When I say relating peacefully, I mean relating to ourselves and others in a way that makes us each feel more whole, that allows more of ourselves to come forth, connect, and flourish.
The word peaceful resonates with me because it implies a sense of rightness in the world.
It’s peaceful, not because it’s quiet (though that would be nice!), but because the members of our family are coexisting in harmony and balance. It’s peaceful, not because we’re suppressing the friction, but because we’re tapping into something beyond the friction, something bigger that can contain and ultimately heal us.
When I say relating peacefully to ourselves and others, I’m talking about (and falling short of many days)…
- feeling our feelings
- listening to ourselves, being honest, and finding inner clarity
- communicating our needs respectfully
- setting realistic expectations through understanding child development and each unique individual
- helping our kids meet our expectations on their own terms
- treating children as autonomous beings who have equal dignity with adults
- disciplining without punishment (certainly not corporeal but also not using shame, threats, arbitrary consequences, or withholding parental love)
- taking care of ourselves and disengaging when we feel we’re about to take angry actions and or speak harmful words
- tapping into our fundamental goodness as living beings
- being kind to ourselves as we learn and grow
- truly enjoying our lives
When I began this journey I thought I needed to Get Peaceful Now. I was trying so hard, so hard that all my trying accomplished was the looming shadow of my failure. And then I would beat myself up for failing.
I’m letting that go.
It turns out that I need to let go of a lot things! And that letting go really means allowing. And that allowing means accepting everything, letting it all in, the failures, the yelling, the despair… the joy.
When I let it in and when I really feel it, it is like a swelling tide. I let the waves roll inside of me and they grow me.
I get bigger, things get sweeter, and when I look up, I see that the sky is wide open.
Out beyond ideas
of wrongdoing and rightdoing,
there is a field.I’ll meet you there.
When the soul lies down
in that grass,
the world is too full to talk about.Ideas, language
– even the phrase “each other” –
do not make any sense.~ Rumi ~
“When I let it in and when I really feel it, it is like a swelling tide. I let the waves roll inside of me and they grow me.”
I was looking for a reason for the name “sweetsky” and then I found this post. This sentence in particular captures me. This idea of allowing is profound.
I try to let go and I get no where because I’m trying so hard. Also I like to hold on. I like to hold on to the people I love, to my dog, to the stones I find along my walk, so letting go has always been difficult for me.
But allowing, like allowing that wave of life to wash over me? Yes. That makes more sense to me. That kind of letting go helps. Let go of controlling, no the loving. Pick up the stone but not the direction. It all makes a bit more sense.
Love this new open sky for you. Can’t wait to paint clouds here with you.
Though, I have to admit, I really like “Mama Om.”
Thanks, Rebecca! I really like Mama-Om too! No one ever asked me what it meant.
I started out just wanted to move Mama-Om over to wordpress but I was feeling stuck and the process of renaming the blog began itself. I guess you could say I “allowed” it to happen.
Not without a bit of sadness, though, about leaving behind Mama-Om. It was unexpected but felt right. Thanks so much for your message.
[...] relating peacefully [...]
[...] relating peacefully [...]
I’ve been a fan for a while, although haven’t been reading nearly as much because I’ve been lost on my journey. Other things have been taking my attention. But I’m feeling a need to come back to this. I love this new site. I smiled very big when I read the Rumi poem. I love that one. It makes me think about life. About being a teenager. I think that was when I was most tapped into my truth.
Sam
[...] relating peacefully [...]