deeply. We still spend every holiday together with our kids and our new partners. He is a very sweet man, and I’m pretty sure both of us are entirely clear about what an amazing, brave move he made ten years ago to part ways.

It did take me to my knees.

And that….in turn….

….took me to myself in a way I had always dreamed of but never knew I could reach.

The freedom I feel in the center of learning not to be against what happened, or happens, in relationship….

….is truly awe-inspiring.

Your turnarounds could look like this, and you might bust out laughing at the brilliance of it all.

marriage is in the mind and doesn’t really matter, it’s whatever you make it
partners dismantling your relationship are so great, they help you feel connected to the universe
romance, sexuality, lust, ecstasy are highly desired and there is no need to hunt for them….this moment is glorious with myself
staying in one relationship is super exciting
staying in one relationship is possible
staying in one relationship is heaven (the one with YOU)
when someone breaks up with you, it’s pure heaven
long-term relationships are equal to short-term, there is no “achievement” when it comes to love

If you’re not too sure about any of this, come join me to investigate love relationships that feel weird, stressful, uncertain, dangerous or unsatisfying.

Friday afternoon we’re gonna have a love-investigation fest. Three hours 2-5 pm Pacific Time.

Click HERE to register.

When you investigate, I find you make the most genius moves and choices. You roll with what is presented. You don’t need to control what can’t be controlled anymore.

What a relief.

“When you truly love yourself, it’s not possible to project that other people don’t love you. I like to say, ‘When I walk into a room, I know that everyone in it loves me. I just don’t expect them to realize it yet.’ This gets a big laugh from audiences. People seem to be delighted at how easy it is to feel completely loved, and they see, if only for a moment, that it doesn’t depend on anyone outside.” ~ Byron Katie Newsletter Valentine’s Day 2009

Much love, Grace

January 31, 2016

Peace can be here now….even after this

flowerincrack — Do The Work….what was distorted will become beautiful

If you like to question your stressful thinking….

….then of course, when you get to spend all day with Byron Katie you’re gonna have an awesome day.

Here in Seattle last Saturday we got to have the incredible privilege of Katie and 750 people together, investigating the profound undertaking of human suffering.

It wasn’t exactly what you’d call a “light” day of inquiry.

Although….the opening volunteer who rose to sit on the stage with Katie started us off so beautifully….

….it was like the warm glow of a campfire in the night.

With tears in his eyes, because he was so touched by questioning his criticism of his partner, a man examined closely his thoughts about a dirty kitchen and why his partner never cleaned it.

We’ve all been there with that issue, right?

It’s an irritant, like a persistent mosquito, to hold the belief endlessly that someone else should clean up.

At one point, this man turned into the audience and looked up into the balcony.

He called “I’m sorry, honey!”

Turns out, his partner was right there, and Katie said…”Oh! Your partner is here? Come to the stage!”

Everyone was so touched by the love glowing bright between these two people who had been married for many years.

And then….

….the second person who came up on stage was a amazingly courageous woman who had suffered what sounded like horrible sexual abuse from her father for many years.

Abuse of the innocent seems like some of the sickest, most frightening and dreadful experiences that exists in humanity.

It goes in the category of The Worst That Could Ever Happen.

Murder, war, violence, rage, hatred, rape, earthquakes, prejudice.

The stories that make you want to not be a part of the human race.

The stories that feel too hard to face sometimes.

But that’s what people are doing with The Work.

And this woman did her work, with so many peoples’ support, right there on stage with Katie, helping us all to heal rather than suffer anymore.

Knowing that even the perpetrators are suffering….or they would not do what they do.

The next man who went up on stage to do The Work with Katie had just lost his son to suicide.

Tears welled up in my eyes for so much pain felt by a father, and his three surviving daughters.

I sometimes think….how can people live through all this?

It is so painful.

Such hard things happen….what is wrong with the world??!!??

*Ping*

That’s the deepest source of suffering of all.

Believing there is something dreadfully wrong with the world.

We can see the “proof” in our minds, as we think of all these terrible things that occur to people, everywhere.

We’re so sure it’s true.

