Working with addicted homeless people has its share of challenges.
Sifting through the layers of someone's life to generate a deeper sense of clarity over what has led them to this point in time is certainly a process that requires patience and trust.
After 10 years of supporting people in becoming a more authentic version of their True Self (not the self that is stuck in pain, shame, fear and limitation), many Universal Principles have emerged.
And whether you are at the top of the pile, or at the bottom, deep and lasting change can't occur unless we heal our emotional and psychic blocks and make peace with our past.
Consistent with this notion, I decided to play the movie DEVIL for my group of 30 or so clients because of the Universal themes that it presents.
M.
Night Shyamalan is notorious for writing stories that touch on the deeper essence of what defines our collective humanity.
And not only that, but Mr.
Shyamalan is my favourite writer and director, not because he has the ability to keep me locked in suspense until the final credits, but because he chooses to write about themes that touch our collective core; -faith, courage, hope, loss -beauty, the preservation of innocence -the battle between good and evil, and -the challenge of embracing our power and using it responsibly The opening scene of DEVIL could not be more appropriate for my line of work and where many of my clients stand today; an AA sponsor meeting with the main character (Chris Messina) to discuss how well he is managing his life.
The sponsor utters the following: "Your Ability to Forgive is Going to Determine the Quality of the Rest of Your Life.
" As the scene continues, the main character is posed a question: "Do you know why people go back to drinking?" The answer offered? "Resentments.
" Rewind In the Spring of 2008 my wife Mary and I went to see an Algonquin Shaman speak about Forgiveness.
He went on to explain that when we hurt someone (emotionally, physically, etc.
), or when they hurt us, an energy bond is created that links us to that person.
Until we forgive, that energy bond continues to connect us to the other person...
forever.
It is only in finding the courage to Forgive do we release ourselves from the pain, and set ourselves free to embrace our True Self.
The Shaman then took us through an exercise designed to reveal the 3-4 people in our lives whom we need to forgive, and explained that we must Forgive ourselves as well.
As I saw each person emerge in my minds eye, tears began to stream down my face.
The weight of my emotional pain was heavier than I had previously conceived, and it was erupting; I could do nothing to contain the emotion that so desperately needed to flow.
Leaving that theatre-style room situated in the basement of a public library, I felt lighter.
I had embraced the next stage of my healing journey.
As human beings, we all need to heal to some degree.
Some have experienced deeper trauma, and their emotional blocks require more care and compassion in order to fully dissolve.
But until we make our healing a priority, we will continue chase a life that is disconnected from authenticity.
We will continue to recycle the same old thoughts, behaviours, and feelings, and we will strive to maintain what is instead of opening up to what could be.
Fear has a way of doing that; keeping us stuck.
Is there someone in your life that you need to forgive? A former or current spouse, a parent, a friend? Do you need to forgive yourself for things that you can't bare to share with another, and deep down you can't shake feelings of shame, guilt and regret that won't seem to go away? And when these feelings begin to emerge, with what do you numb them? Alcohol, food, distraction? The main character at the end of the movie DEVIL found the courage to forgive in the face of catastrophic consequences.
That is the power of Universal Principles that are available to each of us; no situation is too dire, painful, or intolerable that it can't be infused with the atoning power of forgiveness.
Give yourself a gift this year, and make forgiveness a priority.
Then see how your life takes on new meaning.
Go deeper my friends; it's where the good stuff is.
Tim