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Sharing Process for Independence Day Celebration July, 2009
Common Ground Sharing Process July 2009
From Rich Menges
Freedom. Freedom. In contemplating this word, I’ve come to think of it as FREEDOM FROM______. Historically, that’s what Independence Day is usually about. Celebrating freedom from political or religious oppression. A new country throwing off the shackles or restrictions or control by others of our human and economic and political choices. When I’ve followed the latest news from the Iranian election, I’ve been reminded to appreciate the rights and legal structures we have which protect our freedoms.
In my personal life, over the last 8 months, as I’ve been out of work and in transition. I’ve come to see that for me, as a Spiritual Seeker, Teacher, and Adventurer, Freedom is a Process that is On-Going. It’s been about the Inner Work required to GET FREE from the emotional patterns, beliefs, concepts, social conditioning that no longer serve me, that limit my success and happiness, indeed, in many cases, create untold stress and suffering. While my mind has thought that this period has been about finding a new job, my Soul’s agenda has been this pursuit of Inner Freedom or Liberation, the work actually underway 24/7 most days.
Let me give you a few examples of the kinds of beliefs, patterns, ideas, traps I’ve been getting FREE FROM. I’m sure many you’ll relate to as well.
At the top of the list has to be FREEDOM FROM FEAR. We could spend the rest of the year, and years to come working on that one. What is the opposite of fear? TRUST. I’ve come to believe that the deepest learning agenda of my Soul in this lifetime is around TRUST. Trust in myself, trust in others, trust in God/Goddess, trust in the Process of life. When I’m in a place of Trust, I’m essentially in a place of Love. So is it Love and Trust or Fear? We all have that choice in every moment. Clearly, shifting away from Fear allows me to be fully me, and much lighter, more open, more receptive, more creative, more generative – the place from where all solutions to my “job hunt” will inevitably come from.
How about another biggie? FREEDOM FROM JUDGEMENT. By that I mean negative judgment. The vaccum of my work situation has been an incredibly fertile ground to observe how severely I judge myself! Whew! I’ve found the opposite of all that to be ACCEPTANCE – or what Byron Katie calls “Loving What Is.”
This ties closely into FREEDOM FROM SHOULDS OR SOCIAL EXPECTATIONS. For example, given my age, a 50’s man in America today, I realized I’m carrying a train-load of ideas about how my life “should be.” I should be at the top of my career. I should be in my peak earning years. I should be rounding out my excellent retirement savings. I should be appreciating the vast net worth I’ve established. And the vacation homes, the luxury cars, jet skis and all the other toys and travel adventures I’ve of course funded over the years. NOT! My current situation DOES NOT COMPUTE from that perspective. It’s been very challenging to reconcile my reality with ideas of what SHOULD be.
Getting FREE from all this has taken a lot of work! And no matter how much work I put in examining these beliefs, usually finding that they don’t serve me today, so I start making different choices, inevitably the old ways come back again. Especially the old extremely bad habit of comparing myself to others!!! What a trap that is!!
A couple of invaluable learnings: I AM NOT WHAT I EARN; AND I AM NOT WHAT I DO OR DON’T DO FOR MY WORK / CAREER. No one in our culture is ever taught this! It’s too radical! On the contrary! Hence, we have colossal consequences….. the gigantic American shadow: WORKAHOLISM! There’s nothing like extended unemployment to help you learn how over-rated work really is!
How about getting FREE FROM THE LOSSES, THE PAIN, THE REGRETS you carry around from the past? I seem to have spent years on this one, and sometimes I wonder if I’ll ever get to the bottom of it!
Another common one: GETTING FREE FROM THE FRUSTRATIONS & ANGER & IMPATIENCE that inevitably come up as we try to create what we want in our life. I’ve found sometimes I need to vent the anger in safe ways; other times it disappears as I meditate and chant in my daily practice.
We could go on and on….. AND, I believe this GETTING FREE FROM WHAT WE DON’T WANT, inevitably leads to GETTING FREE TO CREATE WHAT WE DO WANT!
When in the middle of my vaccum state of work, when no other doors were opening up, I decided to join the Common Ground choir. I needed to find avenues where I could open my heart and start expressing myself again. It’s felt brand-new and good. And life-affirming.
Also at this time, a couple wise women friends of mine suggested I pursue a career as a professional ACTOR. They said, “You’d be an excellent character actor.” I thought it was completely crazy, the most impractical idea I ever heard! Yet now, a few months later, as I’ve experimented with taking a few small steps in this direction, I’ve found many doors opening – surprise! Green lights for a change! I’ve come to believe that perhaps this is a direction my SOUL actually WANTS FOR ME!
Perhaps when we are FREE ENOUGH, what the Buddhists would call EMPTY ENOUGH, unusual and unexpected GRACE can arrive!
---------------------------------------------
I ask you now to NAME THE ONE BIGGEST THING, that you want to be FREE FROM IN YOU, IN YOUR INTERIOR LIFE – it could be related to your profession, your relationships or family, your health, or whatever area you choose…. Write them on the white slip of paper. (flash paper = magic)
(OPTION IF TIME PERMITS) Now let’s circle up in groups of 4, and name and share them with your neighbors. In doing so, we are asking you to let go a little by naming these things, and also, to agree to support your neighbors in their intentions over time. Are you willing to do this? Let’s take a few minutes with this, until you hear the BELL, then we’ll go to the next step.
Now we’ll as a group step up and offer our slips of paper to the fire…. And I encourage you to do this with intention, clarity about what you’re letting go of and why…. Affirming what you choose to create in your life. Thank You for participating!