See here, and there, and here? Look at all these people. So many tears. So much agony. So many people going crazy. So much unspeakable darkness.

But who would you be without the belief that these difficult experiences are Un-Handle-able?

Who would you be without the belief that it’s not possible to heal?

Who would you be without the belief it’s a hard, dark, difficult world and life is hard, dark and difficult?

What if you couldn’t believe that thought in this moment?

Look around.

Touch the chair you’re sitting in.

Feel the air on your face. Look at the room you’re in. Hear the sounds in your environment. Notice what is still, and quiet, and safe right now in this moment….

….even if you’ve been through rough times in the past.

Who would you be without putting your conditions for happiness on the world?

Seriously, like what if you didn’t know as much as you think you know about suffering?

What if you’re wrong about The Worst?

What if it is possible to be happy again, no matter you’ve experienced, no matter how horrendous?

“Do The Work, and everything that was distorted will become beautiful.” ~ Byron Katie in Seattle Jan 2016

“I try to move from what is to what is not, from what is to my image of what should be–and that is my suffering, that is my frustration, that is my despair….The healing you really long for is the deepest acceptance of pain….the healing you really long for is the healing from your identity as the victim of pain.” ~ Jeff Foster in the Deepest Acceptance

Once again, as I did my own work while listening to others break their hearts open, mine broke open wider, too.

I realized, for another time….

….this work is not about accepting all the terrible things, or condoning any of them, or wishing ill upon anyone, or punishing anyone, or damning others or myself for all time and staying stuck in hatred or fear.

This work is about surrendering to what is and discovering….

….it is never all darkness, it is never all lost forever.

Creativity and new life and love come out of the ashes.

Happiness and peace are here again for you.

Right now.

Except for your thoughts, are you OK?

Much love, Grace

NEW: March weekend retreat on Abundance, Desire, and Wanting. Doing The Work on what keeps us from what we really want: Reality Now! March 25-27. Friday night through Sunday afternoon. $295.

January 29, 2016

Ever have a violent thought…..about you?

laughingbuddha — Want to feel the power of love? Question your thoughts about what you (and others) might think about you

I was watching my own video the other day.

Jeez.

What a rambler.

Often, our most critical voices….

….well, let’s face it….

….USUALLY our most critical voices are directed towards ourselves.

We look at us, being us, and we think….

….good grief, ugh.

If I were watching this (and I were another person) I’d find this unorganized, wandering around all over the place, and I’d wonder what the heck is this person even saying?

Dang!

The thing is, most of us then believe these self-critical thoughts are “true” and additionally that they are “absolutely true”.

No other option.

Is there something in your life that you do regularly, where your immediate response or assessment of yourself is that you suck?

It can happen anywhere, any time.

You’re just walking down the street, and you have a thought of that conversation you had with your old friend, or your co-worker, or your boss, or your mom.

You get a sick feeling inside, because you really feel you didn’t handle that situation well.

Or maybe you feel embarrassed about something you did.

Or the way you appear, like I did when I saw myself.

It’s so good to explore this process, and see what’s really going on.

First question: what is TERRIBLE about the “mistake” you’ve made?

What’s the worst that could happen?

Be entirely honest about your worry.

What’s the danger….when someone displays this kind of behavior, words, appearance, “mistake”?

What are you afraid of?

OK, so in my situation, I’m looking at myself on screen rambling away.

What’s the worst that could happen, because of this video, this quality I’m showing and displaying (ramble ramble no inspiring point)?

My answer: other people will also think this, and they’ll miss the message. They’ll reject the message.

They’ll say….what the hell is she talking about?

And go away.

Abandonment. Rejection.

Irritation directed towards me from others.

Every single time I believe I’m doing it wrong, or made a mistake, or appearing like a loser….

….I can guarantee I’ll find Someone Else who might see me through the same eyes.

The next question is…..WHO?

In my case, the people who I think might agree with me that I was rambling on without being clear about my point, are people suffering from compulsive behavior (especially eating)….

….what I’m talking about and the way I’m talking Is Not Helping!

They’ll be disappointed, and leave.

