How to care without losing your smile
As some of you know, I have been working with recovering addicts for the past 4 years. I teach yoga, mindfulness, Tension Release Exercises and Conscious Communication in one of the biggest rehab centers in Chiang Mai, called The Cabin.
I love to work with people in recovering. I often feel moved seeing my clients’ courage and the rawness of the path they are on. I often wonder if it is harder to be in active addiction or in recovering, suddenly feeling all the emotions that were “numbed” by the alcohol, drugs or other ways to self-medicate. They are amongst the bravest people I have met in my life. They are also carrying an incredible amount of suffering.
I love to work with people in recovering. I often feel moved seeing my clients’ courage and the rawness of the path they are on. I often wonder if it is harder to be in active addiction or in recovering, suddenly feeling all the emotions that were “numbed” by the alcohol, drugs or other ways to self-medicate. They are amongst the bravest people I have met in my life. They are also carrying an incredible amount of suffering.
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One of my biggest challenges, being a sensitive person, is to be around people who suffer but not carry it with me when I go home. If you are a psychotherapist, doctor, parent, or in another “caring” job, you may experience the same.
The smile of the Buddha is one of my strongest anchors. The Buddha knows the depth of human suffering. He knows the tears and cries of the world as his own. You may think: “Why is he still smiling if he knows there is so much suffering in the world?” The Buddha can see past the suffering. He can see that often people suffer because they are stuck in some kind of “illusion”. The illusion might be that we think we are not good enough, that we are not worth of receiving love or the illusion that we are separate from others. He sees the potential awakening in everyone. He is able to be surrounded by suffering but stay in perfect equanimity, non-affected at his core. |
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Every day, I practice seeing past the drama of my client’s lives, past the short or medium term suffering they seem to be drowning in. I step back and back and back until all I see is a Soul on a path towards healing, love and consciousness.
I have a strong belief that we are all on a path that eventually brings us to more awareness, more happiness and peace. Some of us take the long way home. But eventually we are all moving towards a higher level of consciousness, I believe.
There are moments when I lose my peaceful equanimity. I’m only human and some of my clients’ suffering touches me deeply. I allow myself to feel it and to be gentle with myself. The Buddha’s smile turns to me and embraces me tenderly.
I have a strong belief that we are all on a path that eventually brings us to more awareness, more happiness and peace. Some of us take the long way home. But eventually we are all moving towards a higher level of consciousness, I believe.
There are moments when I lose my peaceful equanimity. I’m only human and some of my clients’ suffering touches me deeply. I allow myself to feel it and to be gentle with myself. The Buddha’s smile turns to me and embraces me tenderly.
Laurence Gilliot facilitates transformational journeys in Asia and Europe. More about upcoming events and Yoga Teacher Trainings.
