Wellbeing

Wellbeing arises from three things: being close to what is inside of us, saying no to temptations for distraction and dissociation, and saying yes to meeting our true needs. What else is there? Each is pertinent to living in wholeness and wakefulness. However, the latter two are dependent on the first. Only in being close to what is inside of us, in relationship to our Inner Child and God, are we able to discern what is truly loving and act on such things, and say no to what is unloving, and have the power to carry it out.

When we are in distress, we must first connect inwardly to our Child, just as a mother's first instinct is to reach for her baby and bring them close. Always, first is returning to connection, and this in itself is soothing. And then, more calm, the Child can tell us what is needed, and not just the Child per se, but the body. It is all one, but the body has its own needs, for food, exercise, and so on, that can cause distress if not met. When the heart is calm, the mind can discern what else may be needed. Unless we first calm the Child in our body, we may not accurately discern what else needs attention. Unless we first respond there, the survival brain—our strategies—will attempt to relieve our distress. However, if the distress is emotional, which so often it is, no physical act will truly comfort, and all acts while soothed temporarily may frustrate further.