They’ll think….she’s no good, she doesn’t know how to deliver her message, she’s boring, she’s unclear.

At worst, they could not only leave, but spread the word that I’m totally Un-Helpful. They could tell other people to keep away from me.

Yeah, it may seem absurd, but to accept these pictures inside is easier than trying to suppress and attack them and hide them and try to “think positive”.

Because when they’re out in the open, you can take a closer look at the beliefs, and investigate them through inquiry, just to see what’s really, really true for you.

Do you want to know the truth?

So now, because of my own thoughts about me, I can find what I believe others are capable of thinking about me, too, and what would be dangerous about it.

What would their judgments mean for me?

It would mean I won’t have clients, and I won’t have success, and I won’t be a helpful person of service in this world who makes a difference.

From here, I get to see what my mind secretly believes in, that produces pain, suffering and stress.

My belief system here: People will only be served if I’m crystal clear, direct and don’t ramble. They will not receive support if I’m rambling. And I actually need to serve.

Let’s inquire.

Is that true that I’ll only serve if I don’t ramble?

No.

How do I know it?

I’ve been super rambly, I haven’t been clear, and I’ve still served a whole lot of people.

It’s OK to be however I’ve been.

How do I react when I believe in anti-rambling….and I’ve rambled?

Ouch.

Tight. Unhappy. Self-critical. Worried. Needy.

Worried about how to improve or fix myself. Signing up for self-improvement classes out of fear (not out of the fun of it or wanting to learn more).

So who would I be without the belief that I absolutely HAVE TO be clear, direct and never ramble…..in order to serve people?

What if I stepped out of that old mental Dictator paradigm, that the mind loves….

….where it gets crackin’ on the “problem” and solving it without inquiring if what it’s believing is actually even true?

Wait.

You mean I can be however I am, in any given moment?

Yes. Hello!

It doesn’t mean improvement doesn’t naturally happen. It doesn’t mean I don’t re-shoot the video, after greater clarity. It doesn’t mean anything “terrible”.

What if you turned this thought around?

People will only be served if I’m honestly myself, being who I am. They will receive support if I’m rambling. The only way I’ll become clearer about my message and way of speaking is to be myself, authentically me, a human being and not a fake version of someone more perfect.

And, “I” don’t need to serve. It’s not an emergency. It’s not a fundamental “need” like I need food or water. I can naturally serve by being myself, and life shows me what is required, and what serves, and I follow this easily….because it’s the most fun, the greatest joy.

Continuing to explore turning this all around again:

I am the one who will be served if I’m crystal clear, direct and don’t ramble with myself. I won’t receive my own support if I’m rambling.

“I” need to serve the end of my self-judgment, the acceptance of being a human being, the sweetness of enlightenment that’s not up to me.

I am served when people are super clear with me, I notice. I love it when they’re direct.

I also love the flow of rambling brooks, and direct waterfalls, both.

Why would I be against any of these qualities, all of which are present in reality?

Rambling can help things slow down, create a feeling of softness and silence, serve as a reminder that words are not important in the end.

Peace is.

“I’ve come to see that every thought is about identification….Until you come to love yourself, there’s no way to understand that love is the power and hate is not. When people abuse themselves mentally–that’s how we abuse ourselves emotionally of course, with thoughts that just are not true, with the mind that attacks us–You train yourselves to believe that violence is how. It blocks the awareness that love is the power.” ~ Byron Katie in Your Inner Awakening

If you’ve noticed self-critical, or abusive thoughts towards the self, or violence about what you’re like or who you are…..

…..be honest and see why on earth you would really “need” to be different.

What are you afraid you won’t get, or won’t achieve, or won’t be?

Who are you, without these thoughts?

You’re the cutest person ever.

You’re awesome.

You’re a human being.

Breathe deep and be it, and laugh.

Much love,

Grace

January 13, 2016

Money left me….is that true?

money left me, and it's a crying shame....is that true? — money left me, and it’s a crying shame….is that true?

As I get ready for a full new beautiful telecourse of people gathering for eight weeks starting this afternoon on MONEY, I’m already feeling the freedom of who I would be without my current beliefs about it.

