May you see in what you do the beauty of your soul.* John O’Donohue
The self is always under construction. The multiplicity of selves is what allows change.** Peter Turchi
All the people I have ever been are still here, collaborating and vying,^ helping today’s me not only figure out who I want to be and what I want to do, but also how to bring these towards some greater oneness and fullness.
*John O’Donohue’s Benedictus: For Work; **Peter Turchi’s A Muse and A Maze; ^There are some of my past “me”s that I don’t want to be again, and that’s how they help me.
Characterisation is achieved … through a process that opens up and releases mysteries of the human spirit. The object is not to “solve” a character – to expose some hidden secret – but instead to deepen and enlarge the riddle itself.* Tim O’Brien
There are aspects of ourselves that are hidden from ourselves as well as others. We are more complex and multifaceted than we think. From time to time something unknown rises to the surface from our unconscious – for example in a dream.** Mikael Krogerus and Roman Tschäppeler
We never reach the end of the mystery of who someone is, whether ourselves or others; This is so for every person, best not to give up on anyone too soon, Especially yourself – I’m most interested in how we can change and change again and again, and how life keeps opening up to us when we do: Why would we want to stop now – Maybe it’s only just beginning?
*Peter Turchi’s A Muse and A Maze; **Mikael Krogerus and Roman Tschäppeler’s The Decision Book; this is a description of the fourth quadrant of the Johari Window: first quadrant – what we know about ourselves and share with others; second – what we know about ourselves, but do not disclose; three – what we do not know about ourselves, but others see clearly. As for the fourth quadrant, when we meet new people, try new things, go to new places, we discover more about ourselves; so, too, as we develop openness, learning, discipline, and experimentation.
This is the truth of who I am: weird, beautiful, hobbled, beloved.* Anne Lamott
Don’t let the hope of finding a better way prevent you from starting down the best path you know of right now. This day won’t come again.** James Clear
We are contradictions wrapped up in a lifetime: so we ought not to think that we are therefore disqualified from magnificence – and significance for someone somewhere – who knows what the best we have will open up to if we embrace it?;^ Everything doesn’t have to happen right now: Time is simply nature’s way of making sure that everything doesn’t happen all at once.^^
Now there is something in everybody that waits for the sound of the genuine in other people … I must wait and listen for the sound of the genuine in you. I must wait. For if I cannot hear it, then in my scheme of things, you are not even present. And everybody wants to feel that everybody else knows that she is there.* Howard Thurman
In a surprisingly short time this doctor succeeded in explaining to the man that freedom is not ‘freedom from’ but a ‘freedom to’ – a freedom to accept responsibility.** Viktor Frankl
If we are not taking up our responsibility, if we are not free to do this, then can we say that we are fully present, genuine, whether here or there – And if not, then where are we?
What must we do before we have to give back this borrowed life?; There is no easy, pain-free way, only choice and practise – Which is what life is all about in the end.
I will not die an unlived life, I will not live in fear of falling or catching fire. I choose to inhabit my days, to allow my living to open me, to make me less afraid, more accessible, to loosen my heart until it becomes a wing, a torch, a promise…^
Light thinks it’s Beyoncé, shimmering with celestial meaning, but shadow knows that without it, we ain’t got nothing to show for ourselves – no paintings, poetry, or song.* Anne Lamott
It asks something of us, this emptiness, this hollowness. It is a call. It is a call to meaning, and a call to love.** Nick Cave
Shadow defines us, presenting need, asking questions, showing us the way; unanswered, it can overwhelm us, even destroy us, but, embraced, it can make us.
*Anne Lamott’s Dusk Night Dawn; **Nick Cave’s The Red Hand Files blog: #200.
