Blocks to Knowing Yourself

Have you ever had to deal with someone whose behaviour was not conducive to harmony and love?  A difficult spouse, co-worker, boss, colleague, teacher? ... better yet - how about your own difficult behaviours and mental/emotional patterns which create challenges and false limitations ... beliefs, values etc. for you in your life?

And have you ever tried to bring these things to the other person's attention only to receive hostile responses or more subtle diversion tactics?  Ever try to break a pattern of your own and meet with other aspects of yourself which are not in agreement to see it and alter?   Ever ask ... what the heck is going on, here?

The answer to these things lie in Soul Work too.  People, our selves included, will only behave according their level of being in that moment.  The lens through which they view the world depends on their level of being.  Quite literally, we see things differently as we develop higher level of spiritual awareness.  We can work to alter this.  It begins with a willingness to do so and a development of awareness to a higher degree.

Remember - we may not like what someone says, what they do, or the way they think; we can not control that.  We can ask them to observe themselves.  We can confront people and give them examples of what we see them doing and ask them to work on change.  We can not control the outcome of this;  however, we can only control our own responses to these things.  This is where our work lies.  I will not suggest that you put up with dysfunction; this too, can contribute to illness.  If you must walk away, due to a refusal of the person to see what they are doing, and how it impacts you, then walk away you must ... for as long as necessary.  

What, then, prevents us and others from breaking free of these patterns - in particular ... seeing them?

Self-protective States

Mental/emotional in nature, they are actually energetic blocks.  These patterns occur during a self-protective instance, and then became a habit, and then an unconscious pattern; therefore, not available to the conscious mind.  Sometimes they occur due to a dysfunctional childhood environment which does not allow for a child's natural responses to unhealthy situations or people. Other times it can be due to a traumatic experience.  In order to survive a threat or perceived threat, a particular internal response is created which allows us to cope ... to survive.  The inner self often equates threats or perceived threats with the potential of annihilation.  So, in essence, our defenses are really survival or perceived survival tactics.

One can easily see how you can confront someone with a particular behaviour you are viewing in that moment right in front of you, and the person themselves may not ... can not (in that moment) or even WILL not see it at all.  Even when this can be quite humorous, as we can see that the person could easily do something different and get a better response, the inner world of that person may not perceive this as just a little thing ... and it may not seem funny to them at all.

Psychic Sleep ... unconsciousness ... lack of awareness ... ignorance ... NOT KNOWING  vs. TO KNOW ... an inability to see ... operating at a different energetic frequency ... vibration ... point of reality .... energetic blocks ... level of soul development ...

Denial ... Resistance - even in an environment of agreement to work ... Buffers to perceiving clearly ... DIRTY MIRRORS of self-reflection ...

We have developed many other fancier names for specific ways in which these self-protective behaviours and unconscious patterns manifest themselves in our daily life.  Some of these include: projection, sublimation, deflection, reaction formation and on and on. 

To me, this is like the many ways in which modern medicine labels various dis-eases ... some of which have many of the same symptoms (ever notice that?) ... and end result ... illness with eventual death.   Even though, in certain cases, these specific labels and names have their place, I am far more interested in the roots of things and less interested in the concepts or names of them.

These defense mechanisms, as they are often called, have roots ... they are a self-protective measure which is adopted by the individual in order to deal with something which proved too challenging for them in whatever aspect (energetically too demanding for the individual's overall state at the time); therefore, resulting in some sort of adaptation - a survival mode/tactic for the soul in a perceived or often very real state of shock or traumatic situation for the psyche (soul).  What is difficult or traumatic for one person may not be so for another; we must remember and respect individual differences according to the level at which someone is at.  This does not mean that we must put up with abusive/ignorant behaviour!

At some other point in the person's life, this adaptation may no longer work and can interfere with the quality of their life, relationships, success, spiritual development ... even health.  Perhaps someone gives them an ultimatum relating to their behaviour, attitude or whatever.  Sometimes it is something an individual does see in him/her self and they wish to alter this.  Now they must make the decision to embark on the journey of transformation.

Once one is clear that change is necessary or desired, one requires a willingness to work and then a commitment to engage in work which develops a greater awareness (experience in the moment) of this energy block (which, is essence, it is) they wish to alter.   Then it is vital that an internal acceptance of this takes place within the individual.  Many times, we can see something and know we are better off working through it, but find it revolting or difficult to see consciously ... that, yes, I am like this ... or yes, I really do this ...  this can often trigger unconscious reactions like resistance or denial once again ...  inner defense mechanisms. 

Once acceptance is there, and we know the behaviour or attitude (whatever it is) for what it is, we are freer in terms of making choices in each moment to do new things.  We require time and consistent application of new behaviours, thoughts and attitudes (whatever it is we are working on), in order for it to become a new pattern within us ... a new way of responding to the various experiences we encounter.  Over time, change can take place.  This is very individual ... which is why there is such varying results between people in when walking the same path and using the same tools.  How can it be otherwise?  We are unique. 

It is important to respect where an individual is at, the pace in which they can/or are willing to work and the timing in which it may all take place.  One moment it may seem we are taking two steps back ... suddenly we have a breakthrough ... then it goes on like this ... layer upon layer of discovery ... Know Thyself can be challenging, yes ... and fun too, if we allow it to be so.  One of my teachers once said ... we all have stuff ... so what? ... do your Work.  Avoid judgments, comparisons and measuring sticks  ... do the Work and keep growing.  Commit and devote your life to the Work. 

Are we not amazing beings?  Do we know our full potential as human beings?  What would we be capable of if we looked at our stuff and said ... yeah, I have stuff ... so what ... I am more interested in moving forward than staying here in the same old ... same old ... comfort ... limitation and patterns which limit my spiritual potential and capacity to really see, feel and hear more of GOD's Energy, Universal Intelligence, Great Spirit... whatever your word for the ALL THAT IS is.   ... inside and all around me.