(Sorry the class is indeed all the way full, but you can join it again in the future–maybe even this spring if I can–write me with your favorite times or days).

If you’ve read Grace Notes for awhile, you’ll know where I came from (having $10.16 left in the bank and a $2000 mortgage bill due in 3 days).

It sucked.

Or so I thought.

I still have the feelings sometimes that it should never be like that again….when I get scared.

If I really go back and sit on my couch in my mind, stressing about having no money left, agony about not having enough money to put gas in my car, or buy groceries….

….it seems the same as looking back on the time I was in the war.

No, I wasn’t really ever in an actual “war” in history.

But I’ve heard people talk about being in the war, whether my grandpa in World War II, or my dad in the Korean War, or guys who were a little bit older and cooler than me who were in the Vietnam War (which horrified me as a kid).

These are all wars associated with the United States where I mostly grew up.

Well….I look on that time without money as The War. The money war.

Watching money fly away from me and feeling like I was the Titanic, sinking.

In my head, it was a war zone.

My own private war, with money.

With the universe.

At that time, in that situation sitting on my couch looking at my bank statement, with no current job and nowhere else to borrow from….

….I felt so ashamed.

I was volleying shots directly at myself, kicking myself.

When I look back, I can see that even though it was pretty straightforward when it came to money….

….I Would Not Stop Kicking.

I would not stop kicking MYSELF.

I screamed and demanded that money show itself to me, come to me, be with me, stay with me, not abandon me, rescue me.

Jeez, get a grip woman! Stand on your own two feet!

Nope, wouldn’t do it.

I insisted that I was too small, lost, incapable, and unworthy.

Until I lost all of it.

Fine.

I noticed I was still breathing, even as I said “fine” with total surrender and defeat and anger.

And I wasn’t dead.

Actually….I had a fridge with food in it, a car in the driveway, and clothes in my tiny closet. I had a mom saying she’d take me in if I needed it.

If I had had no mother, I know a friend would probably have volunteered or invited me to stay for awhile.

Just because you have debt, even colossal debt….

….just because you have spent addictively, or felt you MUST HAVE some item….

….just because you’ve been weird with money (and I mean this with people who have tons, and people who have none)….

….doesn’t mean it’s over.

Have you noticed?

If you’re alive, you have the capability of standing on your feet and being cared for.

In the Year of Inquiry group we’re in Month Five.

Money Month!

Yesterday, we looked at the most basic and very stressful belief about money…..

…..when you see it walkin’ away (pull out the strings, this is the basis of a good sad heart-break song).

Money Is Leaving!!!! Oh no!!!!

It doesn’t seem so funny in the moment, though, right?

How do you react when you see money flying AWAY from you, moving to other people, debts you owe, bills?

One inquirer in YOI noticed how vulnerable she felt. Total exposure.

I have to ask for help, I have to connect with people. I have to call and ask why a check hasn’t arrived yet, or call and tell someone I can’t pay my bill this month.

So embarrassing.

But what if you didn’t believe it’s wrong to be vulnerable, or dangerous to not have money? What if you didn’t think you were guilty, or a sinner, for being without money?

What if you just got here from another planet, today. And you never heard of money before. You were here for an adventure, for joy, for excitement, for learning, for riding a rollercoaster (that’s life, right?)

Who would you be without the belief that money is leaving you, when it moves from your pocket or bank account or hand or debit card…..

…..to somewhere else?

Turning the thought around: money is arriving, money is staying, my thinking is the one that’s leaving (wandering off after the money), I am leaving myself….in the name of money.

Some people become super poor and never go to work because of fear about money. Some people become super rich and work all the time because of money.

Who would YOU be if money didn’t matter? Just for today?

What would happen if you stayed with you, your own best friend, knowing how worthy and awesome you are?

Best of all, for me in my “disaster-lose-everything” situation, was being without money and realizing…..

…..wow oh wow…..

…..the inner center juicy peaceful glorious place within has never been absent, has never left, will never leave.

This present moment is alive, and pulsing and rich with creativity, rest, and No War.

Astonishing.