###
From Rich Menges
Freedom. Freedom. In contemplating this word, I’ve come to think of it as FREEDOM FROM______. Historically, that’s what Independence Day is usually about. Celebrating freedom from political or religious oppression. A new country throwing off the shackles or restrictions or control by others of our human and economic and political choices. When I’ve followed the latest news from the Iranian election, I’ve been reminded to appreciate the rights and legal structures we have which protect our freedoms.
In my personal life, over the last 8 months, as I’ve been out of work and in transition. I’ve come to see that for me, as a Spiritual Seeker, Teacher, and Adventurer, Freedom is a Process that is On-Going. It’s been about the Inner Work required to GET FREE from the emotional patterns, beliefs, concepts, social conditioning that no longer serve me, that limit my success and happiness, indeed, in many cases, create untold stress and suffering. While my mind has thought that this period has been about finding a new job, my Soul’s agenda has been this pursuit of Inner Freedom or Liberation, the work actually underway 24/7 most days.
Let me give you a few examples of the kinds of beliefs, patterns, ideas, traps I’ve been getting FREE FROM. I’m sure many you’ll relate to as well.
At the top of the list has to be FREEDOM FROM FEAR. We could spend the rest of the year, and years to come working on that one. What is the opposite of fear? TRUST. I’ve come to believe that the deepest learning agenda of my Soul in this lifetime is around TRUST. Trust in myself, trust in others, trust in God/Goddess, trust in the Process of life. When I’m in a place of Trust, I’m essentially in a place of Love. So is it Love and Trust or Fear? We all have that choice in every moment. Clearly, shifting away from Fear allows me to be fully me, and much lighter, more open, more receptive, more creative, more generative – the place from where all solutions to my “job hunt” will inevitably come from.
How about another biggie? FREEDOM FROM JUDGEMENT. By that I mean negative judgment. The vaccum of my work situation has been an incredibly fertile ground to observe how severely I judge myself! Whew! I’ve found the opposite of all that to be ACCEPTANCE – or what Byron Katie calls “Loving What Is.”
This ties closely into FREEDOM FROM SHOULDS OR SOCIAL EXPECTATIONS. For example, given my age, a 50’s man in America today, I realized I’m carrying a train-load of ideas about how my life “should be.” I should be at the top of my career. I should be in my peak earning years. I should be rounding out my excellent retirement savings. I should be appreciating the vast net worth I’ve established. And the vacation homes, the luxury cars, jet skis and all the other toys and travel adventures I’ve of course funded over the years. NOT! My current situation DOES NOT COMPUTE from that perspective. It’s been very challenging to reconcile my reality with ideas of what SHOULD be.
Getting FREE from all this has taken a lot of work! And no matter how much work I put in examining these beliefs, usually finding that they don’t serve me today, so I start making different choices, inevitably the old ways come back again. Especially the old extremely bad habit of comparing myself to others!!! What a trap that is!!
A couple of invaluable learnings: I AM NOT WHAT I EARN; AND I AM NOT WHAT I DO OR DON’T DO FOR MY WORK / CAREER. No one in our culture is ever taught this! It’s too radical! On the contrary! Hence, we have colossal consequences….. the gigantic American shadow: WORKAHOLISM! There’s nothing like extended unemployment to help you learn how over-rated work really is!
How about getting FREE FROM THE LOSSES, THE PAIN, THE REGRETS you carry around from the past? I seem to have spent years on this one, and sometimes I wonder if I’ll ever get to the bottom of it!
Another common one: GETTING FREE FROM THE FRUSTRATIONS & ANGER & IMPATIENCE that inevitably come up as we try to create what we want in our life. I’ve found sometimes I need to vent the anger in safe ways; other times it disappears as I meditate and chant in my daily practice.
We could go on and on….. AND, I believe this GETTING FREE FROM WHAT WE DON’T WANT, inevitably leads to GETTING FREE TO CREATE WHAT WE DO WANT!
When in the middle of my vaccum state of work, when no other doors were opening up, I decided to join the Common Ground choir. I needed to find avenues where I could open my heart and start expressing myself again. It’s felt brand-new and good. And life-affirming.
Also at this time, a couple wise women friends of mine suggested I pursue a career as a professional ACTOR. They said, “You’d be an excellent character actor.” I thought it was completely crazy, the most impractical idea I ever heard! Yet now, a few months later, as I’ve experimented with taking a few small steps in this direction, I’ve found many doors opening – surprise! Green lights for a change! I’ve come to believe that perhaps this is a direction my SOUL actually WANTS FOR ME!
Perhaps when we are FREE ENOUGH, what the Buddhists would call EMPTY ENOUGH, unusual and unexpected GRACE can arrive!
---------------------------------------------
I ask you now to NAME THE ONE BIGGEST THING, that you want to be FREE FROM IN YOU, IN YOUR INTERIOR LIFE – it could be related to your profession, your relationships or family, your health, or whatever area you choose…. Write them on the white slip of paper. (flash paper = magic)
(OPTION IF TIME PERMITS) Now let’s circle up in groups of 4, and name and share them with your neighbors. In doing so, we are asking you to let go a little by naming these things, and also, to agree to support your neighbors in their intentions over time. Are you willing to do this? Let’s take a few minutes with this, until you hear the BELL, then we’ll go to the next step.
Now we’ll as a group step up and offer our slips of paper to the fire…. And I encourage you to do this with intention, clarity about what you’re letting go of and why…. Affirming what you choose to create in your life. Thank You for participating!
###
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