This time of year, many of us are thinking about New Year’s resolutions. Well, actually, by this date, the second week in February, we’re probably not thinking about them much anymore because doing so makes us feel guilty. Now, we’re back in the groove, sailing along, fat, dumb and happy, and maybe a little hung over and indigestive after the Super Bowl. Still, every once and awhile we get a vague sense of unease about whether we’re living up to our potential and living on purpose.
What we do with that unease is what separates the happy, fulfilled, compassionate, generous and cooperative people from the depressed, sad, angry, blaming punishers. When the unease arises, the happy folk pause, say something like, ‘oh, there I go again,’ stop ‘thinking’ and struggling, and open themselves to guidance, shifting from the ego to spirit. The depressed, blaming punishers re-double their efforts to think harder and work harder to ‘improve’ themselves and do more of what they were doing, not realizing that doing the same thing and expecting a different result is a good definition of insanity.
So, what potential and purpose are we here to achieve? Is it to be depressed, sad, angry, blaming punishers, or happy, fulfilled, compassionate, generous and cooperative people? Deep down, most of us realize that it is the choice between these two alternatives, ego or spirit, that matters, not the kind of work we do, what kind of toys we own or how much money we have. If our purpose is to be happy, fulfilled, compassionate, generous and cooperative people, then, so long as our basic needs are met, we can be that kind of person, no matter what.
Deep down, most of us, even the blaming punishers, realize that it’s the inner game that matters; that riding the horse in the direction it’s going is cool and fun, and that going up to the screen in the movie theater to fix an out of focus picture doesn’t really work.
Deep down, most of us, even the blaming punishers, realize that flexibility and a more inclusive both/and approach that includes both spirit and body, is most effective and efficient and that our destinies (to make a unique contribution to a world that works for everyone and everything) are not straight lines to destinations ordained by ‘God.’
We realize that there are too many variables, factors and elements for one person’s tiny ego to deal with effectively and efficiently; that normally, of necessity, to get through the day we set boundaries and limit our perceptions, otherwise we’d be overwhelmed and break down. The ego is a fragile thing. But spirit is not. Spirit is totally awesome, unlimited and unlimitable, compassionate and giving of Itself; and spirit is the horse we are riding.
When the unease arises, it is the horse signaling that we’re riding it the wrong direction, or that there is a better way to ride it. And, when we pause, say something like, ‘oh, there I go again,’ stop ‘thinking’ and struggling, and open ourselves to guidance, shifting from the ego to spirit, we allow the horse to lead us home; and the horse knows the way. Why would we think we could achieve success - be happy, fulfilled, compassionate, generous and cooperative people, making our unique contributions to a world that works for everyone and everything – without experiencing new ways of being?
Deep down, we know we’ve got to get our bloated nothingness out of the way of the divine circuits. But, not only is doing this scary, but we don’t know how, haven’t been taught or trained how to do it. But the horse knows how; the horse knows the way.
When we re-affirm our purpose and desire to fulfill our potential to be happy, fulfilled, compassionate, generous and cooperative people, making unique contributions to a world that works for everyone and everything, then pause, shifting from ego to spirit each time we feel the unease, guilt, fear and doubt, we will be doing all we can. Because the unease, guilt, fear and doubt, are really a signal to change, an opportunity for a course correction, a message to pause, relax, stop struggling and let the horse do the work.
So, really, the only resolution we need is to let the horse do the work, each time the unease arises. It’s a one step at a time process. Whatever happens is good, is an opportunity to get our bloated nothingness out of the way, to let go of fear, guilt and blame, especially for ourselves, pause, shift from ego to spirit, let the horse do the work, and then take whatever action you’re going to take from there.
Friday, February 10, 2012
Wednesday, February 8, 2012
New Year's Resolutions, 3
This time of year, many of us are thinking about New Year’s resolutions. Well, actually, by this date, the second week in February, we’re probably not thinking about them much anymore because doing so makes us feel guilty. Now, we’re back in the groove, sailing along, fat, dumb and happy, and maybe a little hung over and indigestive after the Super Bowl. Still, every once and awhile we get a vague sense of unease about whether we’re living up to our potential and living on purpose.
What we do with that unease is what separates the happy, fulfilled, compassionate, generous and cooperative people from the depressed, sad, angry, blaming punishers. When the unease arises, the happy folk pause, say something like, ‘oh, there I go again,’ stop ‘thinking’ and struggling, and open themselves to guidance, shifting from the ego to spirit. The depressed, blaming punishers re-double their efforts to think harder and work harder to ‘improve’ themselves and do more of what they were doing, not realizing that doing the same thing and expecting a different result is a good definition of insanity.
