I really appreciate you normalizing the both/and. That was key to shifting my relationship with dissatisfaction. I used to think if I was feeling something negative must deserve it and therefore did not deserve to feel anything like positive.
While DBT drew upon Eastern philosophy and in a lot of ways is yoga philosophy repackaged, it did play a major role in my ability to allow seemingly opposites to co-exist. It also taught me how much non-judgment is a big part of mindfulness. And wow, is non-judgment a practice! So much of English carries implied judgment.
Hi Kristi! Thank you! And I totally get it! I didn’t understand it was ok to feel two opposing emotions at once until I was in my late thirties. It just wasn’t talked about, or modeled, in my family or culture. It was such a relief to understand that two things can be true at once and there is absolutely nothing wrong with that - in fact it’s perfectly right. And yes, non-judgement is a constant practice!
Katie, gratitude and dissatisfaction often coexist more than people admit, which is why your reflection felt so honest. What stood out most was your distinction between longing that wants to escape life and longing that wants to inhabit it more fully; that kind of discernment can change how people interpret restlessness instead of automatically treating it as failure or discontent. Naming craving as something to understand rather than simply suppress adds real depth, especially in seasons where gratitude and yearning sit side by side. Thank you for sharing this with humility, wisdom, and thoughtful self-awareness.
Thank you so much for your kind comment Rev. Taylor. It took me a long time to realize I wasn’t broken for feeling the way I did. I hope this piece will reaches someone who needs to hear its message. So they can know they aren’t broken and understand that their longings are just part of the human experience. As you said, discernment is so important here. It will take something that feels shameful and turn it into a way to light your path forward.
Katie, that lands deeply. What you named about shame shifting through discernment feels especially important, because many people carry inner tension assuming something is wrong with them when it may actually be an invitation to deeper understanding. The way you describe longing as part of the human experience gives people room to approach it with more curiosity, honesty, and compassion. I believe this will meet people who need exactly that kind of language and clarity. Thank you for sharing something that carries both wisdom and hope.
I really appreciate you normalizing the both/and. That was key to shifting my relationship with dissatisfaction. I used to think if I was feeling something negative must deserve it and therefore did not deserve to feel anything like positive.
While DBT drew upon Eastern philosophy and in a lot of ways is yoga philosophy repackaged, it did play a major role in my ability to allow seemingly opposites to co-exist. It also taught me how much non-judgment is a big part of mindfulness. And wow, is non-judgment a practice! So much of English carries implied judgment.
Hi Kristi! Thank you! And I totally get it! I didn’t understand it was ok to feel two opposing emotions at once until I was in my late thirties. It just wasn’t talked about, or modeled, in my family or culture. It was such a relief to understand that two things can be true at once and there is absolutely nothing wrong with that - in fact it’s perfectly right. And yes, non-judgement is a constant practice!
Katie, gratitude and dissatisfaction often coexist more than people admit, which is why your reflection felt so honest. What stood out most was your distinction between longing that wants to escape life and longing that wants to inhabit it more fully; that kind of discernment can change how people interpret restlessness instead of automatically treating it as failure or discontent. Naming craving as something to understand rather than simply suppress adds real depth, especially in seasons where gratitude and yearning sit side by side. Thank you for sharing this with humility, wisdom, and thoughtful self-awareness.
Thank you so much for your kind comment Rev. Taylor. It took me a long time to realize I wasn’t broken for feeling the way I did. I hope this piece will reaches someone who needs to hear its message. So they can know they aren’t broken and understand that their longings are just part of the human experience. As you said, discernment is so important here. It will take something that feels shameful and turn it into a way to light your path forward.
Katie, that lands deeply. What you named about shame shifting through discernment feels especially important, because many people carry inner tension assuming something is wrong with them when it may actually be an invitation to deeper understanding. The way you describe longing as part of the human experience gives people room to approach it with more curiosity, honesty, and compassion. I believe this will meet people who need exactly that kind of language and clarity. Thank you for sharing something that carries both wisdom and hope.