This article is a summary of the wisdom shared by Dick Schwartz during the pandemic. His teachings are useful at any time we face a moment of crisis.
Finding Your Centre: Accessing Self in Times of Crisis
In moments of global upheaval, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed. Fear and uncertainty dominate our thoughts, making it challenging to find inner peace. What if these turbulent times can become opportunities for profound personal growth? What if we can navigate these challenges by connecting with our Self?
Dick Schwartz encourages us to use crisis as a wake-up call, a chance to reconsider our values and contribute to healing at individual, national, and global levels. Let’s explore practical strategies to access Self, manage fear, and foster a sense of connection during these trying times.
Understanding Our Parts and Their Fears
During crises, our internal world becomes a complex landscape of conflicting emotions. We must acknowledge these different parts of us, especially those carrying fear.
These fears can range from anxieties about our future and the health of our loved ones to concerns about our careers and financial stability.
It’s also crucial to identify the parts of us that try to manage these fears. Some parts might attempt to distract us, while others might minimise or deny our anxieties. Recognising these coping mechanisms allows us to address the underlying fears more effectively. It gives us a chance to question whether these mechanisms still serve us, especially when our usual distractions are unavailable.
The Tor-mentor as Mentor: Learning Through Challenges
Dick Schwartz introduces the concept of the “tor-mentor as mentor.” This idea suggests that the very situations that torment us also offer valuable lessons about what needs healing.
Think of a time when you faced a significant challenge. What did that experience teach you about yourself? By viewing challenging situations as opportunities for growth, we can transform our perspective and find deeper meaning in our struggles. This involves following the “trailheads” – the beliefs, emotions, and thoughts triggered by the situation.
These trailheads often lead us to unresolved issues and past traumas. Addressing these issues can lead to profound healing and a greater sense of self-awareness. It’s about allowing the discomfort to guide us toward areas that need attention and care.
The Wake-Up Call: Personal and Planetary Transformation
Dick Schwartz believes that the current crisis serves as a wake-up call, not only for us individually but also for the planet. This perspective urges us to examine the systems and structures that have led to this point.
He points out that many countries and corporations are driven by materialistic parts, often ignoring the damage they inflict on people and the environment. This unchecked growth can lead to crashes, whether in our personal lives or on a global scale. The pandemic, like wars, economic depressions, and climate crises, forces us to question the beliefs driving our actions.
The pandemic has already demonstrated how quickly the Earth can heal when pollution decreases. For instance, reports have shown significant improvements in air quality in major cities worldwide due to reduced industrial activity and transportation. This illustrates the planet’s resilience and potential for recovery if given a chance. It emphasises the need for a collective shift towards sustainable practices and responsible stewardship of the environment.
Overcoming Obstacles: Accessing Self in Times of Fear
Accessing Self during a crisis is challenging. Fear can trigger our burdened parts, causing protectors to take over and distance us from our Self. Overcoming this requires acknowledging and addressing our fears with compassion.
It’s important to remember that our fears are often valid. We may face job loss, financial hardship, or the illness or death of loved ones. As Abraham Maslow noted, it’s difficult to focus on self-actualisation when our basic needs are threatened. This highlights the importance of self-compassion and understanding during these difficult times.
Dick Schwartz shares a personal story of being caught in a riptide in Kauai. He recounts how he calmed his terrified parts by assuring them that even if they died, he would be with them. This act of Self-leadership allowed him to access the courage he needed to survive. This story illustrates the power of self-compassion and trust, even in the face of death.
Practical Exercises for Connecting with Your Parts
Here are a couple of exercises that can help you connect with your parts and access self:
Inventory of Triggered Parts: Take a moment to focus inward and notice the parts of you that have been triggered by recent events. Identify the scared exiles who fear for your future, health, or financial stability. Also, acknowledge the parts that try to distract you from these fears or minimise them.
Compassionate Inquiry: Choose one part to focus on. Locate it in your body and notice how you feel toward it. If you have extreme feelings, ask the parts responsible to relax and give you space to get to know the target part. Ask the part what it wants you to know and how you can help. Remind it that it’s not alone and that you care.
These exercises can help you build trust with your parts and create a sense of inner connection. Remember to approach these exercises with patience and self-compassion. It’s okay if your parts are resistant or unwilling to cooperate. The goal is to create a safe and supportive space for them to express themselves.
The Ripple Effect: Spreading Self to the World
Dick Schwartz believes that accessing Self has a ripple effect, influencing not only our personal lives but also the world around us.
He argues that the more we access Self, the more it ripples upward, influencing leaders at all levels. This is because Self embodies qualities like courage, clarity, compassion, and connectedness. These qualities are essential for effective leadership and decision-making, especially during times of crisis.
By cultivating self-awareness and compassion within ourselves, we can contribute to creating a more just and equitable world. This involves holding leaders accountable, advocating for policies that promote social and environmental well-being, and supporting initiatives that empower marginalised communities. It’s about recognising our interconnectedness and working together to create a more sustainable and compassionate future.
Embracing the Opportunity: Lessons Learned and Lasting Changes
Dick Schwartz encourages us to embrace this crisis as an opportunity for personal and collective growth. He quotes Rilke, “Let me not squander the hour of my pain,” urging us to use this time to change the world we live in.
This involves being open to learning from our experiences, making necessary changes in our lives, and contributing to a more sustainable and compassionate future. It’s about recognising that we are all interconnected and that our actions have consequences, both for ourselves and for the world around us. By embracing this opportunity, we can emerge from this crisis stronger, wiser, and more connected than ever before.
Dick Schwartz also shares how the crisis has led to positive changes in his own life. The cancellation of travel plans allowed him to reconnect with neglected parts of himself and deepen his relationship with his wife. This illustrates how crises can create space for reflection, healing, and personal growth. He also mentions how the shift to online training programs may increase accessibility and meet the growing demand for IFS training.
A Final Meditation: Extending Compassion and Calm
Dick Schwartz concludes with a final meditation to solidify our connection with self and extend compassion to the world.
Invite Separation: Gently ask your parts to relax and create space for you to embody yourself more fully. Notice any shifts as they release their energy.
Extend Compassion: From your heart, extend compassionate energy throughout your system, including parts you don’t know well or those that cause you trouble.
Compassion to the Earth: Extend compassion and love to the Earth, acknowledging its nurturing qualities. Offer an apology for past mistreatment, both personally and collectively.
Compassion to Leaders: Extend compassion, calm, clarity, and courage to world leaders, helping them access self and learn from this crisis.
By practicing this meditation, we can cultivate inner peace and extend that peace to the world. Remember that even small acts of compassion can have a powerful impact. By connecting with our deepest selves, we can contribute to healing and transformation on a global scale.
Conclusion: Finding Hope and Healing in Crisis
The journey to accessing Self during a crisis is not easy. It requires courage, compassion, and a willingness to confront our deepest fears. Yet, by embracing this challenge, we can emerge stronger, wiser, and more connected than ever before.
As Dick Schwartz reminds us, the lesson plan is in our parts and their burdens. By trusting ourselves, staying connected, and extending compassion to the world, we can navigate these turbulent times and create a brighter future for all.
