Friday, June 20, 2008
Friday, February 29, 2008
Mr Buckley, I miss you
I was watching the Daily show the other day and Madeline Albright was Jon’s guest. I was so impressed with her that I decided I would buy her new book. Yesterday I bought Madeline Albright’s book and Tolle’s latest book as well. Tolle’s book is so I know what my clients are reading. I tried to read it last night and just could not bring myself to focus instead I got into the “President Elect” and began to read political material. I have become much more involved politically than I have in the past (in this country)…involved in my mind and emotions and seeing the larger picture…or trying to. I have always been interested in history and how the thinking of the times has shaped our world. I find it fascinating to see how we have moved ourselves as society, locally and globally, through time. Plato said something along the lines of when we ignore politics we agree to be governed by fools. We have the privilege of having our voice count through our vote in this country.
Our internal working of this country is in disarray and this energy is reflected out the rest of the world. The world is run amok! It is Ego at full throttle if you wish. The energy is negative and change has to happen before we all create major destruction on all levels. As a registered Democratic voter, I really feel that Hillary is the person to bring these changes about more so than Obama. Not because of gender or race or anything in between, but because of her foreign policy experiences. I feel we have to think globally and integrate all because none of the issues are separate. Albright’s book points out a lot of these issues and it would be just great for all people who are going to vote, read this book with an open mind.
I feel that there has been a lot of “dumbing down” of voters and I hear people voicing their support for various candidates in all parties, and not really being able to say why with any depth. Some people appear to be globbing on to the “identity” of candidates as a way of defining themselves. A lot of people appear to not want to think and stand on their own if it looks like they are out of step with the popular crowd. Why is this? Are we afraid to truly think further than what we are told? Why are we afraid to think for ourselves and speak out with thoughtful questions to the candidates well rehearsed rhetoric? Are we afraid that we will be judged as “wrong?” I am sure that any candidate worth their salt would welcome questions that allow them to define their thinking...rather than rhetoric.
I listen to moderators and interviewers and wonder if they are just rattling cages to be difficult and contrary to create a story where none really existed? So far I have not really heard any true questions of depth that would require candidates to voice their own thoughts and feelings. Hillary has done this fleetingly and has been slammed by the talking heads for doing so. I end this morning with this thought...Mr Buckly, I miss you!
Our internal working of this country is in disarray and this energy is reflected out the rest of the world. The world is run amok! It is Ego at full throttle if you wish. The energy is negative and change has to happen before we all create major destruction on all levels. As a registered Democratic voter, I really feel that Hillary is the person to bring these changes about more so than Obama. Not because of gender or race or anything in between, but because of her foreign policy experiences. I feel we have to think globally and integrate all because none of the issues are separate. Albright’s book points out a lot of these issues and it would be just great for all people who are going to vote, read this book with an open mind.
I feel that there has been a lot of “dumbing down” of voters and I hear people voicing their support for various candidates in all parties, and not really being able to say why with any depth. Some people appear to be globbing on to the “identity” of candidates as a way of defining themselves. A lot of people appear to not want to think and stand on their own if it looks like they are out of step with the popular crowd. Why is this? Are we afraid to truly think further than what we are told? Why are we afraid to think for ourselves and speak out with thoughtful questions to the candidates well rehearsed rhetoric? Are we afraid that we will be judged as “wrong?” I am sure that any candidate worth their salt would welcome questions that allow them to define their thinking...rather than rhetoric.
I listen to moderators and interviewers and wonder if they are just rattling cages to be difficult and contrary to create a story where none really existed? So far I have not really heard any true questions of depth that would require candidates to voice their own thoughts and feelings. Hillary has done this fleetingly and has been slammed by the talking heads for doing so. I end this morning with this thought...Mr Buckly, I miss you!
