Hi Emmalevine,
Very good post and probably reflects many others' thoughts.
(And hi Belle and anthony :)
I did wonder if I present myself as never having had problems, traumas, pain, grief and depression...
ha, just because I'm through so much...of course, grief can come at any time and I never
block or repress that, but feel it in all of it's depth for a long time!
I digressed.
Tackling our traumas or anything that keeps us from peace (bad job, bad relationship, bad living situation, bad ruminating thoughts...)
and living our life happily is a 'job', indeed!
I certainly didn't get here without therapy, reading, getting advice, praying, practicing detachment,
(ie, being the observer/witness) but, mainly God's Grace
that allowed me to forgive and gain insight as to the perfection and purpose of all the 'bad stuff'.
One of the things that is a problem for so many is never letting go, never forgiving, reliving the traumas,
thus, not seeing the profound perfection with our terrible childhoods
and all the other terrible things.
(Omg, there are murders and suicides of loved ones, rapes, all our money embezzled!)
Repression...no.
Denying and ignoring...no.
But, wallowing or blaming, hanging onto these terrible things that have happened to
us like they are 'who we are'...can be transformed into great wisdom.
This is important to remember, we do not have to live this entire life with an Albatross around our necks**.
One of the things that I understand is not all of us came here to quickly heal
with a few sessions of therapy, and Shazam!, life is all rosey now.
Some were
meant to have a tougher life for their particular lessons.
This is the thing...there comes a time (and maybe not this lifetime)
when we are to realize the power we have;
when we see we
can decide to be happy and free....and then,
do the work.
The work may be disciplining ourselves to sit in stillness each day for a solid hour..
(since this is the meditation thread, after all).
If someone should decide that that is an avenue to peace of mind...
they can lay there past trauma's on a shelf...to be taken down if they chose and dealt with in all the ways available;
some mentioned above.
For those that have dealt with issues and simply have active thoughts bothering them
while sitting in silence each day about money and all the work they need to get done, they can learn that
it is as easy as changing the channel or to replace these bothersome thoughts and partake of the loveliness
of an hour of peace.
My take anyway.
** Reference, 'The Rime of the Ancient Mariner'...Samuel Coleridge