I like to think that everything is a coincidence. Life feels more amazing to me if it has no meaning. No secret agenda. Beautifully random.* Derek Sivers
In short, the more we try to render the world controllable, the more it eludes us; and the more daily life loses … its resonance, its capacity to touch, move and absorb us.** Oliver Burkeman
I never know what will turn up in my reading in a morning, in the randomness of my book and blog shuffle – here are four from today: The universe has given birth to we strange creatures of meaning, necessary to our deeper consciousness, possible in the darkest of circumstances, as Viktor Frankl shares from the death camp: For even in this socially limited environment, in spite of the societal restriction upon his personal freedom, the ultimate freedom still remains his: the freedom even in camp to give some shape to his existence.^ Though it is not a card we have to play all the time, Sometimes, we can just let the world be the world, enjoying the wonder and allowing ourselves to be astonished: Life getting on with its own thing whilst we walk across it: This is wisdom – To mean or not to mean.
Without creative engagement in the world, without contributing to the spirit of the world, I think I would start to feel a bit like an onlooker or something. But maybe that would be enough, just to observe what the world has to offer. Its a rich and amazing place and perhaps it has wonder enough.^^
And he noticed that the more he wrote, the better he felt. He opened up to his wife again, and to his work. His depression lifted.* Susan Cain
Tenderness, love, and compassion are exquisite feeling experiences and are generally recognised as such.** Erich Fromm
I come to my morning journal to write myself into the day;^ The shape of the day becomes better, even bigger – Connecting me with the past and future – and I, I feel better prepared to fill it – Far from perfect or anything close, but bringing me closer to the things that matter most.
*Susan Cain’s Bittersweet, of James Pennebaker; **Erich Fromm’s The Revolution of Hope; ^I have found that what began as a hopeful experiment on the 15th May, 1998, has sustained me across the years.
The ego, static and unmoved, relates to the world in terms of having objects, while the self is related to the world in the process of participation.* Erich Fromm
Our life’s purpose isn’t just a destination but a journey marked by growth, discovery, and the continuous realignment of our actions with our deepest values.** Alexander McManus
We grow an ego to know who we are – I am not you and you are not me – But neither you nor I are meant to dwell here, We are moving from dependance to independence to interdependence; Without this movement, the ego ossifies – Forever the caterpillar and never the butterfly, we might say – Wanting the world to come to it, to have it, and yet, When we are at our best, We are moving towards the world, the other, wanting to connect and experience, Participating through contribution.
Let’s get rid of science class in school. Instead, beginning in kindergarten, we could devote a class to curiosity and explanation … Curiosity is a skill, and it can be taught.* Seth Godin
For humility is … the only effective antidote to narcissism, and all its associated evils. It is, in essence, a readiness to admit its shortcomings coupled with a willingness to learn, be that from people, animals, plants, or even machines – whoever masters something we do not. The opportunities are infinite.** Anna Katherina Schaffner
“I don’t know, Perhaps you do, Maybe you could show me, tell me?”
“That’s interesting, I will look closer, deeper – There is so much I don’t know.”
Humility begets curiosity, and curiosity grows humility – We can increase our ability in both.
In this game, we only get one choice, Once we are born we are players. The only choice we get is if we want to play with a finite mindset or an infinite mindset.^
reports have documented how “teaching to the test” curtails student curiosity^^
The more we grow our humility and curiosity, the greater our possibility of becoming infinite players, explorers of the forever more.
Looking at the work done and the work still to do, most people would have written the whole thing off as too much sweat for too little gain. But I didn’t want an easy life. I wanted a beautiful one.* Ben Short
What a blessing to be in a position of doing great work and experiencing the unique stress that goes along with it.** Gabe Anderson
The best work of all is seldom stress-free and totally fun – When we’re doing something that is meaningful and rewarding to us and for others, The sweat and tears don’t seem to register in the same way as when we’re filling a role; Here’s a test for what qualifies: Not only are you successful, And doing what is intuitive, But you are growing, And a need is being met in you; If these four things aren’t met, keep moving and making your meaning.^
THIN|SILENCE 
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