Monday, January 28, 2008
love is the healer
It has been said that pain is the great equalizer as it brings us all to our knees. I agree with this to a point. Pain does not recognize artificial or social inequalities, whether they be in the realm of financial, fame, and everything in between. Pain is a human condition and provides an opportunity to open our hearts and minds. It can be an opportunity for healing. When this occurs, we can then open our hearts more to others as we recognize the heart-aches they may be going through as they challenge themselves with their own lessons. This does not mean I have to charge in and attempt to fix their life for them, but it does offer me a chance to allow compassion to fill me and spill out to them through words of encouragement and acts of kindness.
The words become an acknowledgment of their life choices of lessons. This has been brought home to me over the years as family members have died. The gift the older generation offered me was the gift of compassion. The simple acknowledgement of how I was feeling and the heart ache I was experiencing was the most perfect balm to be offered and I readily accepted all. Their gift of compassion was born out of their own life experiences and they had learned the value and respect of love. It is love that heals our heart and mind, and we know this when we have had own hearts touched with pain and healed with love.
Time has to be factored in here to. I speak from my own experience of having to allow time to adjust to the rents in the fabric of my emotional life after the deaths of family members. As my mind grappled with the initial emotional shock, and then the smaller after shocks, until eventually the heart and mind found equalibrium. Love is the equalizer and the healing.
When the mind and heart are in unity then love is the equalizer because we recognize ourself in others as loving beings. This is our humanity. This does not mean that life events that impact each and every one of us suddenly stop happening. Far from it! Life in all it vagaries and vicissitudes continues. The defining element is in how we chose to deal with them. How are we engaged in the art of living? This is a perfect question to ask ourselves. And so begins my morning.
The words become an acknowledgment of their life choices of lessons. This has been brought home to me over the years as family members have died. The gift the older generation offered me was the gift of compassion. The simple acknowledgement of how I was feeling and the heart ache I was experiencing was the most perfect balm to be offered and I readily accepted all. Their gift of compassion was born out of their own life experiences and they had learned the value and respect of love. It is love that heals our heart and mind, and we know this when we have had own hearts touched with pain and healed with love.
Time has to be factored in here to. I speak from my own experience of having to allow time to adjust to the rents in the fabric of my emotional life after the deaths of family members. As my mind grappled with the initial emotional shock, and then the smaller after shocks, until eventually the heart and mind found equalibrium. Love is the equalizer and the healing.
When the mind and heart are in unity then love is the equalizer because we recognize ourself in others as loving beings. This is our humanity. This does not mean that life events that impact each and every one of us suddenly stop happening. Far from it! Life in all it vagaries and vicissitudes continues. The defining element is in how we chose to deal with them. How are we engaged in the art of living? This is a perfect question to ask ourselves. And so begins my morning.
Thursday, January 10, 2008
Hillary vs Obama. Optimism and Hope.
I am thinking about the NH primary and the results. I am happy. The shift for me was to see Hillary truly connecting on all levels, physically being present, mentally and emotionally showing her depth. To do this shows the strength and courage within her. It was her moment in truth. I have listened avidly to the candidates and have concluded that Hillary will get my vote because she is optimistic and hopeful. Obama is hopeful; both are full of passion.
Let me explain my thinking here. Optimism is backed up with data and in this case it is labeled experience; and given where this country is at the moment and what the incoming president is inheriting, there is going to have to be a lot of experience backing up the optimism to make a difference. Obama is certainly electrifying and inspiring in his message of hope and he and Hillary are both galvanizing the voting population like few before them. I have no doubts that Obama could make a fine president but (yes, there is a But) my reservation is that he will have a slow start because of inexperience and I feel this country cannot afford to wait.
The passion for this fine country has to run deep and be the internal compass for change. Passion with experience gets my vote. I am so over the talking heads pontificating and projecting. It has become like white noise to me, and perhaps to others as well.
Let me explain my thinking here. Optimism is backed up with data and in this case it is labeled experience; and given where this country is at the moment and what the incoming president is inheriting, there is going to have to be a lot of experience backing up the optimism to make a difference. Obama is certainly electrifying and inspiring in his message of hope and he and Hillary are both galvanizing the voting population like few before them. I have no doubts that Obama could make a fine president but (yes, there is a But) my reservation is that he will have a slow start because of inexperience and I feel this country cannot afford to wait.
