The man behind the curtain
“Pay no attention to the man behind the curtain” is the awesome quote we know and love from the movie. The Wizard of Oz. It’s a special directive you can take advantage of to rid yourself of emotional baggage on the spot. It is a simple technique. If you stick with it, you will find that you can release a lot of emotional pain in a very short time. So, ironically, it’s actually very magical; despite the Wizard’s questionable nature!
So… let’s start with a problem you currently have. Pick just one to work on first. Choose a medium-sized one until it is easier for you with this process. You can tackle the bigger problems early enough once you get more practice.
Look at your problem with great curiosity, interest, and suspicion. Resist the urge to jump into trouble now and wallow in it. Just look. Nothing else is required at this time. If you find yourself falling into it, you can choose a lower-loading problem to tackle first, or just remind yourself to “watch” yourself during the process. This will keep you out of the thick of things so you can gain some freedom.
Now…look around the back of the problem and see what you actually see behind it. Be open to being surprised by what shows up. It may not be what you expect. If often it is not.
Next… look behind that and notice the structure that holds the problem together. Resist the urge to find out what it’s all about. Just look. Nothing else. Whatever it is… it is… and that’s totally fine.
Now… hold your attention gently there. You are simply focusing your current attention on the structure behind the problem: the scaffolding that supports everything. It could be seen as something you recognize, or not. It may or may not be family. It just is what it is. Just watch… and wait… and wait… and wait more than you think is productive. You want to wait until you pass the point of boredom. Then breathe and relax. Let it all go for now.
Monitor your problem and notice any subtle or very obvious improvements you feel. Observe what you observe without the need to push, cajole, force or manipulate it in any way. Ready, huh? Less problem in a very short time.
What happened? A lot. But for now it is 1000 times more useful not to search for answers. Instead, you’ll actually help yourself by running this sequence again in another problem. Maybe even a third problem if you have a few minutes. You will feel better and better every time. You can reduce your suffering in this way quickly, easily and calmly whenever you have a few minutes to spare.
