By John J. Murphy
Many times when we are feeling down or out, we respond with resistance or attack. These are not welcome feelings, so we try to beat them away. Deep down at a spiritual level, we don’t want to fight. We don’t want to feel ashamed, or fearful, or lustful or angry. We deserve better than that. So we push back. And the more we push back, the more we strengthen these feelings. Keep in mind these feelings are generated by the ego – ego thoughts fueled by the emotion of fear. Thus, any attempt to combat, deny, resist, overcome or punish the ego will result in counterattack. In other words, we cannot defeat the ego with attack. The only defense against the ego is love. It is through love that we forgive and silence the ego. It is with love that we accept the atonement and are delivered from the ego. It is love that heals us. Try this the next time you feel guilty or sad or doubtful or angry. Let it be. Observe it without judgment, attachment or aversion. Learn from it. What is the internal cause to this effect? Do not blame it on anyone else. Blame is simply a projection of your own self-doubt and unconscious guilt. When you blame others you are subconsciously blaming yourself, generating even more unconscious guilt and fear. This is a vicious circle, a pattern keeping you trapped in negative tendencies. You cannot be angry without judgment. Any you cannot judge without thought. What thoughts and tendencies are driving your anger? Find the cause and let it go.
John Murphy is a spiritual mystic serving as a business consultant, leadership development teacher, process improvement expert and management coach. He is the founder of Venture Management Consultants, Inc., and author of numerous books including Beyond Doubt: Four Steps to Inner Peace, from which this post is excerpted.
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