Written by: Elizabeth Toumbos, Executive Contributor
Executive Contributors at Brainz Magazine are handpicked and invited to contribute because of their knowledge and valuable insight within their area of expertise.
Compassion is an emotion that we have all expressed. We give compassion to our pets, friends and family going through hard times, and even to people in stories we see on the news.
For many of us, outward-directed compassion seems to be where it stops, never giving ourselves compassion for our own pain and mistakes. Self-directed compassion is essential for our emotional health. If we beat ourselves up for our shortcomings, our inner critic will hijack our emotional body, resulting in low self-esteem, anxiety, depression, and self-loathing.
“You’ve been criticising yourself for years and it hasn’t worked. Try approving of yourself and see what happens”. ‒ Louise L. Hay
One of the main causes for the lack of self-compassion
Childhood trauma is particularly damaging to our emotional body and can radiate out into every aspect of our lives. When we experience trauma during our formative years, we are not emotionally mature enough to understand or deal with what has happened to us, so we lock away the experience of the event and throw away the key.
The pain of unresolved trauma manifests into a block or karmic loop that cascades out into our everyday life. When we perceive ourselves in a threatening situation, our brain is triggered to re-live the same emotions of our unresolved trauma even though it may not be the case.
An example of unresolved trauma is if you somehow always find yourself in the same situation. Ask yourself, do you ever say or think things like, “This always happens to me”, “I’m unlucky”, or “I never get (fill in the blank)”? These are signs of unresolved blocks or karmic loops.
Themes around blocks and karmic loops
There are four main themes around these blocks or karmic loops: LOVE, POWER, MONEY, and HEALTH.
When we come to a point where we recognise a block or karmic loop, we can use it as an opportunity to dissolve the original wound and change our life trajectory for the better.
A wonderful exercise to do for yourself is to spend some time journaling the timelines of your themes surrounding Love, Power, Money, and Health, to discover negative patterns that have held you back from living to your fullest potential.
For example, let's look at Money. Start from the family situation you were born into. Was there little or no money, enough or lots? Then progress through your life to the present day with events that have affected your relationship with Money. If you can see a pattern forming, it is a block or karmic loop.
Recognising the negative patterns within these themes is a very empowering opportunity to change your life. The very act of becoming conscious of these patterns may be all that is needed to fuel your ability to change any future repeating situations that present themselves, which will enable you to steer your life in a more optimal direction.
You may also need the guidance of a practitioner to help steer you in a better direction.
The power of self-compassion
Compassion is one very powerful tool for dissolving blocks or karmic loops. It is a big part of the healing work that I facilitate, and I am constantly amazed by how it can easily transform people’s lives.
This tool is called The Compassion Key®. Its founder Edward Mannix spent many years studying Eastern meditation, teachings, and traditions, which formed the foundation for him to develop self-directed compassion as a tool for achieving “Integrated Enlightenment”. Integrated Enlightenment is about bringing joy and freedom into our everyday lives through our intentions, thoughts, and actions.
“Achieving full enlightenment embodied in physical form, “Integrated Enlightenment”, means that we are not trying to escape from our ordinary experiences and perceptions in order to get up into the light, but instead, we are bringing our light in here. To this level. Into this human existence. Into every part of our lives.” ‒ Edward Mannix
I encourage you to try giving yourself some compassion today and each day that comes. It will land in your heart centre and begin to dissolve your pain and suffering and make space for true transformation.
Many blessings to you!
Elizabeth Toumbos, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine
Elizabeth Toumbos facilitates Shamanic Healing, Trauma Release, Women's Circles and Self-Directed Compassion. Elizabeth's search for her own healing led her into the world of Shamanism by working with Melbourne based Shaman, Sherif Tawfilis. Over many sessions she was able to overcome her trauma induced low self-esteem, eating disorders, stuttering and alcoholism that was brought on by childhood physical and sexual abuse. Shamanism was a homecoming for Elizabeth, opening a door for her to step into her true calling as a healer, leading to her own Shamanic training and starting her own practice. Elizabeth is passionate about working with people who are ready to step into their power.
