While we may prefer to fill ourselves with positive thoughts and feelings, some people may want to share their traumatic stories. For them they may feel telling their troubling accounts to a compassionate person heals them.
We may feel uncomfortable as we listen, as though we will be inundated with their complaints, sadness, tragedy and more. How do we respond, both offering kindness and protection for ourselves?
The Account
Gabby brought this problem to her Wise Counsel. Recently, G got together with a new friend, Lydia, for a cup of tea. Lydia had a troubling past and for the third or fourth time wanted to share intensely with our heroine.
Gabby realized this frightened her. This Heroine felt her internal resources of positivity taxed, threatened and swamped over by this outpouring of a dramatic hurtful story.
What can our Star do? She had wanted to be friendly but how to keep her balance? She turned to Wise Counsel.
Wise Counsel Advice
Wise Counsel: “Of course, we each have the power to choose what company we keep. You could decide not to spend much time with Lydia because she puts so much focus on unwanted.
However, as we grow in self-mastery, we are able to protect our inner self in a stronger way. In effect to have tools for rising above the fear reaction in ourselves.
What if we reached inside ourselves to draw down protection from Source Energy now in this moment. One example: we can envision a cone of Protective Light surrounding as the negative talk feels threatening. Some folk might call upon an Archangel to ward off danger.
As we invoke our cone, we claim our strength. We can say to ourselves, “Wait a Minute! I set my own emotional tone! Freedom is mine!”
Some folk might doubt this could work. Granted, rising to strength in that moment requires practicing, similar to maintaining our muscles.
Real Life Illustration
In her book Left To Tell[1], Immaculee Ilibagiza, describes one incident in her life while navigating to safety during the Rwanda Holocaust in 1994. Throughout that harrowing adventure Immaculee prayed almost without ceasing, building a close connection to Source Energy. Again and again she was rescued from danger.
At one juncture, as she and a group of people traveled toward a shelter, they came upon a band of the “bad guys” wielding machetes. Immaculee called out internally for divine assistance: she reports in response the surrounding marauders seemed not able to move closer to them. It was like a force field of love laid over them. They got past that threat.
That story is meant to inspire you to go after greater strength in handling unwanted influences. If you want to, you can summon greater and greater power to protect yourself.
Of course you do not have to spend much time with associates who carry negativity. Point here: you need not fear them.”
Gabby had been listening attentively and stayed silent for a minutes. Then she was able to utter “I see your point and it does inspire me. Thank you. I feel myself sitting taller and acknowledge greater possibility.”
How do you relate to this story? Would you share times when you prayed and gained needed protection? We admire your accounts.
Janet Pearlman is a spiritual teacher, counselor, healer and artist. These posts demonstrate everyday applications of the path to greater self knowledge and mastery. Opportunities for greater empowerment abound in the moments of our lives. As we all go for operating from a centered and loving space, we are creating a world where peace can prevail. In her forty-six year journey of self-discovery, Janet has deeply studied the teachings of Abraham-Hicks, Ernest Holmes, Inayat Khan and more. Janet offers individual sessions by phone and in person. Please contact her at jpearl555@earthink.net to arrange an appointment.
1] Ilibagiza Immaculee, Left To Tell, (Carlsbad, CA: Hay House, Inc., 2006) p.177