Her book is called, "The Gift of Our Compulsions." Instead of being angry about using food compulsively, I'm beginning to feel a shift. Mary says that the compulsion is there to bring attention to what you are not ready to be with. Most people live their lives running with their compulsions and have no idea that they are doing so.
Ms. O'Malley quotes Rumi:
“Don't turn away. Keep your gaze on the bandaged place. That's where the light enters you.
I have been very angry at myself for a long time for always using food to avoid my pain. I beat myself up over it. I judge myself. Why can't I get this area of my life under control? I have felt so empowered in so many areas but this food/weight thing persists. And then Mary talks about being curious as opposed to trying to control it. She discusses what I call the three C's: compassion, connection and curiosity. She goes further to say these are HEART functions not head. I get lost in all of the head stuff - the whys, the hows, etc. I can ruminate in rationalizations forever. I have been in touch with the heart and I've had glimpses and it is pure bliss. I want more of that and I've had enough of the head stuff.
We are wired to struggle and our compulsions are there for us to avoid being in that struggle. She also says we are dualistic in nature and that means black/white, right wrong. We deem our compulsion as bad, so we try to beat it down. We have been conditioned from very early to live in this war. Father Richard Rohr also talked about dualism in his talk that I attended a few years back and it highly resonated with me.
Rumi's quote about the light and Ms. O'Malley talking about the heart speaks loud and clear to me. The light represents a deep sense of well being. Let me say that again because I need to hear it.
A deep sense of well being.
I'm not going to get that by losing weight or being able to buy the smaller size. I'm not going to have that by looking perfect (and who is the judge of that, who do I give that power to?) I feel the sense of well being when I have compassion with myself (and others!) I feel that when the negative thoughts start and I stop them and become curious about why.
I have experienced moments of deep well being and it has come when I detach from the controlling thoughts. The moments come when I'm compassionate with myself and take care of myself. They come when I connect with others who are on a soul journey too. They come when I feel a shift of energy that feels like LOVE and not judgement.
I'm sticking with the 3 C's for now. I think that will lead me the rest of the way.
We are wired to struggle and our compulsions are there for us to avoid being in that struggle. She also says we are dualistic in nature and that means black/white, right wrong. We deem our compulsion as bad, so we try to beat it down. We have been conditioned from very early to live in this war. Father Richard Rohr also talked about dualism in his talk that I attended a few years back and it highly resonated with me.
Rumi's quote about the light and Ms. O'Malley talking about the heart speaks loud and clear to me. The light represents a deep sense of well being. Let me say that again because I need to hear it.
A deep sense of well being.
I'm not going to get that by losing weight or being able to buy the smaller size. I'm not going to have that by looking perfect (and who is the judge of that, who do I give that power to?) I feel the sense of well being when I have compassion with myself (and others!) I feel that when the negative thoughts start and I stop them and become curious about why.
I have experienced moments of deep well being and it has come when I detach from the controlling thoughts. The moments come when I'm compassionate with myself and take care of myself. They come when I connect with others who are on a soul journey too. They come when I feel a shift of energy that feels like LOVE and not judgement.
I'm sticking with the 3 C's for now. I think that will lead me the rest of the way.
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