TO THINE OWN SELF BE TRUE
Truth be told we all, at one time or other, have felt we would “die†because our girlfriend/boyfriend “dumped usâ€, kicked us to the curb. Obviously, we lived! Or perhaps I am alone, talking to myself and responding to computer generated posts. (Just kidding about that last line!)
Immediately, we point the finger of blame toward the wounding party. We claim not to understand women, we bash ex-boyfriends, we become angry or withdrawn or worse yet, we swear on a dead relative's grave that never, NEVER will we become involved again. Alas it is human nature to look outside of oneself for answers rather than examine what lies within.
Understanding your part of the equation is not easy. It takes work. Today we are so bombarded with outside stimuli that we feel we will go insane if the power goes out. No TV, no X-Box, no PS2,no DVDs, no computer. Oh the horrors! You are left to actually create your own entertainment. No escaping the dark. I feel that because of all the gadgets we have today, we are losing our ability to communicate with each other. When push comes to shove, we have been escaping our true feelings since we were old enough to develop a conscience. Shame based feelings,feelings of guilt or persecution become buried deep within and lie dormant for years. Then suddenly, poof, that never dealt with feeling surfaces and chaos erupts. Her fault, his fault,their fault, NEVER my fault! There is only one way to win this battle -SURRENDER. Admitting you are powerless makes you powerful! That old cliche - you can't truly love someone if you can't love yourself - is not an empty statement.
It is my belief that the more loving we are toward ourselves, the more loving we naturally are toward others. We also become clearer in our thoughts and begin to appreciate open communication. Every adult has an “inner childâ€, a child who needs validation of his/her feelings. This may sound rather sissy to some of you younger fellows, however, when we honestly work through unresolved issues (and there are few who don’t have them) we are more conscious of our defenses, of when we are coming from our still somewhat wounded child, and when this contaminates our adult interactions. We are able to react less, to be more honest, to take responsibility and own our own feelings. We no longer blindly project or easily blame others.
John Bradshaw writes “In reclaiming and championing your wounded inner child, you give him the positive, unconditional acceptance that he craves. That will release him to recognize and love others for who they are†(Bradshaw, 1990, p. 40).
I am a strong proponent for Inner child grief work. I have never felt that this is strictly a “chick thing†as my pal contends. We were all babies, all children at one time. Surly being a child isn’t a trait that only women can claim as their own.
Looking within, examining your insecurities, facing and verbalizing your doubts and fears helps you create the self-compassion that allows you to then love others on deeper levels than before. With this connection and self compassion, we no longer feel like a victim, for we are healing ourselves inside. With self love, we are more loving and empowered. We are big. We are grown. And if that makes me appear less than the “Mucho, Machoâ€, oh well! Guilty as charged! Didn't Sinatra crooned “I’ve gotta be me?†Nothing sissy about him!