The passion for this fine country has to run deep and be the internal compass for change. Passion with experience gets my vote. I am so over the talking heads pontificating and projecting. It has become like white noise to me, and perhaps to others as well.
Monday, December 31, 2007
Carpe Diem!
GATHER ye rosebuds while ye may,
Old time is still a-flying
These are the opening lines from a poem by Robert Herrick. I read them and I think Carpe Diem! It brings home to me that all we have is time and that time is this precise moment of my existence. Time is then tied into memory as we measure one experience with another. These are our pearls...experience and movement.
What of the movement of my mind? My mind is energy and energy is movement. Therefore I have to think to move my mind. I have to want to use it, stretch it, to be movement and change. How I think determines how I live and perceive life…my reality. My choice is to be conscious or not. The gathering of rosebuds for me is the gathering of information to learn the truth of me. To move from the static information to dynamic knowledge can only be so when it is lived; put into action and become a part of my experience and memory. Spiritual Philosophy offers these tools.
I look back over this year and see the moments where I have lived in a lazy mind and then see clearly when I moved my mind and the difference is as night and day. Overall though, with all the ups and downs that make up life, 2007 has been a good year of learning for me and I feel the change in my energy as my mind shifts. This shifting and learning has opened to deeper levels of knowledge and with this comes a greater sense of excitement about life...about creating.
As I let go of one physical marker of “time” (2007) and move into another calendar year I think Carpe Diem! To seize the day and live with my mind open, questing, sensing and connected to my heart. When I close my eyes at night I want to know that I lived to my potential and left the day better than when I greeted it. I wish the same and more for all..
Old time is still a-flying
These are the opening lines from a poem by Robert Herrick. I read them and I think Carpe Diem! It brings home to me that all we have is time and that time is this precise moment of my existence. Time is then tied into memory as we measure one experience with another. These are our pearls...experience and movement.
What of the movement of my mind? My mind is energy and energy is movement. Therefore I have to think to move my mind. I have to want to use it, stretch it, to be movement and change. How I think determines how I live and perceive life…my reality. My choice is to be conscious or not. The gathering of rosebuds for me is the gathering of information to learn the truth of me. To move from the static information to dynamic knowledge can only be so when it is lived; put into action and become a part of my experience and memory. Spiritual Philosophy offers these tools.
I look back over this year and see the moments where I have lived in a lazy mind and then see clearly when I moved my mind and the difference is as night and day. Overall though, with all the ups and downs that make up life, 2007 has been a good year of learning for me and I feel the change in my energy as my mind shifts. This shifting and learning has opened to deeper levels of knowledge and with this comes a greater sense of excitement about life...about creating.
As I let go of one physical marker of “time” (2007) and move into another calendar year I think Carpe Diem! To seize the day and live with my mind open, questing, sensing and connected to my heart. When I close my eyes at night I want to know that I lived to my potential and left the day better than when I greeted it. I wish the same and more for all..
Monday, December 10, 2007
plasticity of mind...a few thougths this morning
I have been thinking about the plasticity of my brain and about learning. I have always enjoyed learning new things and I have a broad array of interests, at least I think I have, but does this mean I have a growing mind? Have I truly been learning and growing new neuronal pathways? Or, have I just been remaining in my comfort zone and repeating things “known” to me and living out various scenarios of Groundhog Day? This thought is enough to make me shudder! In speaking with a friend the other day I was mentioning that if I viewed each day as a new lifetime, with sleep being a mini death, then I have to ask myself: am I learning and stretching myself or am I just repeating the day/life before? I think of doing a crossword puzzle and have “used my mind” but was I really using my mind or was I just doing what I already knew to do? This thought brought me up short. I know how to read and write but am I really thinking? In doing the crossword puzzle I really am remembering and going over learned familiar neural pathways. This is solely intellectual puttering around. What of the emotional and sensory component to me?
