Integrity
I will live every day until I die; will I settle for mediocrity or reach for happiness and joy?
Some will Say “Duh–that’s dumb. Of course I’m going to live every day until I die. “But what about today, this little 24 hour time period right now? Am I really going to live it or just slide through it? Will I gain a single thing from this day that makes it worth the time…
Read MoreI should listen with my heart instead of my ears
Our relationships vary from casual contacts, friends, to those very intimate and loving associations. For each of them, it is important that we actually hear in addition to listening. Listening with our heart includes active listening; we give the person our undivided attention to demonstrate the value we place on them and on their words…
Read MoreRejecting a religious doctrine does not reject God.
Many have rejected God and religion; some refuse to believe anything that appears to disagree with science; still others have no need for anything that doesn’t fit “modern” ideas or improve their materialistic life. Rejecting organized religion, disallowing doctrines that are intellectually invalid or morally repugnant is not rejecting God. Some see God as the…
Read MoreShed the darkness of religious lethargy; Enjoy the amazing adventure of personally experiencing divine power
Religion without a vibrant, personal spiritual connection to the divine source is like the reflection of a flame in a mirror; it contains no heat. Some discover an exciting, intimate association with God through religious participation. Others may use such involvement as a substitute; they assume that attending church and participating in ritual constitutes a…
Read MoreThe value of a vessel is its emptiness.
Clay is formed into a vessel. The emptiness bounded by the clay creates the usefulness of the vessel. Walls, windows, and doors make boundaries of a room. The value is its emptiness, not the boundaries. — Verse 11, Tao Te Ching, Lao Tzu If I have a pitcher of dirty water and want to fill…
Read MoreGuilt often comes from expectations
Guilt is a feeling of culpability of being responsible or blameworthy for harm or error. Like fear, guilt can be healthy or unhealthy. We can be overly sensitive to other people’s expectations and feel guilty when we disappoint them; we can set unreasonable expectations on our self and feel guilty when we fall short; we…
Read More“Silent Agreement” can spawn lies, sever loyalties, and lessen something honest or good without uttering a word.
Yes, silence may be golden, but failing to stand for our core values costs a heavy price (always for us and sometimes for others.) Make no mistake: Silence is tacit agreement with what has been said or done. Like so many things, the motive for silence is more important than the act itself. “Why” we…
Read More“Silent Agreement” can spawn lies, sever loyalties, and lessen something honest or good without uttering a word.
Yes, silence may be golden, but failing to stand for our core values costs a heavy price (always for us and sometimes for others.) Make no mistake: Silence is tacit agreement with what has been said or done. Like so many things, the motive for silence is more important than the act itself. “Why” we…
Read MoreIf nothing changes, NOTHING changes
If we keep doing what we’ve been doing, we’ll keep getting the same results (and keep feeling the way we’re feeling.) Burning our hand on a hot stove brings immediate changes so we don’t do it again; however, we may suffer emotional pain but continue to volunteer for the very acts that cause our misery.…
Read MoreBlaming other people for the way I feel gives them control over my life
Yes, other people can do things that offend or hurt us but it’s our choice on how we react. If we get angry at someone and say—or think—“Look at what he did! He made me angry, he hurt my feelings!” this very thought acknowledges that this person has the power to control the way we…
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