The good renounce attachment for everything.
The virtuous do not prattle with a yearning for pleasures.
The wise show no elation or depression
when touched by happiness or sorrow.

The Dhammapada - Chapter 6, Verse 83
(Translated by Ācharya Buddharakkhita)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

“It’s not the person that stirs your emotions, but rather their actions that mirror the actions of whoever caused the original trauma.”

This was a thought that came to mind as I climbed out of the float tank last night. It felt significant enough to write down, but I sat in the lounge for a while afterwards trying to figure out why.

I think it has something to do with taking back the power someone has over you.

If you believe someone else is causing you to feel a certain way, that person’s actions are out of your control, so the power lies with them.

But if you realize the trauma within you is causing you to react a certain way, then you can address the trauma, and the power to curb your reaction lies with you.

The thought came after seemingly random anger bubbled up inside me toward the end of my float, regarding friendships fading over time.

Of course this just happens, as life does, and it’s the attachment to these fading relationships that stirs emotions.

But I realized I was holding on to feelings of anger toward the individuals themselves, when what was actually causing my emotions was a reminder of an original abandonment trauma in the past.

Yet another gem from the #NotesFromFloats series.

Now, time to let that sh*t go…

Tag Float8