AN OLD CHEROKEE TALE OF TWO WOLVES

 

 

 

 

 

 

One evening an old Cherokee Indian told his grandson about a battle that goes on inside people. He said, ‘My son, the battle is between two ‘wolves’ inside us all.

One is Evil. It is anger, envy, jealousy, sorrow, regret, greed, arrogance, self-pity, guilt, resentment, inferiority, lies, false pride, superiority, and ego.

The other is good. It is joy, peace, love, hope, serenity, humility, kindness, benevolence, empathy, generosity, truth, compassion, faith and gratitude.’

The grandson thought about it for a minute and then asked his grandfather: ‘Which wolf wins?’

The old Cherokee simply replied, ‘The one you feed.’

This is such a lovely story: so simple and yet so true. I think each and every one of us has these two wolves running around inside us. The Evil wolf or the Good Wolf is fed daily by the choices we make with our thoughts and actions,. What you think about and dwell upon will in a sense appear in your life and influence your behavior.

We have a choice, feed the Good Wolf and it will show up in our character, habits and positive attitude. Or feed the evil Wolf and our whole world will turn negative: like poison, and it will slowly eat away at our soul.

Living in love, joy and gratefulness will change your life as well as the way you see ~ while living in anger, deprivation and resentment is a form of spiritual suicide.

The crucial question is “Which are you feeding today”?

With love, Joy and Gratitude,

 

Allen L Roland, PhD
http://allenlrolandsweblog.blogspot.com/2015/11/an-old-cherokee-tale-of-two-wolves.html
 
Heart centered spiritual consultant and advisor Allen L Roland can be contacted at  allen@allenroland.com Allen is also a lecturer and writer who shares a weekly political and social commentary on his web log and website allenroland.com. He is also featured columnist on Veterans Today and  guest hosts a monthly national radio show TRUTHTALK on www.conscioustalk.net

 

SKYPE SESSIONS GAINING POPULARITY

I have been increasingly doing Skype sessions with my clients particularly since my recent move to Contra Costa County ~ because of my heart centered transformational counseling with veterans with PTSD.

I really enjoy these sessions and have had several non-veteran SKYPE clients from New Jersey, to the mid-west and most recently Los Angeles.

Here's a recent testimonial from John in Los Angeles as to the effectiveness of these Skype sessions;

" The Skype sessions I recently had with Allen Roland have been very rewarding. THANK YOU ALLEN!  I  feel an incredible direct connection to Allen through Skype and it as if he is right in the room with you. He gets inside and begins to know you like someone you have known your whole life.  I was able to experience his 7 step program in a way that changed my life and relieved my anxiety and fears. It is a miracle. There are experiences within the sessions that are transcendent to bring about joy and happiness and a new sense of living.   I have also brought in my father, my work partner and a friend to do Skype sessions with me that cleared the air and we were all able to move forward in a more positive direction. My gratitude towards the world and my relationships has changed forever.  Thank you again, Allen."  

Here's another from Robert Paul, also from LA ;

"Skype sessions with Allen Roland are an accelerated, comfortable and effective method for getting to the root of, and solving your problems. I reached a point in my life where I no longer enjoyed things that were once fulfilling, and came so easily to me. I had no understanding as to why actions that I've made hundreds of times now seemed impossible and insurmountable. By simply logging onto my computer (in my living room), something I do countless times a day, instead of continuing on a path of despair, I connected with a compassionate, thoughtful, and experienced coach who guided me from grief back to a state of well-being, progress, and accomplishment. I suffered from psychosomatic issues that prevented me from doing what I love, and with Allen's online help, I am now more excited than I have been in a long time, to follow my passion, and do things that make me happy. I highly recommend Skype sessions with Allen, as they are convenient, life-changing, and rewarding."

  

Let me know if you're interested in doing heart centered Skype sessions by emailing me allen@allenroland.com or calling me (707) 935-1908. 

Blessings,

Allen L Roland

http://allenlrolandsweblog.blogspot.com/2013/05/skype-sessions-gaining-popularity.html

Allen L Roland is a practicing psychotherapist, author and lecturer who also shares a daily political and social commentary on his web log and website allenroland.com He also guest hosts a monthly national radio show TRUTHTALK on www.conscioustalk.net

We Are The Ones We Have Been Waiting For

WE ARE THE ONES WE HAVE BEEN WAITING FOR

We can no longer blame our leaders, starting with President Obama, for betraying our trust and demand for change ~ for the time has come for Americans to realize that WE are the ones we have been waiting for: Allen L Roland

In 2008, I was one of the millions of Americans who voted for change. I felt Barack Obama represented a needed change from the blatant deception and lies of the Cheney/Bush administration.

