Balance of Attention
I’ve always loved the concept of “balance of attention.” It means working on distress by putting part of our attention on what is good and true in the present—including the connection with our Co-Counselor—and part of it on what is hard, on the distress.
When we put all our attention on the hurt, we can lose sight of our power and connection in the present. And if we only pay attention to what is good and possible in the present, we might avoid facing the early unbearable hurts.
We need to decide that it’s now possible to face what felt unbearable. At the same time, we can hold on to what has always been true about ourselves and boldly contradict our core distress in the present. The old distress will discharge as we reach for ever greater connection and power as we go forward.
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
Reprinted from the e-mail discussion list for RC Community members
(Present Time 208, July 2022)