Living Thankfully Within the Theatre of Life (By Steve Wickham)

"If experience is about wealth, then I'm a very wealthy person." 

- Dr Gregory Smith (former sociopath)

As I sat there watching the Year 4 students as they were led through a drama class, the teacher taught them an element of drama that I never before knew. Drama revolves around a problem - if there's no problem then there's no story, no narrative, nothing stimulating to pique the onlooker's interest.

Dr Gregory Smith is an incredibly interesting person. His story, here. Someone who grew up in the dramatic horrors of domestic violence, was orphaned, convicted of arson but relieved of the burden of paying for that crime due to reasons of temporary insanity; who lived in a forest for ten years. Finally, in his late forties he came upon an epiphany. He learned something that turned his world upside down (as if he hadn't already lived an upside down life).

Smith learned that his extreme antisocial patterns of behaviour were due to the fact he had been fighting himself all along. He was central to his own problems.

That spoke to me. It reminded me of an epiphany I had of the Lord on July 7, 2015. 

Having learned this powerfully fundamental and paradoxical truth - that when we admit we're the problem only then are we free to provide our own solutions - Smith was finally able to commence the wrestle of reconciling the drama of his astonishingly theatrical life.

When we finally discover that problems are inherently part of the theatre that life is, we're positioned to transcend our problems through the provision of solutions, which could not come otherwise.

The theatre of life is only interesting, and only evokes passion, when we have problems to overcome. See how problems are principally part of God's plan?

Accept that problems are part of life and, with passion, prime yourself for adventure.

When we take this approach, thankfulness informs our narrative, gratitude emerges, and, as persons, we thrive

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How To Deal With Resentments

Some people can spend hours dwelling on the wrongs done to them; the injustices, the slights, the snubs, and the accusations or from just bad treatment. They can think of a particular instance and up comes the same feeling the original event, and they get angry all over again. To resent something or someone is once again feeling the fear, the anger, the hurt, the humiliation and the pain of the original experience - real or imagined.

When resentments are held onto and not healed, they go on to form harmful beliefs and patterns of behaviour, where blaming and judgement now justify those behaviours. Sadly, this then inhibits any emotional trauma resulting from the original event having an avenue through which it can be released. The effect of holding onto the emotional trauma as well as the resentment, creates further pain and dysfunction in the physical body, so our health is also affected.

Resentment stifles internal growth.

Resentment stifles inner growth, which in turn adversely affects our personal outer world and how we reflect upon the world at large. When resentment takes hold it drags us down. The heavy load packed full of blame and judgement keeps us bounded in fear; the fear of letting go. The idea of no longer being supported by the thoughts and energy that we are right to be judgemental further increases our need to hold on to the resentment. The idea of dismantling the scaffolding that has held us up, kept us strong, and others at bay, and keeping our heart firmly closed is not an option when resentment rules our thoughts and our feelings. Resentment eats away at self-esteem and peace of mind. Our internal health crumbles away where feelings of hope are swallowed up by bitterness and blame.

Of course, we can't always have control over what happened to us, especially if we were children, but as adults we do have choice. And it's when we exercise that special gift we can free our selves from the most strangling of thoughts and behaviours. The greatest gift that choice offers each one of us, is that we can take ownership of our feelings and behaviours and so determine the outcome of our life and the path that we tread. A life filled with resentments binds us tight and cripples any chance of creating a life that is happy and joyful where we can express our true self that is loving, kind and compassionate. The light that emanates from our true nature shines a path that is blessed, rewarding and incredibly fulfilling.

Any time resentment takes up emotional space, it indicates there's an issue that has not yet been resolved. So take a look inside, see where it is coming from and more importantly why. Take time to explore, as sometimes holding onto resentment is a way of avoiding pain. As you delve inside and unlock that door the pain too has a chance to heal. You also give your self the opportunity to relook at the event or situation that gave rise to the resentment in the first place, and where a clearer understanding can come into view.

How to deal with old resentments.

Write them down; talk about them, not in a blaming way, but with a willingness to see all aspects of the issue. Look also, for the wisdom being presented; the golden nugget of wisdom that will bring clarity, offering you the chance to determine of what can be let go of and what requires more work. You may begin to see where love and understanding can create a deep sense of wholeness and inner peace.

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