Our Common-Unity

Our Common-Unity

Common UnityRecent occurrences in Charlottesville, removing statues, government outbursts and fractured global relationships weigh heavy on our hearts. Hegemonic “isms” reflect ignorance, wreaking exclusion. Such behaviors indicate a disconnection from our innate well-being. I’ve been thinking about how a 3P understanding cultivates unity. Thus, as a Collaborate Associate, my project with Center for Sustainable Change is to facilitate a webinar focused on diversity and our common self-identity.

(UPDATE:  Audre’s webinar went well, please sign up for the recording here.)

With a 3P awareness, conversations about the power of thought, its effect on mental health and the way we label and perceive each other, could foster understanding, unity and inclusion. Although the term, self-identity, has been interpreted as ego, self-image or personality, a 3P understanding defines self-identity as our kind, inborn, instinctive nature, the tender, unconditional love and trust that infants exhibit.

I certainly respect and even honor words people choose to identify themselves, i.e. by culture, ethnicity or nationality. However, as we’re all human beings, we DO have something in common!

One issue that has deeply enhanced my relationships is my 3P understanding that words we use can foster unity or division based on different personal connections between language and thought. As an example, I’ll share one of my experiences with self-identity and the power of thought. As a child I was labeled as niggah, colored and negro. I felt very hurt, worthless and angry because of my thoughts about those racist, mean words! During the sixties, I identified myself as African-American, then Black because of my darker hue. It was also a way to glorify my rich heritage, since Africa had been identified amongst the “third world,” inferior to the “first” and “second” worlds. However, now I also acknowledge my Native American, Cuban and Portuguese bloodlines. Another label that’s been offered for my use is “woman of color.” Well, perhaps that’s pretty accurate, because according to my birth certificate, my ethnicity is “colored.”

While conversing with a white woman at the dog park, when she learned I was from New York, she said that I would soon be a “CRACKA” like the rest of them!! Immediately, I felt a twinge of discomfort! I understood “CRACKA” meant red-neck racists who “cracked the whip” on those enslaved. Previous to my 3P understanding, based on my thoughts about and experiences with racism, I would have reacted angrily. I understood, however, this woman used the word innocently. Thus, I listened calmly and then told her my personal association with the word, which was totally different from hers. A few weeks later, waiting for a massage in therapist’s office, I was conversing with a white man who expressed excitement about refurbishing his “CRACKA” house! Again, as I listened, I learned “CRACKA” was also an architectural style. Hopefully, we all learned something new.

A 3P understanding about psychological innocence reminds us that deeply listening to each other with compassion and non-judgement disintegrates anxious thoughts bred by bias and ignorance. This fosters peace of mind and nurtures our common-unity.

Being at Home

Being at Home

Audre and TMy 20-year-old granddaughter, “T,” committed suicide two years ago. The recent fears about a film that has suicide at its core shows a need for R & R (Rescue and Restoring health). I’m sharing my experience with this issue and how the Three Principles of Mind, Consciousness and Thought has been significant in my own healing.

“T” and I were very close. When she moved from New York to Florida where I had relocated, I was thrilled. We were only ten minutes away from each other! This allowed us to spend more quality time together on a regular basis. Within two months, however, she decided to end her life — and we’d gone to breakfast only two days earlier.

During the first year of T’s passing, I was often plagued with gloom based on my thoughts; some of my questions were: What happened? What was she feeling? What was she thinking? Why did she do it? Why didn’t she talk to me? And of course when I thought about how my daughter, T’s mom, was coping with her own grief, a multitude of feelings erupted: confusion, guilt, constant weeping, anger, and deep sorrow.

My introduction to the 3P’s occurred while I was listening to a podcast on Hay House Radio. I became fascinated with its reputation and the healthy effect its understanding has on those who were suffering.

Having been in various forms of therapy myself during my early parenting, a toxic relationship, and devastating years of doctoral studies led me to realize that I had to make some changes. One of them was NOT to be in “stale traditional forms” of therapy for the next TWENTY years! For me, the 3P understanding was refreshing and empowering because it emphasized innate wisdom. At its core was a focus on well-being as our birthright. This has also been my practice personally and professionally. I was at home!

Of course I miss “T” immensely and often think about her; the sadness, however, doesn’t linger. I tune into the happy moments and other blessings we shared together. I’m also learning to follow the heart of my wisdom and deeply listen to my daughter, instead of attempting to impose my ideas about healing solutions upon her.

I’m honored and excited about partnering with Center for Sustainable Change. Collaborations and practices that foster well-being are vital. What greater joy is there than networking with others toward a common goal: to support the worldwide common-unity of peace, wisdom, joy, and inner strength?

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