So, what potential and purpose are we here to achieve? Is it to be depressed, sad, angry, blaming punishers, or happy, fulfilled, compassionate, generous and cooperative people? Deep down, most of us realize that it is the choice between these two alternatives, ego or spirit, that matters, not the kind of work we do, what kind of toys we own or how much money we have. If our purpose is to be happy, fulfilled, compassionate, generous and cooperative people, then, so long as our basic needs are met, we can be that kind of person, no matter what.
Deep down, most of us, even the blaming punishers, realize that it’s the inner game that matters; that riding the horse in the direction it’s going is cool and fun, and that going up to the screen in the movie theater to fix an out of focus picture doesn’t really work.
Deep down, most of us, even the blaming punishers, realize that flexibility and a more inclusive both/and approach that includes both spirit and body, is most effective and efficient and that our destinies (to make a unique contribution to a world that works for everyone and everything) are not straight lines to destinations ordained by ‘God.’
We realize that there are too many variables, factors and elements for one person’s tiny ego to deal with effectively and efficiently; that normally, of necessity, to get through the day we set boundaries and limit our perceptions, otherwise we’d be overwhelmed and break down. The ego is a fragile thing. But spirit is not. Spirit is totally awesome, unlimited and unlimitable, compassionate and giving of Itself; and spirit is the horse we are riding.
What we do with that unease is what separates the happy, fulfilled, compassionate, generous and cooperative people from the depressed, sad, angry, blaming punishers. When the unease arises, the happy folk pause, say something like, ‘oh, there I go again,’ stop ‘thinking’ and struggling, and open themselves to guidance, shifting from the ego to spirit. The depressed, blaming punishers re-double their efforts to think harder and work harder to ‘improve’ themselves and do more of what they were doing, not realizing that doing the same thing and expecting a different result is a good definition of insanity.
So, what potential and purpose are we here to achieve? Is it to be depressed, sad, angry, blaming punishers, or happy, fulfilled, compassionate, generous and cooperative people? Deep down, most of us realize that it is the choice between these two alternatives, ego or spirit, that matters, not the kind of work we do, what kind of toys we own or how much money we have. If our purpose is to be happy, fulfilled, compassionate, generous and cooperative people, then, so long as our basic needs are met, we can be that kind of person, no matter what.
Deep down, most of us, even the blaming punishers, realize that it’s the inner game that matters; that riding the horse in the direction it’s going is cool and fun, and that going up to the screen in the movie theater to fix an out of focus picture doesn’t really work.
Deep down, most of us, even the blaming punishers, realize that flexibility and a more inclusive both/and approach that includes both spirit and body, is most effective and efficient and that our destinies (to make a unique contribution to a world that works for everyone and everything) are not straight lines to destinations ordained by ‘God.’
We realize that there are too many variables, factors and elements for one person’s tiny ego to deal with effectively and efficiently; that normally, of necessity, to get through the day we set boundaries and limit our perceptions, otherwise we’d be overwhelmed and break down. The ego is a fragile thing. But spirit is not. Spirit is totally awesome, unlimited and unlimitable, compassionate and giving of Itself; and spirit is the horse we are riding.
Tuesday, February 7, 2012
New Year's Resolutions, 2
This time of year, many of us are thinking about New Year’s resolutions. Well, actually, by this date, the second week in February, we’re probably not thinking about them much anymore because doing so makes us feel guilty. Now, we’re back in the groove, sailing along, fat, dumb and happy, and maybe a little hung over and indigestive after the Super Bowl. Still, every once and awhile we get a vague sense of unease about whether we’re living up to our potential and living on purpose.
What we do with that unease is what separates the happy, fulfilled, compassionate, generous and cooperative people from the depressed, sad, angry, blaming punishers. When the unease arises, the happy folk pause, say something like, ‘oh, there I go again,’ stop ‘thinking’ and struggling, and open themselves to guidance, shifting from the ego to spirit. The depressed, blaming punishers re-double their efforts to think harder and work harder to ‘improve’ themselves and do more of what they were doing, not realizing that doing the same thing and expecting a different result is a good definition of insanity.
So, what potential and purpose are we here to achieve? Is it to be depressed, sad, angry, blaming punishers, or happy, fulfilled, compassionate, generous and cooperative people? Deep down, most of us realize that it is the choice between these two alternatives, ego or spirit, that matters, not the kind of work we do, what kind of toys we own or how much money we have. If our purpose is to be happy, fulfilled, compassionate, generous and cooperative people, then, so long as our basic needs are met, we can be that kind of person, no matter what.
