Within each one of us there is a treasure box full of the bliss bestowing jewels of paradise. But we don’t want to open this box. Why? As one of my teachers, Charlotte Joko Beck said we live in the “if onlys” If only I had _____ , I would be happy. If only my spouse would love me, if only I had a better job, etc, etc. We keep looking outside of ourselves for something only we (or God) can give us. But the treasure box doesn’t lie outside of us. That is the mistake we continually make.
Each day I work with my therapy clients to help them open their treasure boxes which lie deep within them right down amongst their pain. Of course, being with these difficult feelings is exactly what we don’t want to do. But that is exactly where our treasure boxes often lie: right in the midst of our anger, sadness, longing, hurt, and loneliness. And we open them with radical acceptance and loving awareness. These are the keys to our treasure boxes and with them we gradually open our hearts as wide as the world with all its joys and sorrows. Our open hearts ARE the treasure box!
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