Overcome The Fear
anger, fear, grief, shame and other house guests
As a human, there’s a lot to be afraid of; the unknown, other humans, the future, not having enough, the well-being of yourself, your community, your children... The list goes on.
But how often do we stop to ponder the fear itself?
The pit in our stomach is agony. We get away as fast as we can. We don’t always take the time to engage with this newest house guest.
The Guest House
This being human is a guest house.
Every morning a new arrival.
A joy, a depression, a meanness,
some momentary awareness comes
as an unexpected visitor.
Welcome and entertain them all!
Even if they’re a crowd of sorrows,
who violently sweep your house
empty of its furniture,
still, treat each guest honorably.
He may be clearing you out
for some new delight.
The dark thought, the shame, the malice,
meet them at the door laughing,
and invite them in.
Be grateful for whoever comes,
because each has been sent
as a guide from beyond.
by Rumi
Translated by Coleman Barks
What colonized people have been taught not to notice is that unpleasant feelings are not only guests, they are guides.
The gifts they bring - stomach aches, headaches, and tears - point us towards the places in us that are not yet free, but are ready to be.
The pain(s) of fear, grief, anger, or shame are communications from guests who are ready to depart this guest house. Let them.
By avoiding fear and other painful emotions, we trap these guests in our bodies.
By avoiding our feelings, the guest house becomes a prison.
But how on earth would we feel such pain? How would we feel it and not get lost in it? How would prevent ourselves from being swallowed up? How would we survive it?
The answer is, with the power of the human spirit; A quality you were gifted upon birth and couldn’t lose if you tried. The quality all great art celebrates. The Aliveness you already have and cannot lose, no matter how hard you try to dampen, numb, or stifle it.
You are the power of the human spirit.
The challenge is that you have been taught to run from your power by systems of oppression who trained you to be afraid when you were very small. But you are not so small now, are you? You only feel that way sometimes. You can heal that too.
Cleaning House
How do you like to release the emotions you are feeling?
how does your body want to move in response to these houseguests?
how does your heart want to express itself in response to these houseguests?
how does your being want to connect to something bigger than yourself in response to these houseguests?
how does your mind want to be more aware in response to these houseguests?
Do more of those things this week.
Schedule time next month if that’s what it takes.
You get to choose how to release the houseguests that burden you.
You get to demand time, steal time, and protect your time so you can set your houseguests free.
The power of the human spirit is alive inside of you.
You get to be freer now.
You get to be free.
