From my former christian background, I derived that there are two primary motivations for action in my life: fear and love ("there is no fear in love" from the first epistle of John).
My fear motivates my angry responses, and my sadness and depression stem from being overtaxed and being exhausted from my ongoing chronic anger.
Love is a higher motivation. Rather than fatigue me, it invigorates me; i.e., it builds life into me.
Much of my step 4 fearless moral inventory revolves around so many things I have done motivated by fear, rather than in love. My fear made me fat. My fear made me act codependent. My fear made me self-loathing for so long. I have chosen to live in fear for too much of my life.
My counter-response is that I need to love and forgive myself for the wrong things I have done to myself and others. I need to love the fat off of me. I need to love the codependent behaviors out of me. I need to love the hatred and anger out of my heart.
One big thing that I love about the 12 steps is that they have so much Buddhist truth in in them, and Buddhism deals with fear. Fear is the cause of those "desires" that will lead us into unhappiness.
"Perfect love casts out fear."
Thursday, November 12, 2009
Wednesday, November 11, 2009
Follow Your Bliss
Randy Pausch is a hero of mine. He said that it is a good thing to do what you like, and have a good time doing it.
This is what I need to do in my life. I hope your watching this video can inspire you, as it did me.
This is what I need to do in my life. I hope your watching this video can inspire you, as it did me.
New and Better Directions for Schools
Sir Ken Robinson talks about creativity and its proper role in schools. Too long have schools diminished the importance of creative expression of our students. It is time that creative pursuits become integrated in school curriculum again.
Thinking in Her Right Mind
Jill Bolte Taylor had a stroke, caused by AVM. It was in the left hemisphere of her brain.
As a neuroanatomist, she describes how it was to be cognizant of what was happening to her, and that she was also cognizant of switching over to her right hemisphere, when her left hemisphere was incapacitated.
She speaks movingly and lovingly about her experience. She found such peace, beauty and joy while in her right hemisphere, describing it as nirvana.
Her description touched me deeply.
As a neuroanatomist, she describes how it was to be cognizant of what was happening to her, and that she was also cognizant of switching over to her right hemisphere, when her left hemisphere was incapacitated.
She speaks movingly and lovingly about her experience. She found such peace, beauty and joy while in her right hemisphere, describing it as nirvana.
Her description touched me deeply.
Monday, November 9, 2009
Friday, November 6, 2009
New Piece of Learning
"The key is to keep moving forward towards the vision of the life I want for myself, and not be swayed by what [another] does or does not do. The measure of a person is not what happens to them, but how they react to what happens."
I read this on a mailgroup of which I am a member.
For too long I have been affected by what others have done to me. Thus I have allowed myself to be controlled by what they have done. What negative consequences I have created in my life because I allowed this to happen!
I need to focus rather on what I want to accomplish for myself in this life.
I can see now how important it is to maintain focus on the right thing.
I read this on a mailgroup of which I am a member.
For too long I have been affected by what others have done to me. Thus I have allowed myself to be controlled by what they have done. What negative consequences I have created in my life because I allowed this to happen!
I need to focus rather on what I want to accomplish for myself in this life.
I can see now how important it is to maintain focus on the right thing.
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)