This week, Dr. Patrick speaks about a metaphorical thorn---that ever-present source of pain in our lives, whatever it may be. Many of us build a complex environment around the thorn to prevent it from ever being touched. This includes the many coping mechanisms of our core beliefs to deal with and prevent our suffering.
Because of this, the advice that our mind is giving us is psychologically damaged. Our mind's thoughts are disturbed by its fears. This is the advice we must not listen to, but we listen to it constantly. We must identify the root problem instead.
We can notice who's noticing, that we are the subject observing something which is the object. We can become the explorer of our own lives, and let it go. It's not who we are---it's what the experience is. We are capable of ceasing to listen to the perpetual problems of our psyche. It is possible. It takes practice.
Imagine what life could be if we didn't have those neurotic personal thoughts going on inside of ourselves, that we could enjoy things, that we could get to know people instead of needing them, experiencing our life instead of using our life to fix what is wrong inside of us.
Awareness does not fight. There is no battle. There is just witnessing. Awareness has the capacity to release, to discern, to choose to remove the thorn by looking at the root cause behind the thorn. Awareness is simply aware while everything parades in front of it.
Everything will be okay when we're okay with everything. We can make peace with what is and move into the perpetually-centred seat of the Self.