I thought I needed money to be happy, in that moment on the couch with $10.16 left in my bank account.

After I did The Work that day, a little over 7 years ago, I picked up the phone and called my mom.

We had the best conversation we had had in years, about me moving in with her and bringing my two kids with me and all the worries and anger I had about her trying to run my life and order me around if I moved in.

It was a truce conversation, in my own heart.

I knew it might be hard if I moved in with her, but it would be an incredible adventure and I could trust the universe to have brought me into it.

Except, right after THAT like the next day…..I got a job offer and a secret donation from friends and family for my birthday which covered a whole month of expenses, including that mortgage payment.

Who would you be without your war stories with money?

Could they actually be peace stories underway?

And I don’t care how much money you have.

It really doesn’t matter.

Much love, Grace

P.P.S. Join me at Breitenbush! To get all the information and learn how to register, click HERE.

January 11, 2016

Not speaking up? Worse than you think!

Not speaking what's true might be hurting just as much as what you fear about speaking up — Not speaking what’s true might be hurting just as much as what you fear about speaking up

Have you ever felt “stuck” talking with someone? Like, trapped in a conversation and you can’t get off the phone or excuse yourself easily?

Trouble saying “no” to someone?

Awkward about breaking up, making a change, or confronting someone?

Ew.

Yah, I hate this dilemma.

You know they’re going to be upset, or worried, or angry, or hurt, or take it personally…..

…..so you just say…..

…..nothing.

Trouble is, you’re looking at that kind of situation as if there’s only a few options, and you’re picking the Least Difficult.

In other words, both or all of the options are rough.

There is no “good” or “happy” or “easy” or cotton-ball puffy sweet candy-corn option.

It seems the Truth will hurt.

Awwwww, can’t we have just one little tiny good sweet option? A nice escape hatch? An option where no one gets upset at all and we all wind up happier than ever?

Uh, No.

But here’s the thing. Why do you want it to be easy, smooth, saccharin, or simple?

I’ve only dreamed of “better options” when the direct route feels very dangerous. When what I imagine about saying “no” or telling the truth is pretty dismal and hard because of disappointment and separation.

So for example.

I had a really wonderful friend once. She was intelligent, articulate, funny and a sharp red head. We loved the same topics about psychology, human behavior, spirituality, God and relationships.

We would start talking over a meal, which appeared to happen maybe every 6 weeks or 2 months.

And then I’d look at my watch after a couple of hours.

It was soooooo great for a couple of hours. Then I’d want to do something else. I’d want to stop perseverating over the same issue or problem in human behavior, or in our lives, that we had already discussed before.

Don’t get me wrong. A deep and intimate conversation is one of my favorite things in the whole world. I love to listen, I love to open my mind to I-Don’t-Know with everyone and see what happens.

But what happened when I got the message from within that it was now bedtime? Time to hug goodnight and move to what was next? Time to say “I’m done”?

People agonize over this when considering leaving a long-term partnership.

Here’s one of the best exercises to do, if you’re wondering how to stop making lists of Pro and Con and stop humming Should I Stay or Should I Go Now by the Clash.

Imagine the worst case scenario.

In my mind, I see me interrupting my red-haired friend mid-stream saying, “I have to call time out right now. I’m not comfortable interrupting, and I’m very tired and need to head home to sleep. I love talking with you and am worried about you taking this personally….and it’s beddy-bye for me.”

And standing up and leaving.

Or any of these possible variations.

I used to think I needed to say it so brilliantly well, it wouldn’t hurt her feelings.

But in this vision of the worst case, she was very hurt.

And I already knew she was sensing my withdrawal sometimes.

She would be careful, and try not to overwhelm me with too-soon dinner date appointments.

I would hear her say “I don’t want to bug you, but it’s been 2 months and I’d love to catch up” and I’d have a little clutch in my gut that didn’t really want to…..wanted to, but not too much.

Time for a worksheet, imagining the worse case scenario, so I can really get down on paper what I’m most concerned about.

I start to write.

I am upset because she’s too big, convincing, charismatic, excitable, charming, verbal. I’m troubled because if I say no to her, she’ll get wounded. I’ll hurt her feelings very deeply. Then, she’ll hurt me back.

