Pliable Perception – Overcoming Challenges Part 2
Following on from part one of using the power of your pliable perception to overcome challenges, here are some more insights…
Remember your Foreman
For those of you that have visited the mountain pathway before you will be familiar with the concept of you foreman.
The foreman is the name that I have given to the voice of our egoic mind.
Here are some posts to explore on the subject:
From learning about your foreman and the tricks and tactics it can use, you will learn the meaning of the expression “you are your own worst enemy”.
Well, I suppose that is if you cannot tell the difference between your foreman and you… Your foreman can be your worst enemy… taking charge of your perception starts when you can tell who is who.
Once you discover your authentic self, living in the present moment, you will be able to abstract yourself from the chatter of your foreman so you can focus your energy on the action you need to take. Self-defeating thoughts are the chatter of the foreman, learning to become aware of your foreman creates the opportunity for you to choose not to listen and focus the task at hand.
You journey of awareness can start with reading the tool of I and me.
Emotional Awareness
Emotions are the bodies way of telling us what behaviour we need to perform.
Emotions have evolved to help us thrive as a social species. Our bodies are fundamentally hardwired to create the chemicals that trigger the neurological processes which then in turn lead to the perception developing in our minds of emotions.
Basically, we do not have a choice about emotions arising.
We do however, have a choice about how we respond to our emotions.
This is a subject I have explored at great length in the emotional checkpoint tool. Here is an except from the closing post in the series:
Awareness
Developing awareness of your emotions is the first and hardest step on the journey to developing your emotional intelligence.
Once your emotions are brought in to the light of your consciousness, you can start to take responsibility for managing your emotional response to situations; choosing if you want to engage your emotions and use them to your advantage or, if you want, to simply watch them drift on by with full knowledge and acceptance of their existence.
The more you develop awareness of your own emotions, the more you will be able to use the same skills to enhance your social interactions and relationships. Becoming aware of other people’s emotions by reading the verbal and nonverbal cues will enable you to communicate more clearly, manage conflict more effectively and to develop a deeper sense of empathy for others.
Acceptance
All of this is possible because an emotionally intelligent person accepts themselves for who they are. This inner calmness and acceptance will be reflected through your behaviours and your interactions with others.
Emotional intelligence is fundamentally about learning to embrace and work with our emotions by removing any fears we hold about ourselves and what may happen if we express ourselves honestly and openly.
Once we know that we are not our emotions, it does not matter what emotions surface; this is because we know we have the power of choice to select what emotions we actually want to feel and act upon.
The stronger the emotions are that we can manage in this way, the more emotionally intelligent we are.
Bruce
Consider Bruce Lee; he was a pretty accomplished marshal artist, some may say, the best that has ever lived. Bruce would not have any issues being thrown in to a combat situation because his system of Jeet Kune Do incorporates the very best elements from a wide range of other martial arts. He reapplied the wheel rather than reinventing it, so that he could develop a system to handle all eventualities. Brue Lee was a master of adaptability.
The practice of working to embrace and manage all the extremes of our emotions strengthens us with the resilience and adaptability to deal with all of life’s challenges. Think of your emotional awareness practice like Jeet Kune Do for the mind; all emotions have value when expressed effectively.
All of our minds are unique and only you can be the Bruce of your mind. You just need to look inside and discover.
The best way to prepare for future adversity, is to learn to overcome it in the present moment.
I suggest you explore the whole emotional checkpoint tool so that you can expand your perception by starting to develop and awareness of the choices available to you.
Take Away
Developing awareness of your foreman and your emotions are not simple things, but they are extremely powerful. Learning about these two elements of the human psyche will enable you to strip away the noise in your mind and discover your authentic self.
Fundamentally, it is this authentic self by living and taking action in the present moment, that will enable you to overcome any challenge that you are faced with.
Like overcoming limiting beliefs, these are insights which can and will develop overtime. If these concepts are new to you though, simply lifting the lid and taking a peek will make are huge difference to your perception.
A whole avenue of choice and possibilities will have become open to you.
Grab the torch of your curiosity and shine the light in to your inner world.
All that is touched by the light is your kingdom.
Enjoy, for now.