If I notice I miss a time in my life, I know I don’t really miss the people, places, or times.
I miss how I was then.
More accurately, I miss how I imagine I was then. I miss my own mythology about it.
That’s good news since it means I can find it here and now.
FINDING IT HERE AND NOW
How do I imagine I was then? Can I find it here and now?
How is it to shift into the part of me that’s like that now? How is it to connect with that part of me? To perceive and live from that part of me? How does that part see me? What advice does it have for me? What can it contribute? How can I bring it more into my life here and now? How can I create a more intentional partnership with it?
Since I am most familiar with the Big Mind process and Voice Dialog, that’s what I tend to use to explore this. If I was more familiar with other forms of parts work, I would likely use that. Anything goes as long as it helps me find and live from and as that part here and now, and then find ways to bring it more into my daily life.
A COUPLE OF OTHER WAYS TO EXPLORE IT
I can expore this in other ways too. What stories do I have about that person, place, or situation? If I take one of those… Is it true? Can I know for certain it’s true? What happens if I hold those as true? Who would I be, here and now, if I couldn’t have those stories? What do I find if I turn those stories to myself and find genuine and specific examples of how it’s true? What genuine and specific examples can I find of how it’s true here and now? This is The Work of Byron Katie which, under guidance of a skilled facilitator, can invite deep shifts.
What do I hope to get out of it? What do I hope to get out of that? And that? If I follow this back to the most essential, what do I find? Can I find that here and now? This is an inquiry suggested by Adyashanti and I find it very clarifying.