Clearing out old stuff

Did you ever think that maybe when you're feeling bad about something that it's old stuff coming up to the surface to be cleared?

Here's what I've noticed. We move higher in consciousness and think oh wow, I'm feeling so much better. And then we feel lousy again and feel disappointed in ourselves. And we think, how can this be happening to me again? Just when I thought I was feeling better? How come I'm feeling lousy again?

In my experience, this just seems to be the way of it. Sometimes up and sometimes down - and it's all part of the process of waking up. You feel better for a while and then stuff comes up again. And often it's old stuff that's coming to the surface so you can look at it again in the light of your new understanding and new awareness.

Sometimes this can be very confusing because when the old erroneous beliefs come up again, the experience can be so powerful that you might think you're not making any progress at all and that you're not getting better at all.

But the reality is if you are questioning your old stories and bringing yourself back to the present moment over and over again - you are making progress and you are getting better. And if you can stay present and just observe what is going on with you and shine the light of present-moment awareness on whatever it is that is coming up... you will see that it does dissolve and fade away.

But it's important to be patient and kind with yourself and give yourself an extra hug. And then tell yourself over and over again...  NONE OF THESE THINGS MOVE ME. And just watch and wait.