Travel Tips for the Desert \u2013 Part 3<\/a><\/p>\n Travel Tips for the Desert \u2013 Part 2<\/a><\/p>\n
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\u00a0<\/p>\n
Curiosity will conquer fear<\/p>\n
even more than bravery will<\/p>\n
~James Stephens<\/p>\n
I continue to ask these questions. While some might believe they create bitterness or conflict, I hope they will lead us to a greater understanding. Stepping outside organized religion has enabled me to connect with the universe\u2019s subtle messages and rhythms, allowing me to embrace the peace and solace I discover. My comfort arises not from a fixed belief system but from a continual pursuit of understanding that questions everything.<\/p>\n
What do I Feel?<\/strong><\/h2>\nAs I deepen my understanding of trauma and its healing, I\u2019ve come to recognize that articulating my feelings and their location within me is crucial for recovery. This realization was transformative; however, I noticed that religion often overlooks this concept. By its nature, faith tends to dismiss feelings (and even certain facts) in order to embrace the narrative established by those who first created the beliefs.<\/p>\n
During my deep involvement with religion, it was often suggested that individuals should prioritize faith, hoping their emotions would align. This approach felt misguided, prompting adherence to belief systems or creeds even when one\u2019s instincts and emotions disagree. Since I began deconstructing these beliefs, I\u2019ve learned from several wise individuals that our feelings can signal underlying issues such as unprocessed trauma and toxic shame.<\/p>\n
We have identified a highly effective method called focusing, using the phrase \u201cA part of me feels\u2026\u201d This practice fosters a connection between our mind and body, where trauma resides. As the saying goes, \u201cWe have to feel it to heal it.\u201d By engaging with this emotion, we can better integrate the trauma and progress more successfully.<\/p>\n
Ignoring our emotions.<\/strong><\/h3>\nMany people in my life taught me to suppress my emotions and simply believe that everything was fine. As a result, I overlooked my own hurt and endured the suffering. I learned to distrust my judgment, relying instead on creeds and doctrinal statements rather than on my intuition and awareness. Without validation for my emotions, I buried them deep, striving to show myself and others my dedication, determination, and commitment.<\/p>\n
But this never helped heal me from my trauma and shame. In a way, because organized religion was uneasy with my being emotional, the trauma didn\u2019t go away, and my shame became more deeply embedded.<\/p>\n
What do I feel, and where do I feel it?<\/strong><\/h3>\nReflecting on my experiences from the past few years, I encourage everyone to frequently ask themselves, \u201cWhat do I feel, and where do I feel it?\u201d This practice helps me connect my mind and body, providing an opportunity to process trauma and heal past wounds. Ignoring these emotions guarantees that they will resurface unexpectedly soon enough.<\/p>\n
Eugene Gendlin states:<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat is split off, not felt, remains the same. When it is felt, it changes. Most people don\u2019t know this! They think that by not permitting the feeling of their negative ways they make themselves good. On the contrary, that keeps these negatives static, the same from year to year. A few moments of feeling it in your body allows it to change. If there is in you something bad or sick or unsound, let it inwardly be and breathe. That\u2019s the only way it can evolve and change into the form it needs.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\nThe aim of validating our emotions isn\u2019t to suppress them but to integrate them. This way, when I face triggers in the future, I can choose to respond rather than just react. While this approach doesn\u2019t eliminate triggers, it enables us to take a moment and respond thoughtfully, engaging a more advanced part of our brain when we are affected.<\/p>\n
Learning and moving forward.<\/strong><\/h3>\nAcknowledging how we are affected is a truer form of bravery than suppressing our emotions and overlooking our pain. Embracing our feelings allows us to trust our intuition. By recognizing these emotions in our bodies, we can better reconcile with our past and make progress toward the future.<\/p>\n
To learn more about how our nervous system stores trauma, read The Body Keeps the Score<\/a> or our book, Evolving From Religious Trauma<\/a>.<\/p>\nI encourage you to deepen your understanding of trauma. As you do, you\u2019ll recognize how many of our systems, including religion and our families, often misinterpret trauma and the role of emotions in this context. If individuals in power lack an understanding of trauma, they might unintentionally cause more harm than good by prioritizing organizational objectives over the well-being of individuals.<\/p>\n
Keep asking good questions!<\/p>\n
Be where you are, Be who you are, Be at peace!<\/p>\n
Karl Forehand<\/p>\n
Good Questions \u2013 Why Would God Require Worship?<\/a><\/p>\nGood Questions \u2013 Are we Addicted to Religion?<\/a><\/p>\nGood Questions \u2013 Why is God\u2019s Punishment So Extreme?<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n
