Does your identity help or hinder you?

I've just returned from an inspiring weekend with my community of friends who practice The Work of Byron Katie. We meet once a month for focused self inquiry and enjoying the company of one another.

What is your "Identity"?

What do you identify yourself with? How do you describe yourself? Does this create a sense of stress or joy in your life?

We explored the various ways in which the roles, feelings and thoughts we identify with may be causing us undo stress. Funny how the most basic of identities e.g. "I am a woman", when consciously questioned, can bring up a mixed bag of feelings. Questioning thoughts, also allows for questioning feelings.

Are you really who you think you are?

Who is it who decides what you think? Parents? Society? Schools? Friends? Media? There are so many influences within which we are raised. We are influenced by those around us. Yet it is we who decide how we think.

Let's look at two children in the same household, who experience similar experiences. Each will interpret it differently. For example, my parents limited the amount of time that my brother and I could watch television. They gave us each one hour a week to choose the program we each wanted to watch. I was more of a book worm... one program a week was plenty for me. I never developed a heavy television habit. I actually threw my television out in the late 1980's preferring to live directly in life's drama.

My brother, on the other hand, went to the opposite direction. He wanted more television. In fact, he ended up going into television production on a professional basis.

Same household, same parents, same situation... two totally different outcomes.

Is your identity helping or hindering your progress?

As we inquired more deeply into these basic assumptions e.g. I am a woman, I am my parents daughter, my brother's sister etc... I unearthed a long held belief that "If I speak and live my truth, I will be nailed on the cross". I asked someone to ask me the four basic questions which helped me to take an objective look at a basic belief that has been running inside of me for what seems like a million lifetimes.

This deeply rooted fear has kept me from fully giving the gifts I have to give and hindered me from fully enjoying the fruits of my labor. When I turned the sentence around to look at it from a different perspective, I was astounded to see that: When I speak and live my truth, I will be safe and supported.

So, I am hereby publicly claim my intent to speak and live my truth. Writing this post is one example of that. Committing to make more music is another. It's time that I come out more fully. Expect to be hearing more from me in the near future. I have alot to share.

What about you? How does your identity help or hinder you? Leave a comment below...

Byron Katie & The Work in Israel 2

I am excited to announce that after speaking with Arik Peled, who with his wife Vered are responsible for bringing The Work of Byron Katie to Israel, we will be having a free teleconference to give voice to the Good which exists in the Middle East, but which is too often not portrayed by the media. For this reason, through Voices of Eden, I produce these teleconfererences, it the impetus behind this entire blog, and the hope that you will come experience the good here for yourself by participating in a sacred peace tour.

Last Saturday - more than 1500 people gathered in Tel Aviv to consciously participate in a process of self inquiry. The following day, another 300-400 Arabs gathered with Byron Katie to do the same.

With a bit of luck, Tsila, who is responsible for the Arab sector, will also participate in the teleconference, along with both Jews and Arabs who were at these historic living peace events.

Please keep posted. We will be sending out details over the next few days. Mark July 23rd on your calendars.

Byron Katie in Israel

Yesterday I had the good fortune to spend the day with 1500 other Israelis who gathered to meet with Byron Katie and let go of their limiting and negative beliefs, source of all suffering.

Today, she is meeting with another large group of Arabs to do the same.

If you want to see conscious peace making in action.... watch the above!!!!

If you want to REALLY contribute to peace - come join us. Alex Peled did a fantastic job of putting the event together. As we say in these parts... KOL HA KAVOD!