Deep down, most of us, even the blaming punishers, realize that it’s the inner game that matters; that riding the horse in the direction it’s going is cool and fun, and that going up to the screen in the movie theater to fix an out of focus picture doesn’t really work.
Deep down, most of us, even the blaming punishers, realize that flexibility and a more inclusive both/and approach that includes both spirit and body, is most effective and efficient and that our destinies (to make a unique contribution to a world that works for everyone and everything) are not straight lines to destinations ordained by ‘God.’
We realize that there are too many variables, factors and elements for one person’s tiny ego to deal with effectively and efficiently; that normally, of necessity, to get through the day we set boundaries and limit our perceptions, otherwise we’d be overwhelmed and break down. The ego is a fragile thing. But spirit is not. Spirit is totally awesome, unlimited and unlimitable, compassionate and giving of Itself; and spirit is the horse we are riding.
What we do with that unease is what separates the happy, fulfilled, compassionate, generous and cooperative people from the depressed, sad, angry, blaming punishers. When the unease arises, the happy folk pause, say something like, ‘oh, there I go again,’ stop ‘thinking’ and struggling, and open themselves to guidance, shifting from the ego to spirit. The depressed, blaming punishers re-double their efforts to think harder and work harder to ‘improve’ themselves and do more of what they were doing, not realizing that doing the same thing and expecting a different result is a good definition of insanity.
So, what potential and purpose are we here to achieve? Is it to be depressed, sad, angry, blaming punishers, or happy, fulfilled, compassionate, generous and cooperative people? Deep down, most of us realize that it is the choice between these two alternatives, ego or spirit, that matters, not the kind of work we do, what kind of toys we own or how much money we have. If our purpose is to be happy, fulfilled, compassionate, generous and cooperative people, then, so long as our basic needs are met, we can be that kind of person, no matter what.
Deep down, most of us, even the blaming punishers, realize that it’s the inner game that matters; that riding the horse in the direction it’s going is cool and fun, and that going up to the screen in the movie theater to fix an out of focus picture doesn’t really work.
Deep down, most of us, even the blaming punishers, realize that flexibility and a more inclusive both/and approach that includes both spirit and body, is most effective and efficient and that our destinies (to make a unique contribution to a world that works for everyone and everything) are not straight lines to destinations ordained by ‘God.’
We realize that there are too many variables, factors and elements for one person’s tiny ego to deal with effectively and efficiently; that normally, of necessity, to get through the day we set boundaries and limit our perceptions, otherwise we’d be overwhelmed and break down. The ego is a fragile thing. But spirit is not. Spirit is totally awesome, unlimited and unlimitable, compassionate and giving of Itself; and spirit is the horse we are riding.
Monday, February 6, 2012
New Year's Resolutions
This time of year, many of us are thinking about New Year’s resolutions. Well, actually, by this date, the second week in February, we’re probably not thinking about them much anymore because doing so makes us feel guilty. Now, we’re back in the groove, sailing along, fat, dumb and happy, and maybe a little hung over and indigestive after the Super Bowl. Still, every once and awhile we get a vague sense of unease about whether we’re living up to our potential and living on purpose.
What we do with that unease is what separates the happy, fulfilled, compassionate, generous and cooperative people from the depressed, sad, angry, blaming punishers. When the unease arises, the happy folk pause, say something like, ‘oh, there I go again,’ stop ‘thinking’ and struggling, and open themselves to guidance, shifting from the ego to spirit. The depressed, blaming punishers re-double their efforts to think harder and work harder to ‘improve’ themselves and do more of what they were doing, not realizing that doing the same thing and expecting a different result is a good definition of insanity.
What we do with that unease is what separates the happy, fulfilled, compassionate, generous and cooperative people from the depressed, sad, angry, blaming punishers. When the unease arises, the happy folk pause, say something like, ‘oh, there I go again,’ stop ‘thinking’ and struggling, and open themselves to guidance, shifting from the ego to spirit. The depressed, blaming punishers re-double their efforts to think harder and work harder to ‘improve’ themselves and do more of what they were doing, not realizing that doing the same thing and expecting a different result is a good definition of insanity.
Friday, February 3, 2012
Death?
Death is not a comfortable topic. But what Woody Allen said about it, speaks for me: “I’m not afraid of death. I just don’t want to be there when it happens.” Funny, but there’s a truth in that idea that can provide a handle for dealing more effectively with death. If there are many planes of Life and consciousness, as I and many philosophers and metaphysicians, and maybe you believe, perhaps we only die from one plane to another. In other words, perhaps Woody won’t have to be there, or you either, when it happens.
