(Part 2 from Conversations with the Indwelling Teacher)
The way out of this dilemma is not through the psyche, but through the heart of compassion. Self-compassion needs to be practiced on a daily basis, as well as compassion for others. The two must go hand in hand. You will often find that people who are self-critical are critical of others. Even if the self-criticism is masked or deflected, internally there is a constant bombardment of self-judgment, and with this tyrannical mind set as the score keeper, the individual is hampered from moving ahead because there is a weak inner cheerleader.
So…if these people can find others who will act as mentors, encouragers, and sounding boards without criticizing, there may be an ability to move into another frame. However, the problem is that most of these people have developed such a strong interior focus of attracting the negative, that even if others tell them repeatedly how good they are or how good their efforts are, they will invariably focus on anything that comes in as criticism, blow those statements out of proportion, and “forget” the good that was said.
People who suffer from this pattern of self-defeat need first to become aware of what they are doing. If they are willing to ask for a partner to give a signal every time they engage in a negating statement, they will be surprised at how often they forestall their own good, and with willingness, can begin to shift their reality. However, the big hurdle here is willingness to hear criticism in the form of a reminder that they are reacting negatively.
If the personality is not willing to allow for change in the mental constructs they have formed, there is little that can be done on the part of those witnessing the negative process. This is why the troubled soul needs to find ways to move internally to God. And because they do not trust their internal process, they may have to find God somewhere outside where He/She/It can be trusted. Yet, in doing so, the personality will find little comfort from churches where pastors/priests/rabbis/ministers are human, because they will look for the frailty that negates the message.
As Buddha said, “do not attach yourself to my personality – pay attention to my message and test it within yourself.” The path to liberation is not idol worship. That is again giving one’s power to something external to self, because the personality does not believe that everything required for salvation is housed within. And the truth is that personality does NOT have the underpinnings to uphold a greater vision on its own. It is only through the inheritance of the soul that personality can access the riches held within.
(to be continued in Negativity Part 3)