I was one the millions of Americans who celebrated Barack Obama's victory and the chance for a new people oriented direction in Washington ~ based on integrity, transparency and honesty.

Little did I realize that a great river was beginning to flow .

I am now one of the millions of Americans who feel let down, if not betrayed, by President Obama and his promises of a new transparency in government, a withdrawal of our troops from Iraq and Afghanistan, the closing of guantanamo, the end of torture and renditions, the end of illegal spying of American citizens as well as the prosecution of those who betrayed our constitution.

The great river has slowly gained strength

With each column I write exposing the growing list of lies and deceptions of this administration I find myself joined by thousands if not millions of Americans who will no longer settle for politics as usual and are joined by our common desire
for truth and political fair play.

The great river is now beginning to run very fast .

Now I realize along with thousands if not millions of
Americans that I am in that swift river, trusting its destination and celebrating its power ~ for its power
is the voice of the people collectively demanding and acting for change .

For it's not the government we need to take back ~ it's the corporate control of our government and our citizens which must end.

The great river is now very powerful and swift and nothing can keep it from its destination.

It's message is clear ~ We can no longer wait for the leaders, we must all now be the leaders and demand honesty, transparency and change .

We must individually go inside and find our special role in an evolving loving plan in action and sing our song within a chorus of millions who are doing the same thing.

Only then will we understand this Message from
the Hopi Elders.

Allen L Roland
http://allenlrolandsweblog.blogspot.com/2010/10/we-are-ones-we-have-been-waiting-for.html

This weblog is sustained through donations from people like yourself. Please send check or Money Order to Allen L. Roland, PO Box 1221, Sonoma,CA 95476
Freelance Online columnist Allen L Roland is available for comments, interviews and speaking engagements ( allen@allenroland.com )

Allen L Roland is a practicing psychotherapist, author and lecturer who also shares a daily political and social commentary on his weblog and website allenroland.com He also guest hosts a monthly national radio show TRUTHTALK on http://www.conscioustalk.net/

ONLY THE TRUTH IS REVOLUTIONARY

Band Of Brothers # 1

BAND OF BROTHERS # 1














Five Vietnam veterans, all with PTSD, faced their fears and not only opened their hearts but found and began to heal themselves in the process: Allen L Roland

The first meeting of the Healing The Wounded Heart Veterans Workshop was on March 11, 2010 at 4 PM.

They had never met me but they had been told about me, by their adjustment counselor Sal, and were prepared for an eight week commitment to face their fears and open their hearts in the process. They knew I was a Veteran and that made a big difference.

I told them that this was an action based workshop and if they did their homework they would reach a place of not only another choice but would open their closed hearts in the process. They would also begin to see through different eyes ~ eyes unclouded by fear, resentment and unworthiness. I also explained through my Cycle Of Life chart how psychic pain will override Joy to the extent that most people have no idea that beneath their deepest pain and aloneness is love, joy and connectedness ~ the Unified Field.
Of course, that first session I shared my own hearts journey to find a lost and alone little boy within myself who not only wanted to fly, and became a Navy Fighter pilot, but also to love as deeply as I loved my beloved grandfather before he was torn away from me at six years old. We didn't talk about the war ~ we all briefly shared our heart's journey and by the end of two hours ~ we became a band of brothers. Their homework was a life chart of the paths of their individual hearts.

The second session, a week later, we all shared a childhood picture of ourselves and shared our life chart with the group describing our individual journeys to find love and acceptance as well as ourselves. We barely talked about the war ~ we all realized our commonality in that our lives had all been a quest to find meaning and that all of our love relationships had significant meaning. We were a band of brothers on an inner journey of the heart.
The third session, a week later, they did the Vic/Acct exercise and had the chance to feel the lightness of being accountable versus the heaviness of being a victim. Their homework was to take the people they had resentment towards off the hook and realize that many of them they had deeply loved and were really gifts in their lives.
Al felt it was the most meaningful aspect of the workshop ~ " I let my ex-wife off the hook ! I hadn't spoken to her in over four years. I was harboring extreme resentment. After the exercise, I was able to call her and let that resentment go That alone has made a huge difference in how I feel today with her and my life "
We barely talked about the war ~ we were a band of brothers on a common journey to find ourselves.
The fourth session, a week later, they met the child within by means of a powerful guided visualization. Every one of them saw that long lost innocent child who told them what they needed to do to fully embrace him in their lives now. Their faces literally changed and became younger as they made that inner connection ~ it was like long dormant flowers suddenly blooming. I was moved almost to tears to see these Veterans suddenly claim their joy and innocence after years of self doubt and despair. For Tom it was the most meaningful aspect of the workshop ~ " Just seeing the look on the other Vets faces as they met the inner child "
Their homework was to give that child a voice and hang out with him.

