Befriending Our Wise Monsters

"As adults, we interact with invisible monsters, the difficult emotions that diminish our sense of well-being and cause us great distress. Our personal monster may be dread, or panic attacks, or corrosive envy. We often can't name the emotion disrupting our lives. Our fight-or-flight response tells us we are at risk. It cries: Get me out of here! An overpowering feeling is on the attack!"

"How could we forget those ancient myths that stand at the beginning of all races, the myths about dragons that at the last moment are transformed into princesses? Perhaps all the dragons in our lives are princesses who are only waiting to see us act, just once, with beauty and courage. Perhaps everything that frightens us is, in its deepest essence, something helpless that wants our love."

"When we wake with a clenched stomach and a racing heart or are suddenly drenched in sweat, it's as though some superior energy is threatening us. No one wants to suffer. Our impulse is to escape from threats or deny they exist. But what if running from what frightens us only prolongs and exacerbates the fear? The dilemma is how do we turn and face our monsters, the anxiety, fear, depression, rage that depletes our life force? How do we transform patterns of blockage and keep the channels between the mind and body open and flowing?"

Children enjoyed named scary creatures such as zombies and vampires. Adults contend with invisible monsters: difficult emotions that erode well-being and cause distress. Personal monsters include dread, panic attacks, and corrosive envy, often unnamed. Fight-or-flight sensations urge escape, producing physical symptoms like a clenched stomach and racing heart. Running from or denying these feelings can prolong and worsen fear. Mythic imagery frames fears as dragons that can become princesses, implying transformation through beauty, courage, and love. Contemplative eastern practices can help transform internal blockages and restore open mind-body channels.

Read at Psychology Today