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July 25, 2019 at 6:35 am #304837Cali ChicaParticipant
Dear Anita,
This is an excellent point:
until it was no use to rest in relaxation, too fleeting, likely to be disrupted anytime.
The concept of, why even attempt or try?
Your next point is as well. A reminder that this “jackhammer” doesn’t truly exist in my daily environment anymore. I am so used to having it around that I subconsciously assume it is there, or perhaps even seek it. Saying to myself: oh look at this jackhammer or that. But it is up to me to maintain that calm. Calm is everything.
July 25, 2019 at 6:57 am #304839AnonymousGuestDear Cali Chica:
I grew up with a jackhammer (I am liking this new term), a woman who is manic, frenzied, anxious, going on and on and on about things, nonstop, talking to me anytime, no consideration of my need for silence, for a break from that jackhammer, inconsiderate of me, on and on and on.. . Fast forward, any noise I heard as an adult was magnified, in my own brain, taking on the jackhammer-of-my-childhood quality:
A dog barking- jackhammer! I can’t stand this noise, when will it stop, what if it never stops! The owner doesn’t mind disturbing me this way, thinks I am not worth it to be considerate of me!
Neighbors noise- jackhammer! how rude, do they think I am so worthless that it is okay to disturb me this way (angry!) I am stuck in never-ending noise!
A person talking a bit too much- jackhammer! How rude this person is, how dare he talk and talk and talk to me (angry!) I have to get away!
anita
July 25, 2019 at 7:13 am #304843Cali ChicaParticipantDear Anita,
Makes complete sense, I find myself “Hyper-agitated” often by such stimuli.
For example the tech at work, with his constant small talk and chatter filling any silent moment – sometimes it makes me wanna say! Shut up I need peace!
On the subway when strangers are extremely loud or blasting music or being obnoxious, the same. I notice others around me are not nearly bothered by this external noise as I am. It is difficult for me to tune it out.
Headphones have been quite helpful in that matter, especially on the subway. In other sectors I am learning that I don’t have to respond to the stimulus. It is my habit and pattern – from the jackhammer I had at home – to always first acknowledge the stimulus/jackhammer, and then respond to it.
But what about the concept of not responding to it at all? wow!
At home, with my jackhammer – that would never fly! I can hear it now..
Oh look at CC, thinking she’s all grown up, doesn’t even have time to respond to her mother…what a pity…
July 25, 2019 at 7:43 am #304849AnonymousGuestDear Cali Chica:
Being trapped with a jackhammer, as a child, trapped because neither escape (Flight) nor Fight are options, time feeling eternal, the child’s neurons get overly agitated, overly excited, more than the organism can endure. The organism adjusts in a variety of ways, but a functional damage of sorts has been done to the brain. The neurons in the brain are … forever overly agitated, unless a long-term intentional practice of Calm takes place.
What happens next is that wherever you are, the jackhammer is there too, a moment of silence is followed by hours of noise, noise, noise everywhere, fear and anger activated anytime, anywhere.
anita
July 26, 2019 at 6:44 am #304977Cali ChicaParticipantDear Anita,
A long term intentional practice of calm.
Sometimes this feels like your whole life has to be dedicated to this. As in, stop pause, and live life focused only on calm.
Other times it feels like, when you go throughout the day- you can keep it in mind. The issue with this second way is that it is so easy to slip back, and then the frustration arises – of not keeping the calm (when you know better)
As you have said many times, to be angry with oneself will lead to nothing beneficial.
I notice my triggers very easily now, especially when they are certain people/types of conversations. I think knowing this sometimes leads to more annoyance on my end the: “oh cmon you know better, why are you engaging in this sort of thing.”
But I have to remember that life is fluid it will come and go, so will the learning and experience. You can’t avoid things – but you can surely engage less in time in things that don’t bring out good meaning.
July 26, 2019 at 7:25 am #304981AnonymousGuestDear Cali Chica:
“the frustration arises- of not keeping the calm (when you know better)”- the know better you are referring to is an intellectual/ rational/ academic-like knowing. This is a different kind of knowing than the knowing required in this step of the process, or journey. The intellectual knowing is easy, a walk in the park, compared to the knowing that is required now.
The woman in the “snazzy wonder woman costume” changes into a “slim nude colored dress: clean lines, simple silhouette and natural”- the elegant dress is like intellectual knowledge, easy to put it on. You put it on, look in the mirror and say: I look elegant! You feel elated. Then you go into the world and the day wears off, you get tired, a person bumps into you and spills a bit of coffee on your dress (people who annoy you), and you don’t feel elegant anymore. Soon enough you are a snazzy wonder woman inside an elegant dress.
The knowing required now is the (for a while) excruciating moment by moment by moment acting elegant, acting calm, according to your intellectual knowledge. The acting itself, moment by moment, hour by hour, all day is the knowledge I am talking about.
True elegance is in that Calm we’ve been talking about, calm inside that dress all day long, even if it is a bit wrinkled and has a spot of coffee, still your head is held high, posture good, calm facial features, calm, confident voice, elegant mannerism all through the day.
anita
July 26, 2019 at 8:06 am #304989Cali ChicaParticipantDear Anita,
Thank you for using the word elegance, I love this word, and it resonates with me.
