Artie, thank you for your beautifully written article. I agree with all that you shared. It is resistance through judging, trying to avoid, numbing and so on, to the “inner voice” that seems to create much of the stress and anxiety.

Meditation does help me reconnect with that part of me that lives past the body’s existence, and that feels really good. Yet when the monkey mind’s chatter snags me, it can feel like a vicious cycle of thoughts and emotions. I used to fight this, and I learned it is impossible to divorce any part. That would be like cutting off a finger.

What does work for me is embracing each part inside that desires to express. This experience is like a great reunion of all parts of me coming together. And if you have ever attended a family reunion, you know that there is often a relative that is difficult to be around. It is no different than what I feel inside. I can be at-odds with myself and when I am willing to be with and witness all that goes on inside……. I even go so far as to thank my mind for sharing. Access Consciousness say to call those thoughts, “an interesting point of view”.

I feel it is me getting out of judgment of myself (including my mind), and incrementally embracing who I am that has brought me the most peace.