In the past I would vacillate between religion/spirituality and psychology/therapeutic counseling. Rarely would I draw parallels or similarities between the two, thus tying them together to gain a better sense of who I am and my place/purpose in this world. My pendulum would swing one way or the other, resting very briefly, or not at all, in the middle as I attempted to find balance in my life. I know that in this life I will continue to swing to and fro, but with the swinging being based solely on center I achieve the balance that I strive for in life.
Reminding myself of my change is a daily thing. It is not as easy to keep the affected change – especially positive – without practice moment by moment. The same challenges that you had before the change are still there. Having accountability, whether it is a coach or a friend that you talk to multiple times during the week is helpful. Most importantly, being totally honest with yourself and whomever you have decided to be accountable to will be the most valuable thing you can to do. Read more…
In my reading of the Tao Te Ching as translated by Ron Hogan, I am gaining insight on how to just be, to live. The simplicity of the words and “ghetto guru” voice is amusing and soothing at the same time. I can almost hear one of my male school teachers – from my mostly black elementary and junior high public schools speaking the words. But, there are times when I am
still a little stumped as to what the massage being conveyed may be. In those times I turn to the same work as translated by Sanderson Beck. The voice of Becks translation, in my opinion, is like that of the “suburban guru”. This voice puts me in mind of my high school art teachers who were the last of the hippies from the generation before. The terms that I have used to describe the voice of some of my former teachers is not to make fun, as they played a role in softening the wall of discrimination and negativity that was built around my consciousness and heart. A barrier that was formed by the misguided lessons that I learned from some of my family and associates (I did not have many friends growing up) and the world around me. Read more…
In the past I would vacillate between religion/spirituality and psychology/therapeutic counseling. Rarely would I draw parallels or similarities between the two, thus tying them together to gain a better sense of who I am and my place/purpose in this world. My pendulum would swing one way or the other, resting very briefly, or not at all, in the middle as I attempted to find balance in my life. I know that in this life I will continue to swing to and fro, but with the swinging being based solely on center I achieve the balance that I strive for in life.