In thinking about the plasticity of the mind and I realize that it works with either a positive or negative input from what we are thinking. The mind will not change its perspective unless it is offered another way to view something. In offering a different view the mind can stretch to learn new ways of thinking, and creates new pathways and reality can change. This is the flexibility of the mind, and this is the very component required for agile, creative thinking and how the opening of the mind occurs. Conversely, the opposite is also true. To go over the same pathway is to create a strong connection and after a while it becomes a rut that is a challenge to go beyond, to get out of. This is an inflexible mind, content to remain inside its intellectual “comfort” zone and live out stasis. It is a closed mind and it has no loving emotional component to soften and stretch. This is when I have to ask myself if I am really learning or am I staying in my comfort zone of what I have already intellectually learned? This means to me that I am trying to control my self and my environment (others) and there is no freedom or openness in this scenario. This is trying to remain within the line or pathways already established through a limiting thought pattern and fearful emotions.
This question then leads me to ask about memory. What memories stand out for me and why? I think back through my memories, which is a bit like “defraging” my mind, to sort my memories into groupings of experiences; the most potent memories are the ones that have a strong emotional attachment to them. I feel it is because of this strong emotional addition that the memory is enhanced. Just in writing these few words I am seeing immediately that the sensory response is interwoven and part of the whole. This is defining consciousness as the mind, loving emotions and senses all working in unity with awareness and understanding.
In asking questions of self, exploring the answers and locating and defining patterns of thinking, behaviours, language then I can change. Once my mind has been presented with new information and I have made a relationship, then my awareness level has shifted and I cannot go back to being unaware. I can make a choice to change or not….either way, I have made a choice. This is how I can stretch my mind, by building on what is “known” and “learned” through opening to the loving emotions and senses. The warmth of the loving emotions adds to the plasticity of my mind. The words “choice” and “change” take on new meaning for me this morning.
In thinking about the plasticity of the mind and I realize that it works with either a positive or negative input from what we are thinking. The mind will not change its perspective unless it is offered another way to view something. In offering a different view the mind can stretch to learn new ways of thinking, and creates new pathways and reality can change. This is the flexibility of the mind, and this is the very component required for agile, creative thinking and how the opening of the mind occurs. Conversely, the opposite is also true. To go over the same pathway is to create a strong connection and after a while it becomes a rut that is a challenge to go beyond, to get out of. This is an inflexible mind, content to remain inside its intellectual “comfort” zone and live out stasis. It is a closed mind and it has no loving emotional component to soften and stretch. This is when I have to ask myself if I am really learning or am I staying in my comfort zone of what I have already intellectually learned? This means to me that I am trying to control my self and my environment (others) and there is no freedom or openness in this scenario. This is trying to remain within the line or pathways already established through a limiting thought pattern and fearful emotions.
This question then leads me to ask about memory. What memories stand out for me and why? I think back through my memories, which is a bit like “defraging” my mind, to sort my memories into groupings of experiences; the most potent memories are the ones that have a strong emotional attachment to them. I feel it is because of this strong emotional addition that the memory is enhanced. Just in writing these few words I am seeing immediately that the sensory response is interwoven and part of the whole. This is defining consciousness as the mind, loving emotions and senses all working in unity with awareness and understanding.
In asking questions of self, exploring the answers and locating and defining patterns of thinking, behaviours, language then I can change. Once my mind has been presented with new information and I have made a relationship, then my awareness level has shifted and I cannot go back to being unaware. I can make a choice to change or not….either way, I have made a choice. This is how I can stretch my mind, by building on what is “known” and “learned” through opening to the loving emotions and senses. The warmth of the loving emotions adds to the plasticity of my mind. The words “choice” and “change” take on new meaning for me this morning.
Tuesday, November 6, 2007
a snapshot from Carl Jung
I came across this quote from Carl Jung “the function of religion is to protect us from the experience of God.” It makes sense to me as how can we express the good within us when we continue to hang onto the belief in an external God/saviour, belief in judgement, unworthiness, and other negative thoughts and behaviours? When these thoughts are lurking in the neurons of our mind we cannot access the first level of the 33 ethical values. Wisdom can only come from living the ethical values as our personal experience of living.
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