Who is the “I” that dies? If we are all one in God - and by ‘God’ I mean the Life Force, not an old white guy with a beard sitting on a throne in the clouds surrounded by cherubim, and since God doesn’t die, we don’t die either. So, who is the “I” that dies - a particular ego, a particular way of being, a small part of the Whole, one of many possibilities.
Death is a step on an eternal, never ending journey. So why the fear? Because dying means letting go of that particular ego, of who we think we are, and taking a step into something bigger and unknown. But really, think about it, fire and brimstone preaching aside, if it is a step into the unknown, then we don’t know, so why worry; be happy.
Who is the “I” that dies? If we are all one in God - and by ‘God’ I mean the Life Force, not an old white guy with a beard sitting on a throne in the clouds surrounded by cherubim, and since God doesn’t die, we don’t die either. So, who is the “I” that dies - a particular ego, a particular way of being, a small part of the Whole, one of many possibilities.
Death is a step on an eternal, never ending journey. So why the fear? Because dying means letting go of that particular ego, of who we think we are, and taking a step into something bigger and unknown. But really, think about it, fire and brimstone preaching aside, if it is a step into the unknown, then we don’t know, so why worry; be happy.
Thursday, February 2, 2012
Mistaken Interpretations
I but mistake interpretation for the truth; and I am wrong, says the Course. But a mistake is not a sin, nor has reality been taken from Its throne by my mistakes. In other words, I take what I think about the world to be the world, when in reality it is only what I think, not what is.
Most of the time, I forget this and take what I perceive, my interpretation, as the truth, as reality. And even when I remember I have a choice and can choose to see things differently, then choose to do that, my old, negative interpretation lingers and I mistake that – the pain, fear and doubt, the struggle and worry, for the truth.
When this happens, I feel guilty and blame myself, criticizing myself for not practicing what I preach. But when I realize this is a process and forgive myself for being human, I can find moments of peace. By really getting I’m only hung in and interpretation, that this is not the truth and need not be, that a different interpretation is possible, I’ve gotten my bloated nothingness out of the way of the divine circuits and am able to allow the truth, which is always there, to flow.
Little phrases like: “There must be another way,” “I’m never upset for the reason I think,” and “oops, there I go again,” help me remember I’m only dealing with an interpretation and, with spirit’s help - definitely with spirit’s help, I can experience a different interpretation, one more in line with spirit’s compassion, peace, cooperation and joy.
Most of the time, I forget this and take what I perceive, my interpretation, as the truth, as reality. And even when I remember I have a choice and can choose to see things differently, then choose to do that, my old, negative interpretation lingers and I mistake that – the pain, fear and doubt, the struggle and worry, for the truth.
When this happens, I feel guilty and blame myself, criticizing myself for not practicing what I preach. But when I realize this is a process and forgive myself for being human, I can find moments of peace. By really getting I’m only hung in and interpretation, that this is not the truth and need not be, that a different interpretation is possible, I’ve gotten my bloated nothingness out of the way of the divine circuits and am able to allow the truth, which is always there, to flow.
Little phrases like: “There must be another way,” “I’m never upset for the reason I think,” and “oops, there I go again,” help me remember I’m only dealing with an interpretation and, with spirit’s help - definitely with spirit’s help, I can experience a different interpretation, one more in line with spirit’s compassion, peace, cooperation and joy.
Wednesday, February 1, 2012
Meaningful Songs, 3
Seems like ‘meaningful’ songs are on my mind. A few days ago, it was Peggy Lee’s version of, “Is That All There Is?” today it’s Alfie – “What’s it all about, Alfie?” These songs come bubbling up for me, not out of irony, but from a vague sense of dissatisfaction and frustration with what passes for life, purpose and intelligence in the so-called American,‘main stream.’ In fact things have come to such a pass for me, that I find myself agreeing with Sarah Palin, may the great main stream rest her soul, when she referred to it as ‘lame street.’
Nothing in particular triggered my vague sense of dissatisfaction and frustration, it’s become a more or less constant oppressive presence in my psyche, like the gray skies that hide the sun in northern winters. Yet, as I write this, a ray of sun-like optimism illuminates the gloom - the realization that this need not be; that really, the glass is half full, not half empty! And even more and brighter than that, the right answer might be that we have the wrong size glass!!
