Like Pamela, I found that the Welcoming Prayer came to mind while I was reading the following quote: “… Even more strongly, [the inner observer’s] purpose is to bring you into a state of unconditional presence, so that you not only believe but know that no physical or emotional state has the power to knock you out of the presence … presence can be sustained regardless of what inner or outer storms assail you.”
– Cynthia Bourgeault, “Working with an Inner Observer,” Centering Prayer and Inner Awakening. As much as I would like to in the state of unconditional awareness regardless of what assails me, I often find that the best that I can hope for is a sort of double awareness much of the time. To paraphrase CB in her explanation of the Welcoming Prayer, sometimes the best that I can hope for is to be able to lovingly wave goodby to myself as I watch myself go over the emotional waterfall.