Many people in my life taught me to suppress my emotions and simply believe that everything was fine. As a result, I overlooked my own hurt and endured the suffering. I learned to distrust my judgment, relying instead on creeds and doctrinal statements rather than on my intuition and awareness. Without validation for my emotions, I buried them deep, striving to show myself and others my dedication, determination, and commitment.<\/p>\n
But this never helped heal me from my trauma and shame. In a way, because organized religion was uneasy with my being emotional, the trauma didn\u2019t go away, and my shame became more deeply embedded.<\/p>\n
What do I feel, and where do I feel it?<\/strong><\/h3>\nReflecting on my experiences from the past few years, I encourage everyone to frequently ask themselves, \u201cWhat do I feel, and where do I feel it?\u201d This practice helps me connect my mind and body, providing an opportunity to process trauma and heal past wounds. Ignoring these emotions guarantees that they will resurface unexpectedly soon enough.<\/p>\n
Eugene Gendlin states:<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat is split off, not felt, remains the same. When it is felt, it changes. Most people don\u2019t know this! They think that by not permitting the feeling of their negative ways they make themselves good. On the contrary, that keeps these negatives static, the same from year to year. A few moments of feeling it in your body allows it to change. If there is in you something bad or sick or unsound, let it inwardly be and breathe. That\u2019s the only way it can evolve and change into the form it needs.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\nThe aim of validating our emotions isn\u2019t to suppress them but to integrate them. This way, when I face triggers in the future, I can choose to respond rather than just react. While this approach doesn\u2019t eliminate triggers, it enables us to take a moment and respond thoughtfully, engaging a more advanced part of our brain when we are affected.<\/p>\n
Learning and moving forward.<\/strong><\/h3>\nAcknowledging how we are affected is a truer form of bravery than suppressing our emotions and overlooking our pain. Embracing our feelings allows us to trust our intuition. By recognizing these emotions in our bodies, we can better reconcile with our past and make progress toward the future.<\/p>\n
To learn more about how our nervous system stores trauma, read The Body Keeps the Score<\/a> or our book, Evolving From Religious Trauma<\/a>.<\/p>\nI encourage you to deepen your understanding of trauma. As you do, you\u2019ll recognize how many of our systems, including religion and our families, often misinterpret trauma and the role of emotions in this context. If individuals in power lack an understanding of trauma, they might unintentionally cause more harm than good by prioritizing organizational objectives over the well-being of individuals.<\/p>\n
Keep asking good questions!<\/p>\n
Be where you are, Be who you are, Be at peace!<\/p>\n
Karl Forehand<\/p>\n
Good Questions \u2013 Why Would God Require Worship?<\/a><\/p>\nGood Questions \u2013 Are we Addicted to Religion?<\/a><\/p>\nGood Questions \u2013 Why is God\u2019s Punishment So Extreme?<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n
The aim of validating our emotions isn\u2019t to suppress them but to integrate them. This way, when I face triggers in the future, I can choose to respond rather than just react. While this approach doesn\u2019t eliminate triggers, it enables us to take a moment and respond thoughtfully, engaging a more advanced part of our brain when we are affected.<\/p>\n
Learning and moving forward.<\/strong><\/h3>\nAcknowledging how we are affected is a truer form of bravery than suppressing our emotions and overlooking our pain. Embracing our feelings allows us to trust our intuition. By recognizing these emotions in our bodies, we can better reconcile with our past and make progress toward the future.<\/p>\n
To learn more about how our nervous system stores trauma, read The Body Keeps the Score<\/a> or our book, Evolving From Religious Trauma<\/a>.<\/p>\nI encourage you to deepen your understanding of trauma. As you do, you\u2019ll recognize how many of our systems, including religion and our families, often misinterpret trauma and the role of emotions in this context. If individuals in power lack an understanding of trauma, they might unintentionally cause more harm than good by prioritizing organizational objectives over the well-being of individuals.<\/p>\n
Keep asking good questions!<\/p>\n
Be where you are, Be who you are, Be at peace!<\/p>\n
Karl Forehand<\/p>\n
Good Questions \u2013 Why Would God Require Worship?<\/a><\/p>\nGood Questions \u2013 Are we Addicted to Religion?<\/a><\/p>\nGood Questions \u2013 Why is God\u2019s Punishment So Extreme?<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n
I encourage you to deepen your understanding of trauma. As you do, you\u2019ll recognize how many of our systems, including religion and our families, often misinterpret trauma and the role of emotions in this context. If individuals in power lack an understanding of trauma, they might unintentionally cause more harm than good by prioritizing organizational objectives over the well-being of individuals.<\/p>\n
Keep asking good questions!<\/p>\n
Be where you are, Be who you are, Be at peace!<\/p>\n
Karl Forehand<\/p>\n
Good Questions \u2013 Why Would God Require Worship?<\/a><\/p>\n Good Questions \u2013 Are we Addicted to Religion?<\/a><\/p>\n Good Questions \u2013 Why is God\u2019s Punishment So Extreme?<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n