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Alessa

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Viewing 15 posts - 1 through 15 (of 539 total)
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  • #450528
    Alessa
    Participant

    Hi Tee

    Always happy to talk to you too! ❤️

    No, not at all. It wasn’t you. I was just reflecting on some of the ways I’m not there for myself as much as I am for others and processing those feelings.

    Yes, I would agree. I do need to work on self-compassion still. I’m trying my best. 😊

    Ah well, I’m sure you’ve heard of the phrase saving face before. I think it’s basically about communicating with people without wounding their ego. There are some great techniques out there for when people disagree.

    It’s basically validating how you can see why they have a perspective. Giving an example about how you or someone you know might have had a similar perspective. And then describe how you or someone you know came to change their perspective.

    I think I’m going to write a post about belonging. ❤️

    Thank you, I’ve found all of the conversations very insightful too. 😊

    #450480
    Alessa
    Participant

    Hi Roberta

    Strong and wise even in high school! Love it 🥰

    #450479
    Alessa
    Participant

    Hi Everyone

    I really appreciate your thoughtful writing Peter. Beautiful as always. I dare say that you are right. ❤️ ✍️

    It always fascinates me how different perspectives can be.

    To me, the elephant story illustrates how difficult it is to explain ideas to someone. Almost like old paintings where they had never seen exotic creatures. They were drawing them based on stories.

    I feel like sometimes ideas have to be experienced organically. I find that it can be hard to understand concepts without direct experience. Then, after the experience you reflect and go “Oh! So that’s what that meant.”.

    Perhaps, as a mother I interpreted the story about the monk and the baby differently? A monk would be a safe choice to take care of a baby for a desperate person. Some of good character who might take care of a child purely because it needs help. I would like to think that the monk knowingly took care of the child knowing that he wasn’t the father purely because he was asked in desperation for help. Shouldering the difficulties of potentially being excommunicated from the monastery. Only to be approached by the mother with a guilty conscience, ashamed by the weight of everything the monk gave up for her child. Nothing to forgive because he already knew and made the choice willingly. Perhaps too humble and caring to admit it? Maybe that is just my wishful thinking turning it into a heartwarming story. 😊

    #450478
    Alessa
    Participant

    Hi M

    I’m sorry to hear about everything you’ve been through. No wonder you are exhausted! Please rest and take care of yourself. You deserve it. ❤️

    Do you want to talk more about these feelings of having trouble moving forward or not knowing who you are? ❤️

    Mmm I’ve had trouble with not knowing who I was a couple of times in life. I feel like often we base our identities on our circumstances. It is understandable that when circumstances change our sense of identity shifts. It can take some time to adapt. Trauma doesn’t make things easy either. I didn’t know who I was because of that as well.

    I do hope that you can take some time to focus on you. ❤️

    #450477
    Alessa
    Participant

    Hi Miss Duchess

    Cool! Do you have any plans for your birthday?

    You are right, it can feel harder to connect with people when there is nothing in common.

    I’m sorry you feel excluded. ❤️

    I’m glad that despite the pain of the past, you can see the silver lining in that it helps you to appreciate the good people you met in life. I feel like sometimes that is the way of life. Contrasting experiences help us to cherish the good experiences we do have.

    That sounds understandable to still feel a bit awkward with it being your second session. How was the choir experience itself? Do you like singing?

    I think you’re doing really well putting yourself out there! Already you have done a lot. You are determined. Keep at it! You deserve to find people that you connect with. ❤️

    #450476
    Alessa
    Participant

    Hi Everyone

    Autumn is my favourite time of year. 🍃 🍁 🍂

    I always had a lot of fun as a kid crunching my way through a carpet of fallen leaves.

    I realised whilst walking the dogs the other day that it is almost like an ASMR experience. Gravel underfoot. A stream. Birds. And the gentle clinking of a metal leash (the puppy chewed through all of the other ones). I really do love the outdoors and I love having a home filled with love. I didn’t have that as a child and it makes me happy.

    That is a good idea Yana. I like the idea of making acorn coffee. ☕️ Thank you for the tip with the honey. 🍯 The idea of an experience shared by friends across the world brings a smile to my face and warms my heart. 😊 ❤️

    It reminds me that we all look at the same moon and despite us all being in separate corners of the world, we are not alone and still connected. 🌎

    #450475
    Alessa
    Participant

    Hi Tee

    Sorry, at first I didn’t realise that you’d left a message here. Then I had to process some emotions to figure out what to say. ❤️

    I try my best, but it isn’t easy. Especially in person. Negative thoughts, fears can get in the way. It is hard work to try and stay calm.

    That is kind of you to say. I’m glad that it’s been helping. 😊

    I think being aware of when we’re not in our normal state of mind is half the battle.

    Thanks. I’ve been learning from you too. I think you’re right in that I do let things lie too much sometimes. It is hard to balance. You inspired me to try for myself, as much as I try for other people. Perhaps give some people less? ❤️

    I am honestly still learning and still make mistakes. Sometimes I retreat to process and understand my feelings. Figure out the best way to handle a situation?

    I have been learning recently about saving face. It led to learning about some interesting communication techniques. I’ve also been learning about belonging. I think anxiety gets in my way a lot.

