That which each can do best, none but his Maker can teach him. Where is the master who could have taught Shakespeare? Where is the master who could have instructed Franklin, or Washington, or Bacon, or Newton? . . . Shakespeare will never be made by the study of Shakespeare. Do that which is assigned you, and you cannot hope too much or dare too much. – Ralph Waldo Emerson
Where do I want to go next? Often in my life, my destination was the immediate or urgent. The choices are immense. Experience has taught me that I must choose the destination rather than following someone else. Each choice requires my most precious, non-renewable resource - time. Am I willing to exchange it for my choice? What do I need to pack? (Reflecting on past journeys I often took more that I needed.) Do I trust my Maker to provide? Can I be open to not knowing? Relying on those resources that reside within me is perhaps the greater challenge.
Friday, June 3, 2011
Thursday, June 2, 2011
One Strong Belief!
It is easy in the world to live after the world’s opinion; it is easy in solitude to live after our own; but the great man is he who in the midst of the crowd keeps with perfect sweetness the independence of solitude. - Ralph Waldo Emerson, Self-Reliance
When reflecting on my life, the strongest belief I have experienced is the integrity of the human spirit /soul. My greatest joy is the moment of triumph of a human being experiencing success of a hard won victory. When sustained effort against the resistance of limitation or barriers allows attainment...a handicapped youth finishing a Special Olympics event; a child taking the first step; a young man acknowledging their addiction; a senior adult re-gaining the use of stroke impaired speech. At times the gift I or another can share is to believe in the capacity of those who falter or doubt their own capacity.
When reflecting on my life, the strongest belief I have experienced is the integrity of the human spirit /soul. My greatest joy is the moment of triumph of a human being experiencing success of a hard won victory. When sustained effort against the resistance of limitation or barriers allows attainment...a handicapped youth finishing a Special Olympics event; a child taking the first step; a young man acknowledging their addiction; a senior adult re-gaining the use of stroke impaired speech. At times the gift I or another can share is to believe in the capacity of those who falter or doubt their own capacity.
Wednesday, June 1, 2011
Failure!
Your genuine action will explain itself, and will explain your other genuine actions. Your conformity explains nothing. The force of character is cumulative. – Ralph Waldo Emerson, Self-Reliance
My failure is in-action to express my being.
My failure is in-action to express my being.
Tuesday, May 31, 2011
With Fifthteen Minutes to Live
We are afraid of truth, afraid of fortune, afraid of death, and afraid of each other. Our age yields no great and perfect persons. – Ralph Waldo Emerson
Having just fifteen minutes to live.....I will let my closest loved ones know of their gifts. During this time I would truly celebrate the beauty of the moment, experiencing the miracle of each breath, each sound, each sight, each emotion. If possible I would seek to be in the physical presence of my wife Pat, and as many of my family members that could be available. My thoughts would be very much in words of the song by Louis Armstrong, "What a Wonderful Life." I would celebrate knowing that I lived my life to my fullest, doing and accomplishing many things to make a difference in the lives of many.
Having just fifteen minutes to live.....I will let my closest loved ones know of their gifts. During this time I would truly celebrate the beauty of the moment, experiencing the miracle of each breath, each sound, each sight, each emotion. If possible I would seek to be in the physical presence of my wife Pat, and as many of my family members that could be available. My thoughts would be very much in words of the song by Louis Armstrong, "What a Wonderful Life." I would celebrate knowing that I lived my life to my fullest, doing and accomplishing many things to make a difference in the lives of many.
Thursday, April 21, 2011
Take Responsibility for Your Experience!
The truth does set us free, but it may hurt while the freedom comes. Taking responsibility for our experience is one of the points of personal power. Taking or owning responsibility for your experience in life is shifting from being the victim of others or circumstances to accountability. Relationships, health, financial status, professional woes are often blamed on life. Failure to accept our part in the difficult or disappointing situation causes one to seek a reason or story (rationalization) for an explanation. Blaming is the most frequent strategy. Anytime one begins to blame, responsibility for our experience is placed outside of ourselves, making us the victim. Being a victim is a denial of our personal power! Owning or admitting our role in the situation is the beginning of freedom.
In the process of taking responsibility for our experience underlying emotions and beliefs that have been a part of our lives become known. These emotions haven't been given their true voice and had to wear a mask to find expression. Hurt may well be the mask worn by a deep anger; a physical ailment may be the mask of resentment; or an obsessive/compulsive behavior may be the expression for an fulfilled connection with a significant loved one. "If it weren't for you" can be a self-defeating game that is played.
One classic expression of not owning our own experience is taking the responsibility for others experience. A parent often blames themselves for the choices and difficulties their children experience - long after the child has aged into adulthood. Another expression of owning someone's experience is "wanting something more for another than they want for themselves." So often owning another person's experience is avoidance of taking responsibility for one's personal experience and accountability.
Taking responsibility for your experience a full commitment to owning your experience. This maybe the most difficult step of the process. While we may own the part that isn't so objectionable, the ugly parts can be ignored or denied. So often individuals doing personal growth or change work seek to create a "new person" to replace the flawed one. Taking responsibility for your own experience is about owning the whole you, warts and all, that you are now! This step of personal power is acknowledging that you are enough, that your creator didn't make "junk", but empowered and equipped you to complete your destiny. As one owns their experience, openness to learning and support are welcomed. Being grateful and celebrating your experience is one expression of true freedom!
In the process of taking responsibility for our experience underlying emotions and beliefs that have been a part of our lives become known. These emotions haven't been given their true voice and had to wear a mask to find expression. Hurt may well be the mask worn by a deep anger; a physical ailment may be the mask of resentment; or an obsessive/compulsive behavior may be the expression for an fulfilled connection with a significant loved one. "If it weren't for you" can be a self-defeating game that is played.
One classic expression of not owning our own experience is taking the responsibility for others experience. A parent often blames themselves for the choices and difficulties their children experience - long after the child has aged into adulthood. Another expression of owning someone's experience is "wanting something more for another than they want for themselves." So often owning another person's experience is avoidance of taking responsibility for one's personal experience and accountability.
Taking responsibility for your experience a full commitment to owning your experience. This maybe the most difficult step of the process. While we may own the part that isn't so objectionable, the ugly parts can be ignored or denied. So often individuals doing personal growth or change work seek to create a "new person" to replace the flawed one. Taking responsibility for your own experience is about owning the whole you, warts and all, that you are now! This step of personal power is acknowledging that you are enough, that your creator didn't make "junk", but empowered and equipped you to complete your destiny. As one owns their experience, openness to learning and support are welcomed. Being grateful and celebrating your experience is one expression of true freedom!
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