Care for the thoughts that are most familiar to you

When we are triggered, we are always triggered to the same place. We hold an event in the world responsible for upsetting us but it is something in us that attaches to events and defines what that event is for us. Then we are no longer shining our light of presence into the world but standing in the dark.

This tendency we have to go to a familiar dark place in response to events is fear based. We have a story about the world associated with past hopes and hurts. We are vulnerable to these hopes again being disappointed or hurts re-awakened. This vulnerability habitually expresses itself in response to events that trigger us. For some it will express itself in anger, control, aggression or criticism. For some, it will express itself as shame, guilt, depression or misery.

We can practice loosening this fear by following our most familiar thoughts to the place that needs care; and re-assure the part of ourselves that feels vulnerable and powerless. Then our light can shine, to lighten the world with our true presence. To be our light draws us further into the light even though the light is within us. Living our light is the primary way of being drawn into it.