The practice on page 289 of KTS suggests that we:<\/p>\n
“Look for those (stories) that consistently repeat themselves. \u00c2\u00a0Can you touch the energy bound up in those stories? \u00c2\u00a0Can you release it?’<\/p>\n
I’m sure I have a lot of stories. \u00c2\u00a0Like the layers of an onion, my sense of self may be only stories. \u00c2\u00a0But there is one particular story that has been my dark companion for more than a year. \u00c2\u00a0It comes up whenever something has happened at work that stimulates the feeling that I am not appreciated. \u00c2\u00a0This is actually a tendency from as far back as I can remember, but after studying “Skillful Means” and “Mastering Successful Work”, this tendency seemed to go away for many years, but has now returned. \u00c2\u00a0The story goes something like the following: \u00c2\u00a0I will quit, write a killer letter of resignation, and everyone will be very sorry. \u00c2\u00a0Excuse me if this sounds a lot like “If you don’t let me play, I’ll take my ball and go home”? \u00c2\u00a0It’s clearly a gesture of childish petulance, but it’s part of my psychic mix. \u00c2\u00a0It’s strange how this little fantasy feels comfortable, like slipping into comfortable shoes \u00c2\u00a0after a day of wearing heavy steel-toed work boots. \u00c2\u00a0Some mornings, everything is going just fine, no problems, but the fantasy will slip into my mind and I’ll entertain it like a mindless video that I choose to watch instead of doing something that might provide a sense of accomplishment. \u00c2\u00a0I’ve noticed that if I push it away, my mind becomes more energetic, focused, and then I remember that I actually enjoy my work, am glad to have the opportunity to engage with others toward common goals, and that the challenges of learning new things brings me \u00c2\u00a0fulfillment. \u00c2\u00a0In contrast, when I allow resentment to spawn fantasies in which I imagine myself being recognized and appreciated, I actually lose an opportunity to employ my full energy and awareness toward achieving something worthwhile. \u00c2\u00a0For me this is a powerful illustration of how some stories pose an alternative to being present in the stream of time. \u00c2\u00a0They sap the energy that being present allows. \u00c2\u00a0They also prevent me from knowing the fellow humanity of \u00c2\u00a0others with whom I share this time and space. — Michael<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
The practice on page 289 of KTS suggests that we: “Look for those (stories) that consistently repeat themselves. \u00c2\u00a0Can you touch the energy bound up in those stories? \u00c2\u00a0Can you release it?’ I’m sure I have a lot of stories. … Continue reading