The good myth integrates the myth maker into society in a generative way. Our personal myths provide our own lives with a sense of unity and purpose. But our own lives connect to other lives, or myths, to other myths. The most mature personal myths are those that enhance the myth making of others.*
Dan McAdams

So look around at those existing ideas in the world. You can imitate them and still be offering something valuable and unique … Why? Because we are imperfect mirrors.**
Derek Sivers

We find ourselves through one another,
Our unrepeatable imperfection^ creating something
different and vibrant;
Through many others,
Constantly changing and becoming
uniquely ourselves –
And they, uniquely themselves –
Adding nuance and complexity to
personal dreamings, songlines, myths.

Each life is capable of this.

*Dan McAdams’ The Stories We Live By;
**Derek Sivers’ Hell Yeah Or No;
^Viktor Frankl’s wonderful description of humans.

Some years ago,
I created a colouring book that not helps you
to relax, but also links in with my
dreamwhispering work;
It’s still available and doesn’t cost very much:
Slow Journeys in the Same Direction –
I thought some might like to know.

Long ago the word alone was treated as two words, all one. To be all one meant to be wholly one, to be in oneness, either essentially or temporarily. That is precisely the goal of solitude, to be all one.*
Clarissa Pinkola Estés

For nowhere can you find a more peaceful and less busy retreat than your own soul – especially if on close inspection it is filled with ease, which I say is nothing more than being well-ordered. Treat yourself often to this retreat and be renewed.**
Marcus Aurelius

Look at me,
Listen to what I’m saying,
Keep moving, keep doing,
Binging is your reward –
The outside world is demanding.

Come into your stillness,
Enter the quietness in which
the minute gives way to the moment, where
being is your treasure –
The inner world is inviting.

It’s not one rather than the other,
The more the outer world becomes
faster, louder, demanding,
The more we need to
grow our souls.

Marcus Aurelius wrote meditations such as
this one for himself –
If you were to write your own,
To lead you to your soul-retreat,
What might you pen?

*Clarissa Pikola Estés’ Women Who Run With the Wolves;
**Ryan Holiday’s The Daily Stoic.

If we do not attend to the work o projecting delight upon the world, what are we actually doing? If we do not look for joy, search for it, reach for it, what are we saying about the world? … joy exists as a bright, insistent spasm of defiance within the darkness of the world. Seek it. It is there.*
Nick Cave

We don’t have to wait for delight to come to us,
Each of us is capable of producing something
utterly delightful –
This usually for others first of all,
Which makes it more delightful still for us.

Don’t hide your de-light under a bushel.

*Nick Cave’s blog The Red Hand Files: #219)

Systems don’t start out to be selfish, but resilient ones end up that way.*
Seth Godin

I am rooted but I flow.**
Virginia Woolf

Not only do I exist within systems,
I am systemic,
Creating the operating patterns and frameworks for
what excites my attention and
causes me to pursue, systems capable of
nurturing and evolving these into
complexity and replicability.

So far so good, but if my system does not
also throw me out into the further
unknown and unexplored for further
discovery and renewal, then
I will become trapped in some form
of systemism – best to
Check whether your system is feeding itself or you.

*Seth Godin’s This is Strategy;
**James Clear’s 3-2-1 newsletter: On having high standards, the secret to willpower, and how to be strong yet flexible.

Acting responsibly requires breaking ourselves open, or being broken … It requires being openhearted, but not fainthearted.*
Adam Kahane

I have believed in honour, ethics, and right living as its own reward.**
Harry S. Truman

To contribute what I must, no matter what,
To gift this to others wherever possible,
To seek to live wisely in this world.^

How about you?

*Adam Kahane’s Everyday Habits for Transforming Systems;
**Ryan Holiday’s Right Thing, Right Now;
^I know that I have hardly begun.

The most useful work we create causes a change to happen. And the more profound the change, the less predictable it is.*
Seth Godin

Randomness keeps your mind open and observant.**
Derek Sivers

Here’s a little reflection to follow Both Halves:
We’re made for change and growth,
So much so, we have no idea what we’re capable of,
Only a long list of what we haven’t tried –
A personal reflection;
It doesn’t have to be about big things, per se, but consistently keeping on,
Changing small things,
Producing surprise and randomness,
Allowing complexity to grow,
Unsettling us enough to know we are
alive –
Too much settled is not
good for us,
Causing us to look
for the wrong kind of excitement just to
feel alive, but
there’s no substitute for pursuing
that which we must do for the sake of others.

*Seth Godin’s blog: Comfortable with the fuzziness;
**Derek Sivers’ How To Live.

The best way to make things better is to begin. Create the conditions for others to join you.*
Seth Godin

‘Yes, but …’ she began. Then she caught herself. ‘I guess that’s my problem isn’t it, way too many Yes, buts.**
Brian McLaren

I have just been reminded of Seth Godin’s book
Purple Cow;^ when I first read this, I thought,
If I were to write a book, I would
want it to be like this, so, I pulled the book our
of my library to find that
it will soon be twenty years since I read it –
One of my many yes-but moments.

I know that I am at another moment for
starting something for the sake of others;
Who knows what others will begin if we do
what we must do next? – thought we shouldn’t
send our minds spinning by wondering – only,
If there is something we feel we must do then
we should start: what might this be for you?

Seth Godin’s blog: Toward better;
**Brian McLaren’s Faith After Doubt;
^I’m going to read Purple Cow again.

What I’m saying is that you don’t get to the truly creative place unless you find the dangerous idea. And once again, that’s like standing at the mouth of the tomb, in vigil, waiting for the shock of the risen Christ, the shock of the imagination, the astonishing idea.*
Nick Cave

If I want to be secure, that is protected from the flux of life, I am wanting to be separate from life.**
Alan Watts

Finally, we have arrived
at the place of no surprises –
People, activities, ideas, finances –
But we know it’s not good for us,
It’s only half of the story,
The other part is adventure.

*Nick Cave and Seán O’Hagan’s Faith, Hope and Carnage;
**Oliver Burkeman’s The Antidote.

We navigate the world with stories, beliefs and assumptions.*
(Seth Godin)

I realise that I use reading, journaling, and doodling as means for
navigating life wherever and whatever –
Whether that be three weeks away visiting our daughter and husband in
Australia, or getting back into work now that we’ve returned.

First Nation Australians use Songlines for their navigations,
Marcus Aurelius used his personal writings** – quite different ways to access knowledge;
How do you capture the things that are important to you for
giving expression to your story as you navigate through life?

*Seth Godin’s blog: A convincing argument;
**Two books brought back from Australia to find out more about for myself and others.