    How are you doing? ❤️

    #450216
    Alessa
    Participant

    Hi James

    Lovely to see you around again! 👋

    I really enjoyed the insights you shared. ❤️

    Today it struck me that this children’s rhyme was particularly poignant.

    Row, row, row the boat, gently down the stream. Merrily, merrily, merrily, merrily. Life is but a dream. 💤

    #450212
    Alessa
    Participant

    I’m having fun foraging these days. I found an apple tree that is very similar to granny smith apples, but smaller. 🍏

    The wild raspberries are much sweeter than store bought and brighter in colour. 😋

    Sadly, the blackberry season is ending. I’m curious to try acorns for the first time. I collected some but haven’t prepared them yet because my son got stomach flu. 🤢

    Poor thing! ❤️

    It is lucky that the sunshine has been sticking around even though autumn is here. Every day is a bonus. 🍂 ☀️

    #450211
    Alessa
    Participant

    Hi Roberta

    Thank you for sharing! ❤️ It is interesting to learn the hidden secrets of history. Sand pits in local golf courses here are repurposed craters from bombs dropped during world war 2. Who would have thought they would use something like that to bring joy and peace to people?

    That is so cool. I would love to visit Samye Ling monastery in Scotland! I do wonder if they allow dogs? Probably not.

    I hope that you do get to take your robes one day. I can’t think of anyone more deserving. ❤️

    #450171
    Alessa
    Participant

    I’m conflicted, as usual. 😂

    Part of me feels like being compassionate and understanding to all in a conflict can be hurtful in a group setting, especially when people don’t share these values.

    It is understandable not to have these values, very few do. It is not something that is expected of people. ❤️

    Perhaps it is more beneficial in a private setting? Another part of me wonders though, if there would have been as much support if not for calm voices being in the mix? ❤️

    #450170
    Alessa
    Participant

    Hi Tee

    I don’t think anyone blames you. Certainly not Peter, possibly one of the kindest people on this forum. ❤️

    I feel like it is difficult when two people have different beliefs, especially when they don’t really have a relationship. It is easy to take offence, where there was none intended. ❤️

    I have trust with Peter, so it was easy for me to see his good intentions. Fears are not easy to deal with. Guilt even less so. ❤️

    This conversation reminded me of a video I saw online. There was this fella sitting down in a sports stadium, there was a lady behind him being rude, resting her feet on his back. He asked her to stop. She didn’t. She started kicking him in the back. He continued sitting there calmly whilst she was unbelievably rude and assaulted him. A few minutes later, she was taken away by security.

    There is another video I saw, someone tried to steal a bike messenger’s motorcycle. She threw her keys into a building so he couldn’t get them. Sat on the bike and scuffled with him as he tried to jack it, refusing to let go and have her livelihood stolen. The thief got tired and ran away.

    #450109
    Alessa
    Participant

    Hi Lucidity

    No, it is not silly at all! I totally understand the struggle with regulating anxiety. It is human nature to revert to old habits in times of stress. I feel like it takes some time to understand things in our heart that we know in our mind. That you know what you want in your mind, it is only a matter of time until your heart catches up too. These things are complicated and a journey. It’s important to give yourself grace. It’s okay to be human and make mistakes. All you have to do is try your best and that is good enough. ❤️

    Bless your soul! Good luck trying it out. ❤️

    I think I’m lucky in that my core stress response is to shut down and my instinct is to leave the situation. I have to force myself to stay in a stressful situation. Because my instinct is to take breaks, it does help me to emotionally regulate. People who have different childhood habits might find that difficult to navigate. I’m afraid that I don’t have any advice for that one.

    It was something that I had to unpick to get back to this core stress response. My adopted family taught me to engage in conflict because they believed that it showed that you care if you are passionate and upset.

    I think a fear of rejection was the thing that was holding me back the most from being able to connect with my empathy during conflict. What if I put myself out there, do all of the right things and it still doesn’t work out?

    Then one day I realised that I was only upset because I felt rejected. And if I’m already rejected there is nothing to fear because it has already happened. I can stay true to myself and if things don’t work out, I can say that I tried and give myself comfort knowing that I did my best. ❤️

    #450046
    Alessa
    Participant

    Hi Anita

    Thanks, I’m glad that you found it helpful. ❤️

    Yes, it is nice to accept each other just as we are, the whole person. ❤️

    #450045
    Alessa
    Participant

    Hi Tee

    I really appreciate your perspective and insight! Thank you for sharing. ❤️

    I feel like these things are really complicated because as you said, narcissists can act in this way, but so can people who aren’t narcissists.

    I feel like trauma and neurodivergence can produce very similar patterns.

    Autism for example, there is a focus on details and a lack of understanding of context or difficulties with understanding others perspectives. Not because they lack the ability to empathise, purely because it is just not understood. When an effort is made to learn and understand, that is when things can change because they are capable of empathising when they understand the situation.

    Trauma, I feel like can cause a focus on fears, as opposed to reality. People can perceive attacks, when it was not intended especially if a trigger is involved.

    Not to mention, if two people are just in a high stress situation. Instead of understanding the stress is because of the situation, people can focus on what is right in-front of them, each other instead of the abstract idea of the situation and a cycle of blame can start.

    Thanks so much Tee. I just figure I should get a head start on it because these things take time to learn. ❤️

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