I would like for you to, if you will, elaborate on this some more:
The knowing required now is the (for a while) excruciating moment by moment by moment acting elegant, acting calm, according to your intellectual knowledge. The acting itself, moment by moment, hour by hour, all day is the knowledge I am talking about.
In the next statement, you elaborated more. In one way, is it like making sure I engage in calm, revert back to it – in a way is it “fake it till you make it?”
July 26, 2019 at 9:11 am #305007AnonymousGuestDear Cali Chica:
Not in “fake it till you make it”- because you already are elegant. You don’t have to fake elegant, and you were calm enough, before the jackhammer drilled into your poor brain day in and day out throughout your childhood.
What I suggest is a return to being authentically you, not a fake-it-till-you-make it (a catch phrase that is a term fitting a… snazzy wonder woman, not you!
Do you want me to elaborate more?
anita
July 26, 2019 at 9:16 am #305011Cali ChicaParticipantdear Anita,
Yes, please! I think I know where you are going with it…but need to understand some more..
July 26, 2019 at 9:31 am #305013AnonymousGuestDear Cali Chica:
You wake up in the morning, what do you do first, second, third? Plan it. See to it that somewhere in that list you make the bed and put items in their place so that your husband feels comfortable when he arrives home from work. The list you make, it will be authentic to you, not a fake-it list. The list will fit what you authentically value.
You were told throughout your childhood that you were messy. You were told that by a jackhammer who underperformed a broken clock in number of times being correct in what she said. So messy is not your authentic self. I know it isn’t. Incorporate Neat into your list. You value Love, so you incorporate seeing to it that your husband feels comfortable and appreciated when he arrives home later, seeing that you care about what he wants, a neat home. You value elegant, so don’t rush through the list. Notice: you can move fast but not rush, there is a difference.
Well, make that list.
anita
July 26, 2019 at 10:13 am #305017Cali ChicaParticipantDear Anita,
I love the idea of the list, I am not ready for it just yet – perhaps tomorrow – perhaps Monday. See that? KNowing yourself and knowing when not to rush something this important! Progress already.
I was surprised to read that messy is not my authentic self at first. Then from surprised I felt comforted. Then from comforted I felt happy! Especially since it feels you have confidence in this ability of mine.
It gave me some thing I have been lacking for some time, hope and faith. In Sanskrit, and parts of the Indian language – there are beautiful terms for these words/concepts. I think of them daily as they are a big part of our “culture” in some way.
Knowing that hope and faith were there somewhere, but fleeting. It feels good to have you have faith in me in the sense that I am not messy. It goes beyond messy, it goes to – knowing my authentic self is not flawed.
No not perfect, its not about being perfect. But not flawed. That my authentic self is fine the way it is, and is much greater and more amazing than I ever deemed it possible – it is even neat! Oh and it is capable of focusing on the inner circle too – so many things!
July 26, 2019 at 10:15 am #305019Cali ChicaParticipantoh and by the way, I am working with the mean doctor today, and as I saw her get more moody I knew a jab was coming towards me – I could smell it. (knowing what I know now)
She goes “oh hun that perfume you’re wearing, I am sorry but I am just so sensitive to the scent”
(background, I am not wearing perfume, perhaps a body lotion from 6 am – entirely made as a jab not reality)
my response: “oh really that sensitive, that must be hard in nyc to have such a sensitive nose!”
that shut her up real fast -didn’t it? yes it did 🙂
July 26, 2019 at 10:58 am #305027AnonymousGuestDear Cali Chica:
Your response to her is hilarious, and you came up with it on the spot, impressive!
“my authentic self is fine the way it is, and is much greater and more amazing than I ever deemed it possible”- yes, it is, fine the way it is, and much greater and more amazing than you know. And you will find out, and be amazed again and again.
In the process though, you will have to endure those moments of distress, notice the mental rushing, that quick rushing in the brain and keep steady, not rushing your body. You feel the rushing in the brain, but your body stays in place. That is the excruciating part. Over time and practice, it won’t be excruciating anymore.
anita
July 29, 2019 at 7:23 am #305487Cali ChicaParticipantDear Anita,
Good Morning.
This morning (I tried) to do things step by step. I woke up, had my full glass of water, fed the dog – and made the bed. I didn’t just through the comforter over the bed. I actually took the extra 30 seconds to do it properly. So much of life involves focus for only a few seconds longer to do it “right”, yet, when we are frenzied that amount seems too much/or fleeting. I then took my dog on a walk and paid attention to him, and not the frenzy of those around me in their hustle of the AM commute.
I noticed I wished the walk was much longer, my dog looked up at me as though to say “where next?” I said out loud – this is it for now, but I will take you after work.
It reminds me of the ideals that are most important, and the list- making that list.
I thought about how you mentioned that you believe that “wagging of the tail” is within me, deep down inside.
I think so too, I think there are many layers above it of course. First of which, our next step. Chapter 2. Where will we move and what jobs. That is the center of my husband and my talks/priorities at this time. Therefore, more than ever we must focus on inner circle. What needs to be done to self preserve, to retain energy and focus, and not give it away.
July 29, 2019 at 10:14 am #305495AnonymousGuestDear Cali Chica:
Good afternoon (your time).
-Step by step, mindfully, thoroughly.
-Focus on Inner Circle.
anita
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