They're Just Words
Have you ever had a spiritually-enlightening moment, when you sat back and observed...
"It's all only words."
I've spoken many times on this blog about how "labels" can really limit our experience.
Labels such as "good" and "bad" .... "pain" ... "happiness" ... "marriage" ... even "self-development" ...
Yes, labels have purpose.
They're designed to help make life easier, by arranging experiences into pigeon-holes that we can easily identify.
But more often than not, by using a particular term, we end up trying to force ourselves into that pigeon-hole... regardless of what we're actually experiencing!
Here's an example...
Have you ever had an ache in your body, and suddenly realized that you were in pain? Then you focused on it more, and it was definitely painful... you're stressed, concerned, unable to concentrate. It's definitely pain.
Hey -- you're in PAIN!
I know that I've done that many, many times -- and I'm sure I'll continue to do it, too!
But maybe "pain" is just a label. Maybe all you're really encountering is an experience... an experience that you have labelled as pain, therefore your mind "works it up" to ensure you get all of the mental and bodily stress associated with pain.
After all, your mind would hate to be wrong!
So...
Labels are limiting.
And here's a thought...
Maybe every single word you use, or have ever used, is just a label.
Maybe ever single word means you're going into memory, and thereby temporarily stepping outside of the freedom you inherently are.
I'm not saying that in order to be spiritually free, you have to be a mute!
But rather, by being aware that WORDS are merely LABELS... you can learn not to attach as much importance to them as you do.
And maybe you could begin noticing more the actual experience BEHIND the words.
After all... and this is the really important point...
They're just words.
Labels: inspiration, self-development
by Karl
4:38 AM
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3 Comments:
I work with children from ages 4 to 12 and one of the things I try to help them with is their vocabulary. The more words they know the better they can describe things which I believe creates a better understanding of what they are experiencing. So their "pain" might only be "discomfort" or "soreness" which is a completely different label.
By
Denny Strecker, at
2:53 PM
I agree.
Words are essential.
But as adults, we can "rise above" them - and learn when they simply limit experience.
By
Karl, at
12:32 AM
Quite interesting I should happen upon this entry.
I was reflecting upon the first time I realized that my thinking could change circumstances. I was about 14 and in the emergency room with a broken ankle.
I had broken it during cheerleader tryouts. I broke it fairly early in the tryout process, and my Father asked me how I went through the entire tryout.
I literally paid it no attention.
That got me thinking...what IS pain? It is just a feeling....a signal from my body and ...no...from my mind.
Why should I feel it if I don't want to? I could often improve my mood just by deciding my mood was just a matter of feelings...why not get rid of pain.
It worked.
Really nice it worked because a short time later I became a kidney stone factory.
I admit..I have had times when I gave in to what the Doctors say...that I should be in enormous pain. But for the most part I have lived my life pretty much as normal even as I passed stones.
By
kam, at
9:33 PM
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