It’s not enough to be better and better at what already exists, at what we used to be good at. Now something else is required, some innovation, which our collective nostalgia, fear and clinging to past glories obscures. An innovation not just in technology, which we’re still quite good at but will be inadequate, but an innovation in the fundamental way we think and understand ourselves and the universe. We need the larger size glass that can come only from shifting our fundamental conceptual frameworks.
We need to shift from either/or thinking to both/and thinking; from: you’re either for me or against me, to: both you and me, we’re all in this together. Only that kind of thinking will get us where we need to go: to a world that works for everyone and everything. Only that kind of thinking will enable us to put down the half full/half empty glasses we’ve been using and find a right sized glass. Either/or thinking: either spirit or science, has brought us here, to the limits of our effectiveness and the revenge of the planet. Shifting to both/and thinking: both spirit and science may increase our effectiveness and sooth Gaia.
Both/and thinking may be understood as the ‘elegant proof’ that mathematicians prize, or to paraphrase, the ‘elegant solution’ we need. Elegant solutions use few theorems and laws, are short and easy to understand, and have few flaws. They are the shortest path between two points, connecting those points (not destroying one of them, or voting one of them out) so the best of both are available.
An elegant solution is non-adversarial, non-competitive and win/win, not, win/lose. In fact American culture’s deep investment in good guy vs bad guy, either/or, win/lose thinking, instead of win/win’s compassion, cooperation and mutual respect are a big part of it’s seeming inability to rally during the current crisis/opportunity.
But ‘seeming inability’ are the key words here. We have not lost the ability to cooperate, feel compassion and work together, we’ve simply misplaced it. It’s right where it’s always been, waiting in our hearts and minds for us to choose it. Let’s consider the kind of thinking we’re holding to that is self-serving, self-willed and self-justified and be wise enough and humble enough to let it go as uninspired, inelegant thinking.
Let’s first accept our individual responsibility for the kind of thinking we’ve been doing that contributes to the vague sense of dissatisfaction and frustration with what passes for life, purpose and intelligence in the so-called American, ‘main stream,’ and then, choosing the compassion and inclusiveness of the both/and thinking that allows us access to both spirit and science, work together.
Nothing in particular triggered my vague sense of dissatisfaction and frustration, it’s become a more or less constant oppressive presence in my psyche, like the gray skies that hide the sun in northern winters. Yet, as I write this, a ray of sun-like optimism illuminates the gloom - the realization that this need not be; that really, the glass is half full, not half empty! And even more and brighter than that, the right answer might be that we have the wrong size glass!!
It’s not enough to be better and better at what already exists, at what we used to be good at. Now something else is required, some innovation, which our collective nostalgia, fear and clinging to past glories obscures. An innovation not just in technology, which we’re still quite good at but will be inadequate, but an innovation in the fundamental way we think and understand ourselves and the universe. We need the larger size glass that can come only from shifting our fundamental conceptual frameworks.
We need to shift from either/or thinking to both/and thinking; from: you’re either for me or against me, to: both you and me, we’re all in this together. Only that kind of thinking will get us where we need to go: to a world that works for everyone and everything. Only that kind of thinking will enable us to put down the half full/half empty glasses we’ve been using and find a right sized glass. Either/or thinking: either spirit or science, has brought us here, to the limits of our effectiveness and the revenge of the planet. Shifting to both/and thinking: both spirit and science may increase our effectiveness and sooth Gaia.
Both/and thinking may be understood as the ‘elegant proof’ that mathematicians prize, or to paraphrase, the ‘elegant solution’ we need. Elegant solutions use few theorems and laws, are short and easy to understand, and have few flaws. They are the shortest path between two points, connecting those points (not destroying one of them, or voting one of them out) so the best of both are available.
An elegant solution is non-adversarial, non-competitive and win/win, not, win/lose. In fact American culture’s deep investment in good guy vs bad guy, either/or, win/lose thinking, instead of win/win’s compassion, cooperation and mutual respect are a big part of it’s seeming inability to rally during the current crisis/opportunity.
But ‘seeming inability’ are the key words here. We have not lost the ability to cooperate, feel compassion and work together, we’ve simply misplaced it. It’s right where it’s always been, waiting in our hearts and minds for us to choose it. Let’s consider the kind of thinking we’re holding to that is self-serving, self-willed and self-justified and be wise enough and humble enough to let it go as uninspired, inelegant thinking.
Let’s first accept our individual responsibility for the kind of thinking we’ve been doing that contributes to the vague sense of dissatisfaction and frustration with what passes for life, purpose and intelligence in the so-called American, ‘main stream,’ and then, choosing the compassion and inclusiveness of the both/and thinking that allows us access to both spirit and science, work together.
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