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"The Grain of Truth" is shorthand for a life-changing technique.
It may not be ‘sexy’ enough to get top billing on a workshop flyer or complex enough to fill a seminar.
Yet applied with any regularity, this simple practice opens a doorway into deeper spiritual practice.
During my first years of Pathwork studies, looking for the
‘grain of truth’ helped me to curb my defensiveness, take a breath, listen, and open my heart during discussions.
The process required a shift in perspective from ‘me’ to ‘us’ in order to catch a glimpse of myself.
Those brief pauses allowed space for my Objective Observer to develop. Seeing things from a different angle often led to a
change in attitude.
Reversing the process also works. Noticing my own negativity, no matter how tiny
(rather than focusing upon the ‘greater distortion’ of the other) showed me how I contribute to disharmony.
In addressing the ‘little bit’ of untruth in myself, I became less self-righteous and more receptive to the grain
of truth in the other’s point of view.
“So I beg of you, my dear friends, consider the outer conflicts that come to
you as an answer to your prayer. If you will only turn into the other direction. Instead of becoming defiant and
hurt, turn inside, turn around, no matter how wrong you think others may be! Ask yourself, ask your Father in heaven,
‘Isn't there some grain of truth somewhere? By recognizing it, I will continue to learn and develop.’ ”
from Pathwork Guide Lecture 43, Personality Types of Reason, Will and Emotion
No matter what we are invited
to face, taking a deep breath and accessing the deeper reservoirs of our faith can calm our fears and help us to be more fully
present. Searching for the Grain of Truth can demagnify negative force fields created by suspicion, distrust, and defensive
posturing. It can build bridges of trust and support with our brothers and sisters. It can turn an argument or
disharmony into an opportunity.
Blessings upon
your personal journey! Jan Rigsby
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I am committed to supporting spritiual development in all forms. Self-led groups can
be an empowering way of studying Pathwork and also a unique and wonderful way to connect with others. One of the most difficult
aspects in forming self-led Pathwork groups is ‘getting everyone on the same page’. Experience with Pathwork process groups, classes or workshops jed by various Helpers can be of value. Another
challenge is creating a structure which supports group members. A safe container is essential for emotional process
work, whether this is done privately in a journal, with a group of friends or trusted compantions, or with a trained facilitator.
Transformation is the spiritual purpose of human
life, our basic positive intention. Yet this implies that we are transforming something that we are not fully ready
to let go of. We are attached to our negativity. Developing consciousness and awareness can accelerate the process
of transformation. It also activates our defenses, since we feel shame and guilt about our resistance -- compounding
our sense that we are bad and creating a vicious circle. Group work unleashes both -- our positive intentions, and our
fear that we are only our negative resistance. Repressed thoughts and feelings may need to be expressed and explored.
Deep emotional process work can feel scary. A useful guideline (for both facilitators and self-led groups) is 'go no
deeper than you are (or the group is) able to support'.
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