What do you think these barriers are within you that separates you from the Loving and the Divine Presence?
Barriers
Barriers are errors, negative or limiting beliefs about ourselves, others, live and God. Barriers are mostly created by Self-Criticism/Self-Judgment
When we feel inadequate, unworthy, or our self-concept is threatened (what we believe about ourselves) or our beliefs are questioned, we attack the problem— ourselves!
Judgment and criticism creates a wall our us, closes us down and separates us from the Loving that is of God.
If we want to live the fullness of God and our potential we have to remove the barriers. Unfortunately, they do not ‘disappeared’ on their own.
What can we do?
5 Principles of UNITY
- There is only one Presence and one Power active as the Universe and in my life. God the Good.
- Our essence is of God; therefore we are inherently good. This God essence was fully expressed in Jesus, the Christ.
- We are co-creators with God, creating reality through thoughts held in Mind.
- Through prayer and meditation, we align our heart-mind with God. Denials and affirmations are tools we use.
- Through thoughts, words, and actions, we live the Truth we know.
The 5th principle invites us to ACT.
How can we use this principle (ACTION) to remove these barriers?
Compassion is a loving action towards others and self
Compassion/Self-compassion is a state of loving and (self)-connected presence in which we listen without judging or fixing. Through self-compassion we become an inner ally instead of an inner enemy. (we are the ones who create these barriers through judgment and criticism.)
Not fixing means ‘acceptance of what is’. In compassion we embrace ourselves as we are.
When you believe that you are a good person, it is easy to be compassionate with another person who is having a hard time. But are you compassionate with yourself?
Is it easy to be self-compassionate?
It is often hard to be compassionate with oneself
Have you ever tried to tell yourself ‘I love you’ in the mirror? It is really hard, in that moment when we meet our own eye, we suddenly start to see all that is not OK within us (as we believe it).
It is rather hard to be compassionate with yourself when you are not even aware that you are having a hard time, because you are not connected with yourself.
Why is insight into one’s self so important?
One of the most important element of compassion is ‘presence’. Being present and mindful allow us to gain insight into our own world and all the barriers that stand between us and God’s ever resent Loving which manifests as joy, abundance, kindness, support, wisdom, 12 powers, and more. All the barriers are something that we do not love about ourselves.
a state of loving and (self)-connected presence
Insight gives us the chance to see our ‘errors’ – the beliefs, patterns of behaviour, thinking patterns that separate us from the Divine Presence. We are usually greatly invested in these limitations because we formed them as self protection as children. However, most of them do not function as support any more but limitations as we are adults now.
Also, we cannot express compassion towards our flaws if we not see them
The 5th Principle a loving action can be SELF-LOVE. Self-Love can manifest in many different ways. Compassionate insight is one of them. In seeing our flaws and accepting/embracing them as they are in loving kindness for ourselves, the barriers start melting away.
MEDITATION Release and Embrace
Release the criticism, judgement, thoughts, feelings in a ball.
Put your hand on your heart, feel the warmth and gentle pressure of your hand. Move your focus onto yourself and say to your self:
I am sorry that I have been judging you and I have been hard on you. I am sorry your are feeling frightened or inadequate right now. I am here for you.
Then affirm:
May I be happy,
may I be peaceful,
may I be healthy,
may I live with ease and grace
May I be centered in Diving Loving
Before opening your eyes, just accept the experience as it is, just allow yourself to feel what ever you are feeling right now.
This is true compassion: a state of loving and (self)-connected presence
Material based on Neff, Kristin; Germer, Christopher. The Mindful Self-Compassion Workbook (p. 31). Guilford Publications. Kindle Edition.
Picture source Unity Worldwide Ministries CLICK