The Fifth session, one week later, was all about gratefulness and thanking the people who have been there for them their whole life ~ with the help of a guided visualization. Many of them had not thanked anyone and certainly not themselves. Thomas shared his homework from the previous session and had 12 pages of notes on his experience. Here are some excerpts ~ " Once again, I was so surprised when it happened at the group meeting that I could hardly wait for it to happen again and again. Just the thought made me feel like a weight was lifting my shoulders and mind ... I meditated and saw him again. I asked him again ~ What do I need to do to fully embrace you in my life ? He immediately answered ~ Since birth, I have always been with you constantly. You just weren't looking for me. You just didn't see me or believe in me but I see a change in you now ~ more than any time since Vietnam."
Thomas ended his notes by writing ~ " I can't believe that I have had this problem for some 40 years and I feel like a new born child. I'm still amazed that I had blocked out so much and yet this was the right key to change things for the better ~ and it was so simple to initiate ~ I feel good !!! "

By now the Band of Brothers were inspiring each other on their common journey through fear ~ they were beyond the point of no return. Their homework was to thank at least 25 people who had touched them before the next session. We still barely talked about the war for there was no need to. They were already healing themselves by taking responsibility for love and coming from gratitude.

The sixth session, one week later, was the Death Exercise where the group, through a visualization, were guided in a profound death exercise which helped them to experience the degree to which the people closest to them really knew them. The exercise actually simulates your death and the resultant shock of knowing that you did not truly share yourself with the people closest to you or that very few people really knew you. Obviously, it is a strong inner stimulus to open your heart with the people closest to you ~ and that was their homework to accomplish with the five people closest to them before the next session.

Most of them enjoyed the element of the unknown that they were continually coming face to face with in these sessions, especially Al ~ " I enjoyed the element of surprise. It was hard to know week to week just what the activity would be and how it would effect me. Every week was different and unique but it all came together "
The seventh session, one week later, reinforced that we are continually being called from within to the path of the heart, but few listen and fewer still respond. It is in this session that they understand that they have been called to the inner journey of the soul ( through Love) versus the outer journey of the ego ( through Fear ). This session ended with a visualization exercise in which they realize that the most precious gift they have always wanted is themselves ~ free from fear.
For Barry, this was the most meaningful aspect of the workshop " For me, getting in touch with my inner child and having it pointed out to me that the key was just being myself and to trust myself without any fear or fears of the consequences." The Homework as well as ongoing homework was to share the gift of themselves with others but in the spirit of celebration ~ not deprivation.
It was in that same spirit of celebration that we had our Eighth and final session where everyone acknowledged each others common journey through fear to the joy, love and light beneath. As George said, "Now, I truly know I have another choice and I can be loved for just being myself and I don't have to enable people to win their love.... I see the growth in my fellow members but also how we learned to love each other ~ a true Band of Brothers." It was also an incredible experience for both myself and Sal, a Veterans Readjustment counseling therapist who recommended the work shop and then observed the sessions. 

Sal's most meaningful aspect of the workshop was " To witness and see the burden of fear, guilt and pain of each group participate lifted. To see the youthfulness return to their eyes, faces and demeanors. It is a blessed experience to see the joy return to these war veterans after years of despair. It is simply humbling and a beautiful sight "
I was also humbled by this experience and validation of my empowering work as well as the receptivity of these veterans who obviously longed to be seen from the heart and not through eyes of fear. They had been trained many years ago to kill and I, in essence, jump started their hearts by re-training them to love and they began to heal themselves in the process by realizing that they indeed had another choice.
And we never concentrated on the war for the real war had been waged within themselves ~ and they were now victorious.
Allen L Roland
http://allenlrolandsweblog.blogspot.com/2010/05/band-of-brothers.html
This weblog is sustained through donations from people like yourself. Please send check or Money Order to Allen L. Roland, PO Box 1221, Sonoma,CA 95476 Also accept Visa, MasterCard and Discover ~ call (707) 935-1908.

Allen L Roland is a practicing psychotherapist, author and lecturer who also shares a daily political and social commentary on his weblog and website allenroland.com He also guest hosts a monthly national radio show TRUTHTALK on www.conscioustalk.net

Freelance Alternative Press Online columnist and psychotherapist Allen L Roland is also available for comments, interviews, speaking engagements and private consultations ( allen@allenroland.com )

ONLY THE TRUTH IS REVOLUTIONARY