Dreamless Sleep

A Pathway to Healing Shame and Embracing the Now.

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shame: a painful feeling of humiliation or distress caused by the consciousness of wrong or foolish behavior.

Shame. It’s that gnawing feeling, that heavy weight in your chest, the reminder of past mistakes that keeps you up at night. Today, I want to talk about how we can break free from that burden and step fully into the present moment. If you've ever felt weighed down by your past, if you’ve ever carried a burden that seemed too heavy to let go, then this is for you.

Are You Shackled to the Past?

Let me ask you something—how many of you are carrying shame? How many of you are haunted by mistakes you've made, regrets that linger like shadows over your present? I know I have. My past has some experiences that have left marks on me—mental and physical abuse, drugs, drinking, violence. These are not easy things to talk about, but they’re part of my story. And if there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s that shame doesn’t just go away on its own. It stays with you, gnawing at your spirit, holding you back from fully living in the moment.

Finding a Way to Heal

I’ve spent years trying to heal from this shame. I’ve prayed, meditated, and done the inner work. I’ve even started a retreat company with two of my friends called the Resilience Tour, where we help men and women overcome shame and trauma. But no matter how much progress I made, there was still a part of me that felt stuck—stuck in a past that I couldn’t change, stuck in emotions I couldn’t fully process.

That’s when I came across Eckhart Tolle’s The Power of Now. This book was a game-changer for me. Tolle talks about the unmanifested world—a place of pure potential, where we can connect with the source energy that underlies everything. He describes a practice called dreamless sleep, a state where the mind is at rest, free from the constant chatter and noise that usually fills our heads. In moments of intense presence, when you are fully awake and aware, you become the bridge between the unmanifested and the manifested world.

Dreamless Sleep as a Path to Freedom

Intrigued, I decided to try this practice. Before bed, I focused on my breath, let go of my thoughts, and allowed myself to sink into the present moment. The goal wasn’t to force sleep, but to surrender to it, to let it take me where it wanted to go.

What happened next was nothing short of extraordinary. In this state of dreamless sleep, I found myself in a conversation with two figures from my past—people I needed to apologize to, people who represented the shame I had been carrying. It wasn’t just a dream; it was an experience of profound clarity and honesty. I was able to say what I needed to say, to offer the apologies I had longed to give, and most importantly, to forgive myself.

When I woke up, I felt a peace that I hadn’t known in years. It was as if the chains of shame had finally been broken. The healing that took place in that dreamless state wasn’t just theoretical—it was real, and it transformed my waking life. Over time, the peace I found in dreamless sleep started spilling over into my daily life. I became more patient, more present, more at ease with who I was becoming. The heavy weight of shame began to lift, replaced by a quiet confidence and a deeper sense of purpose.

How You Can Heal Through Dreamless Sleep

So, how can you experience this kind of healing? Here’s what I’ve learned, and here’s what I want to share with you:

Quiet Your Mind Before Sleep: Start by focusing on your breath. As thoughts arise, acknowledge them, and then let them go. Your goal is to enter a state of pure presence, free from the past and future.

Surrender to the Moment: Don’t try to control where your mind goes. Let go of any expectations. Dreamless sleep isn’t about forcing anything; it’s about allowing yourself to connect with the unmanifested, the source energy. Remember, you are not just your body—you are the breath, the presence, the energy that exists in the space between, in the void.

Be Open to What Comes: In this state, you may have experiences that feel more real than dreams. These are opportunities to confront and heal your deepest wounds. Don’t shy away from them. Embrace them as part of your journey.

Carry the Healing into Your Day: The peace and clarity you find in dreamless sleep aren’t confined to the night. They can be carried into your waking life, helping you to live more fully in the now.

Living Fully in the Present

Why does this matter? Because your past doesn’t define you. Your mistakes, your regrets—they’re part of your story, but they’re not the end of it. You have the power to heal, to let go, and to live fully in the present moment.

Take the Next Step: Download Your Free Resilience eBook

If my story resonated with you and you're ready to start your own journey of healing and growth, I have something special for you. I'm giving away our free Resilience eBook, a guide packed with insights and practices to help you build the mental, physical, emotional, and spiritual resilience you need to thrive.

You can download it directly from my Stan Store at the link below:

Download Your Free Resilience eBook

This isn’t just another eBook; it’s a tool, a companion on your journey to breaking free from the past and stepping into a life of purpose and presence. Let this eBook be the first step in your journey to overcoming the past and living fully in the present. Together, we can expand our capacity to live, love, and create.

If you'd like to continue this conversation, please feel free to reach out!