Strength in Gentleness

Nothing is so strong as gentleness, nothing so gentle as real strength.   Saint Francis de Sales

There is nothing that shows your strength better than your gentleness.  Struggle can find no foothold when confronted with gentleness, because conflict can only exist when fed by two opposing forces.

‍Characteristics of True Strength

‍I’m sure we all recognise there is nothing strong about the person who is quick to lose temper and resort to aggression or violence in their spirit, words, and action. Meanwhile the gentle person attracts the trust of others because their character is consistent, reliable, and steady. They are aware of the people around them and willing to share their natural and peaceful nature.

Everyone carries gentleness within the core of their being. It comes from the wellspring of love that resides deep within us all and in today’s world it symbolises a peaceful act of rebellion as it stands quietly opposed to a quick tempered, blame-fuelled culture where many vent their frustrations and lack of self love with a victim mentality that avoids responsibility and criticises others.

‍So how can we remember the strength founded in gentleness?

‍Become more self aware

Notice how you are feeling. Become more mindful about your inner world of emotions. Recognise and become more sensitive to how you feel. Practice doing this without judgement and allow your gentle spirit to rise as you acknowledge the truth of what is being felt. If you are sad then you are sad, if you are angry then you are angry. It can be only too easy to gloss over our natural emotional response to people and situations. But this does not serve Truth, it does not serve you and can store up unresolved angst for the future resulting in dis-ease.  Ask your self how you are feeling?  I remember a time someone asked me how I felt. I had buried my feelings for so long I had forgotten what it was to feel. If this is new to you, be patient and gentle with your self. You can find the answer in all sorts of places – how is your body responding? What is your body telling you about how you feel in your mind? Trust the body, it knows the Truth.

‍Give your self time to respond                                                                                                                                                                                                        

There is a big difference between a re-action and a response. One is gentle and calm, the other is a defensive default pattern from the past which more often than not no longer serves our highest good. The gentler a person is the more able they are to make and embrace the time and space between something happening and when they respond to it. Gentle people are not reactionary they are strong choosing if and how to react.

‍Allow your self to love

As we journey through life we all experience loss. Certain situations can quickly feel hopeless and pointless if we let them. Loss and unresolved grief can harden us and yet if we want to be happy we must allow ourselves to heal so that we may continue to love and care. We are the guardians of Heart and closing it down because we’ve been hurt or disappointed does not serve us or the world.

Love is our only reason for living and the only purpose of life. We live for the sake of love, and we live seeking love... it is not surprising that we keep looking for love. All of us are nothing but vibrations of love. We are sustained by love, and in the end we merge back into love.  Swami Muktananda

Remember, you deserve the best in life. Don’t forsake your right to be happy and close your heart.

Happiness is your nature. It is not wrong to desire it. What is wrong is seeking it outside when it is inside.  Ramana Maharshi

Focus deeper                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      

Why does this situation matter? Why is this person important? The gentle spirit will find reasons that ignite a positive momentum. Tune in to a deeper sense of purpose so that if or when life feels futile or meaningless you can draw on a personal meaningful motivation to continue your journey with lightness and clarity.

‍Set a clear intention

Embrace your personal power and ability to choose what you want to do next. Thresholds contain magic, and by allowing space between the situation and your response to it there comes a grounding sense of clarity. You will sense a foundation from which you can take your next step. Allow your insight to identify the intention behind it for gentleness has the clarity to see implications and consequences of action.

The action taken now is with a good idea of what will happen as a result of what is done. The calm decision is taken at the expense of a regrettable emotive reaction.

‍Allow others to express their selves

‍Knowing we are all connected and fostering connections breeds gentleness. Allowing others the space to express giving voice to their truth and for reasons you may not fully appreciate, nurtures meaningful connection and transcends the weakness to label someone as right or wrong. This allowing is a part of the gentle spirit. It cultivates empathy, compassion and an acceptance that each of us has our own individual perception of reality and that each of us is living within the framework of that created reality.

Empathy comes through gentle strength; by seeking to experience the world through your senses you find a place in which it becomes possible to make a profound difference in the lives of others and the wellbeing of this beautiful planet.  As the famous quote of disputed origins says:

Be kind, be gentle, for everyone you meet is fighting a difficult battle.

Who else is affected by the situation? The gentle spirit feels the wider impact beyond that which it feels simply for themselves. Pause, reflect and breathe

The more that you intentionally acknowledge your responses to life the easier it will become for you to choose to be gentle. Reflecting on these things is an important part of learning and growing in the future.

Allow your self time to pause and rest. Give yourself permission to simply “be”. Enjoy observing, practice non-judgement. Give your self time to release unwanted energy: thoughts, feelings, past experiences, traumas or unwanted physical symptoms. Allow your intuitive nature to serve and guide you towards a gentle healthy release.

‍Gentleness at Sound-Well

‍As a gong practitioner and traditional storyteller I am constantly surprised and delighted by the healing experience many individuals talk about when either listening to a story or relaxing in the Gong space . You may recognise how soothing a told story can be or if it’s been a long time since last you listened to one then perhaps you’d like toexperience one for yourself- many people comment on the gentleness carried in the arms of story.

Another way to experience strength in gentleness is to have a gong bath. Whilst relaxing to the sounds either sleeping or not, the gongs help to release and resolve emotional, physical or spiritual dissonance; helping us rediscover balance and harmony. During a ‘Gong bath’ the gongs generate waves of sound that intersperse with and bathe our entire body – both physical and non-physical, re-aligning our cells and pressing the re-set button as it were! To find out more visit: https://sound-well.co.uk/gong-well

Be mild, and cleave to gentle things, thy glory and thy happiness be there.― William Wordsworth