“As you engage in this (You-Turn) process, you’ll move from seeing your undesirable inclinations as problems to seeing them as allies on your path to peace and wholeness. . . . This compassionate attitude toward yourself will help you develop what have been called ‘those wise restraints that make [us] free.’ “- Alison Cook and Kimberly Miller
“But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because one who doubts is like a wave of the sea blown and tossed by the wind.”- James 1:6 (NIV)
As Alison Cook and Kimberly Miller conclude Chapter 1 of Boundaries for Your Soul, they exhort you to notice the clues and listen to your pain. Then, seize the opportunity to evaluate your internal boundaries when conflicted emotions assail you. “After all,” Alison and Kimberly note, “internal conflict is growth trying to happen.”
Furthermore, when you take a You-Turn, you develop clarity about your own thoughts and feelings. As a result, that enables you to respond with intention rather than feeling overwhelmed. Also, as the authors explain in a later chapter, taking a You-Turn involves five steps:
- Focus on an overwhelming part of yourself.
- Befriend this part of your soul.
- Invite Jesus to draw near.
- Unburden this weary part.
- Integrate it into your internal team of rivals.
Consequently, you’ll find you treat yourself more gently. And you notice that you speak more constructively with others about your conflicts. Finally, Alison and Kimberly assert, if you lead painful emotions with a perspective guided by the Holy Spirit, you:
- discover that every part of you possesses tremendous potential for good
- live at a comfortable distance from the challenging aspects of your soul
- relate to each aspect of your soul in a caring way
- learn when to say yes – and how to say no – to your thoughts and feelings
Today’s question: Do you view undesirable inclinations as allies or problems? Please share.
Tomorrow’s blog: the annotated bibliography of When the Game is Over, It All Goes Back in the Box
