Posted by Carolyn on May 12, 2012
“We might have one being in our life who is a model of unconditional love, so that we don’t fear rejection if we’re truly honest with this person or if we don’t present ourselves in a certain way. We have enormous respect for this person, who means safety and maybe clarity – not mushiness or a phony veneer or an inability to look at difficult and painful things. This person may perceive the difficulty and pain in us, but there is the feeling that he or she views them alongside us, rather than from across some enormous gulf of separation. That is really the essence of a loving heart – the understanding of our nonseparateness.” ~ Sharon Salzberg, “The Power of Loving-Kindness” in Handbook for the Heart
Posted by Carolyn on May 5, 2012
Is stability something to strive for? In some arenas, yes. But for yourself? As applied to you?
Stabile means to be stationary, at rest, fixed, unmoving, and unchanging. If we are stabile, we are not moving or growing or changing. Stability is a resting place, but not a destination. To reach our potential, we must unbalance ourselves.
We begin with certain concepts and views, but at some point these are challenged either by our own self-reflection or because of outside events. This can challenge our past viewpoints and they are shaken. Much may be destroyed and much may need to be rebuilt. Rebuilding can lead to improvement. Choosing not to rebuild can lead to decay. This cycle happens over and over again. As it does our position changes.
Our objective should not be stability, but to go beyond stability and break out of inertia.
Posted by Carolyn on April 28, 2012
In this section of Self-Reliance by Emerson, he speaks to the power in man and alludes to the purpose of struggle. He remarks that an attempt to escape our higher selves or our destiny or the act of behaving below our potential is a shame and robs us of inspiration and brilliance. He suggests that there is no random or coincidental action in what catches our attention. We must be brave and embrace the greatness in ourselves and act with courage or all inspiration will stop. Why should we expecte to be given more if we do not accept or use that which has already been given to us?
“The power which resides in him is new in nature, and none but he knows what that is which he can do, nor does he know until he has tried. Not for nothing one face, one character, one fact, makes much impression on him, and another none. … We but half express ourselves, and are ashamed of that divine idea which each of us represents. It may be safely trusted as proportionate and of good issues, so it be faithfully imparted, but God will not have his work made manifest by cowards. It needs a divine man to exhibit anything divine. A man is relieved and gay when he has put his heart into his work and done his best; but what he has said or done otherwise shall give him no peace. It is a deliverance which does not deliver. In the attempt his genius deserts him; no muse befriends; no invention, no hope.”