I had a vivid picture in my head of her feeling angry.

I was also frightened of her turning her hurt towards herself, not just me. I was afraid she’d get depressed and snap at her kids and husband. I was afraid she would blame me and call me a bitch.

Boy. I sure was assuming a lot about what would happen.

I was also assuming a lot about what was good or not good for her, rather than remembering to simply stay connected to my own inner voice of awareness, with love and trust.

What if, knowing her pretty well, it was actually fairly predictable?

Except, I didn’t even give her the benefit of the doubt. I just assumed, without questioning. I didn’t say anything. I avoided if possible. So I silently stayed longer than I wanted to.

And get this….I even assured her, if she vaguely questioned if I wanted to go, that it was OK and maybe in twenty minutes and thanks for paying attention to the time I almost forgot myself (what a liar).

I waited for a clear sign….the kind where it was obvious she was a) screwed up or b) able to hear me.

Never. Going. To. Happen.

You may wait forever if you’re waiting for the Other Person to bring up this important thing on the inside of YOU.

So let’s look today, at the worse case scenario.

I said no. I hurt her when I told the truth.

She’s mad, very sad, and howling.

My truth hurt her.

Is that true?

Yes.

What a mean person I am. I’m kind of cold. I’m so detached. How did I get like this? I should be nicer. I should care about her more.

See…..already went flying into how I react internally when I believe this thought.

But first, is it absolutely true? For sure 100% all time true that I hurt her with the truth?

No. I really do not know.

I NEVER TOLD THE WHOLE TRUTH! So how would I know if it hurt?

Now…..how do you react when you believe you hurt someone? (Or, you could?)

CAREFUL.

Slow, deliberate, not peaceful. Kinda like I’m backing out of the room slowly. Ready to feel a knife stab me from behind.

It’s like it’s super dangerous. I’m seeing her as very needy, and trigger hot. She has few friends. She’s ditched people before. I need to be the good friend, the close one, the loyal one.

Yikes.

Who would I be without the belief I could hurt her if I tell the truth?

Noticing how much I’m the very same as her.

Noticing how I perceive her, and her qualities, as dangerous.

Because why?

Because I don’t face them, feel them myself, accept them as a part of me, too.

Wow.

Who would I be without my story that the truth, hurts?

Connected. In contact. Speaking the truth, and not running the minute I say it. Not ducking like I’ll be hit.

Willing to get yelled at. Open to anything that’s real.

Turning the thought around: She won’t get hurt when I tell the truth. Not ultimately. Not really. She’ll believe her thoughts, or she won’t. That’s it.

Another turnaround: I’ll get hurt when I tell the truth. Well, yeah.

Especially if I think getting hurt means having strong feelings. (Which I don’t anymore).

I could cry, or get scared, or feel exposed and broken open. I might feel sad that she’s sad, or angry that she’s angry.

(Been there, done that).

How about another turnaround?

We’ll both get healed when I tell the truth.

This will go where it needs to go. It will unfold the way that’s best for everyone. The outcome is not up to me.

And guess what happened in that relationship?

She ditched me….and I never told the truth.

So yeah, the final turnaround: if I do NOT tell the truth, she’ll get hurt.

Oh.

“It is not easy to keep silent, when silence is a lie.” ~ Victor Hugo

Much love,

Grace

January 10, 2016

At war with a technological breakdown

frustration — This isn’t good! This is terrible! This shouldn’t be going like this! How would you like to question these thoughts?

So yesterday morning I scheduled a live free Master Class on how to start doing The Work of Byron Katie on compulsion around food and eating.

I thought I was doing something easy to have people sign up so they could get the link to the webinar page with a slideshow and then click that link at the appointed start time.

But.

One person said she never got the link so she could connect (it should have showed up in an email your Inbox).

Then.

I wrote January 8th for the date it was being offered. Yesterday was January 10th.

Yah, it appears I am one of Those Dingbats who writes the wrong date. This has increased in the past 3 years. Seriously.

There’s more.

