Getting Un-Stuffed

Since being back from Autumn Sesshin at Choboji there has been an interesting result. I've stopped grinding my teeth in my sleep. This might sound odd to you, but it says something about how I've been dealing with some of my stress and feelings.

Though I'd hate to admit it, I'm a stuffer. I have a tendency to stuff not only my feelings but my stress as well. I'd let it build and build like the magma chamber of a volcano. I supposed the only place that I couldn't hide it from myself was when I was sleeping, hence the grinding and regularly waking up with a stiff or sore jaw. Mind you I know that I still stuff some feeling, but I'm focused on the progress I'm making, not the perfectionism of it.

So the question is what have I done to improve.

Increase my Zen training (sitting twice daily) and having a meaningful relationship with a teacher.

Taking things less personally. I've been mindfully not accepting those special delivery "emotion bombs," from others. They don't belong to me, so I don't accept them. Going a little farther, I'm no longer expecting sanity from people who are actively insane (not of sound mind). There's no point.

Writing emails and letters to "real," friends who are on the journey as well. They often share back interesting experiences and remind me that I'm not a lone on this journey.

Increasing positive intake. I'm reading consistently. If you don't have time to get to the bookstore, do what I do. Use Online PDF's (like Choboji's Newsletters section) and podcasts on a daily basis. Remember, they are free. This is really good if money is an issue. If money is not a problem, get an audible.com memebership. They have a ton of books on spirituality and This helps to offset some of the negative things that happen, becuase I'm hearing positive info, not just getting stuck in my head in the potential quicksand of negative emotion.

To deal with work related stress, I read "Getting Things Done," by David Allen. Surprise, his book was a terrific help.

Things, by Culture Code. That is the task manager I use to not only keep me organized. Now I have time to think, instead of always worrying did I forget or when I needed to do something. I tried about 7 different ones til I located the one that works for me.

I focus on being authentic.

If you noticed, there is not any one thing that I've done. There's no silver bullet. It kind of a jigsaw puzzle. I can only say that what I have shared with you, I value, because I can clearly see how each element has helped me to improve and feel better about myself and not live in "frustration nation." Getting Un-stuffed will allow you and I to be more our so-called "True-self."

May Your Life Go Well,

Jaye Morris, Curator
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