At the beginning of the class, several people sent messages saying they couldn’t see any slides. Since I’ve never participated rather than leading the class, you’d think I would test all these things out or learn why sometimes this happens.

Other people could see everything.

I am not a tech expert kinda girl, although I love cruisin’ around the internet and learning and dabbling in all kinds of stuff (you may have noticed).

But I have no idea why some people couldn’t see the slide show.

My beautiful slides. Arrrrgggggg.

You may have had technical difficulties on something in your life, too. Like a computer breaking down. Losing everything on your hard drive. Falling on and off a video call with someone. The internet dropping. Your phone running out of battery in the middle of a good conversation (also happened recently for me).

I love considering, just like we did in the Master Class yesterday, WHY I want it to work smoothly?

I mean…..so what, the slide show doesn’t appear for some.

Why is this bad, in my opinion?

I don’t want to disappoint. I want to help. I want people to come to my retreat in two weeks, if it’s right for them.

I want to help people end this suffering, and learn more than ever about the human condition and therefor myself, and how we heal and grow and discover the miraculous presence of peace and the way humans tend to get very lost in their painful stories.

I like finding freedom from mine.

So let’s look at this idea that something technically should be going like “x” and it’s not.

If it doesn’t go well (I see the imagined version of what going well looks like) then it will be a failure. People won’t get support. They’ll think I’m a ditz (note the date problem, after all).

To really get to the heart of the trouble….I can sit and consider more deeply why something I think went wrong could be called WRONG.

it rained on my wedding day
someone broke up with me
someone broke into my car
no one showed up (this could be anything you’re putting on)
I lost money
he didn’t understand me

Let’s question our beliefs!

My stressful thought: they should see the slides (it should go well)!

Is that true?

Am I sure it’s required they see my slides in order to understand what I mean? Am I sure you need to get what I’m talking about?

Does it really mean something’s gone badly, if the way it goes was not what I wanted, or preferred?

No.

I have no idea.

I know how I react when I believe the thought something should go as planned. Something should be seen. Something should be heard. Technology shouldn’t “fail”.

Stomach upset. Frustrated.

Do you notice what you’re like when you need the internet to work, and it doesn’t?

I know…..it may not be pretty.

But who would you be without this belief? Without the thought that it really does need to go the way you think it should?

Without the belief it needs to be sunny, heard, seen, understood?

It’s pretty hilarious how serious we get when we think it’s a disaster for the thing to “fail”…..

…..and pretty amazing to notice what it’s like to not know this is “failing”.

What if you didn’t miss anything?

What if it was just right? The right dose, in the right amount, at the right time?

How would you feel without the thought running through your mind At All that it should be different than it was?

WOW!!!!

I am so excited without the thought!

Turning the thought around: they shouldn’t see the slides.

Why not?

Well, I have learned tons of things in my life without seeing it visually with slides or pictures. It’s not the only way to take in what’s interesting.

And what do I know? Those who didn’t see the slides might then search for more information, they may continue in their investigation of their own peaceful life, they might go somewhere else more perfect for them.

Everything sifting and unfolding just right, without me running the show.

I turn it around again: I should see the slides (not them).

Duh.

Yes, this work is really mine. All mine. This is my own healing. I’m learning how to support others, and connect with all the universe. I love the joy I feel when my story inspires someone else’s healing, if it ever does.

The way it went was just right. It went brilliantly. I

t was fabulous, the best, the way of it!

Well….OK. You don’t have to go THAT far.

But you’ve survived, right? It’s OK right now, right?

Can you find your own examples of how that’s true for you?

“When you realize that in actuality this moment has no opposite, you stop trying to escape it. Since this moment has no opposite, it is not opposed by any other moment. It has no opposition, no enemy. It is a true original, unique in all of time and space, free to be itself, never at war.” ~ Jeff Foster in Falling In Love With Where You Are

Much love, Grace

P.S. If you missed the Eating Peace Master Class this morning: How to do The Work on eating issues…..I’ll be sending out the replay tomorrow. Meanwhile, if you have question on the upcoming 3 day immersion retreat in Seattle, there are still some spots left. Write grace@workwithgrace.com to ask and questions.