How Can Our Dreams Prevent Us From Awakening?

Image via Wikipedia

From Denny: Carl Jung, often touted as the father of modern psychiatry, specialized in dream analysis. He was also a very spiritual person with a deep faith in God. What he discovered in his studies is that often when we look outside ourselves for answers those answers elude us. Yet when we look inside ourselves the awareness comes as to what unconscious obstacles we have been throwing in the path of achieving our dreams.

Looking outside ourselves sets us up for frustration. We can reach outside to others for information to help us look within. We read posts like this and books on the subject we are trying to learn more about before we begin the long process of introspection; all that is helpful. The problem arises, and this is what I think Jung is stressing here in this quote, is that people can become co-dependent on the next speaker at a seminar, the next church class, the next DVD series all in the name of learning more. At some point it becomes "busy work" setting us up to doubt ourselves to the point of inaction.

The step two in the process after information gathering is to turn inward for introspection. This act is not about doubting or beating up yourself with negative and regretful self-talk of what you did or didn't do. It's about allowing your own spirit to reveal to your every day conscious mind what is holding you back from achieving your dreams and goals. Our spirit understands our desires and knows how to meet them.

The disconnect comes when our conscious every day mind (the one who makes lists and goes grocery shopping = the left brain) doesn't listen to our spirit revealing insight through the right brain. Basically, because of our Western culture we shut down and close the door from our right brain, essentially shutting out half of the information we need to make good decisions in life. You could say the left brain is downright bossy in it's need to dominate rather than cooperate in a partnership for the benefit of all.

Carl Jung stumbled upon a profound insight. Lucky us that he chose to write about it for the benefit of future generations. Because he listened to his own spirit within we now have a wealth of knowledge at our fingertips. All that is left is action on our part to look within.

Quote

"Your vision will become clear only when you look into your heart. Who looks outside, dreams. Who looks inside, awakens." Carl Jung


Carl Jung, Psychology, Social Sciences, Dream interpretation, Psychoanalytic and Psychodynamic, Dream, Psychiatry, Brain, Consciousness

What Is the Benefit of Humor for Stress in Your Life?

From Denny: This weekend I've been working on a new quotes blog to house all the funny quotes I find everywhere that make me chuckle, smile wide or downright guffaw so loudly my cats run out of the room saying, "Whoa! What's going on with Mom!"

I love intelligent witty humor, especially when it makes you think from another angle. This quote uses such a vivid metaphor as we walk carefully through Life that it rightly demonstrates just how integral and central humor should be in our lives.

Quote

"A well-developed sense of humor is the pole that adds balance to your steps as you walk the tightrope of life." - William A. Ward

Historical photo of tightrope walkers above the WWII ruins of Frankfurt, Germany by antony_mayfield @ flickr

Viral Video: Wedding Entrance Dance

From Denny: Enjoy this fun version of how to do your wedding day! It's gone viral on the web.

How Do You Test a Person's Character the Most? Adversity? No.

1861 Inauguration of Abraham Lincoln Image via Wikipedia

From Denny: Truer words could never have been spoken by President Abraham Lincoln! They apply to politics, religion, employers and parenting. It is easy to abuse your power over someone - "because you can." After all, who is going to stop you?

That's why it is so very important to develop true personal discipline in the cultivating of emotional intelligence to protect yourself from becoming an abuser so despised by others - and God. Who wants negative Karma slapping you in the face when you are at your most weak or vulnerable? No one who is sane asks for that intentionally.

How do you cultivate emotional intelligence? Start with cultivating analytical and then critical thinking. Critical thinking will pave the way for you to no longer be deceived by others who practice the art of misdirection, illusion and clever lying arguments. You will recognize you are being manipulated immediately.

Critical thinking is also useful in understanding the motivations of others in a situation, especially an explosive one like politics or family relationships. Really, politics is just an extension of a national family squabbling over tiny specks of truth rather than the big picture focus of what's right and good for the majority of the governed. People waste time getting caught up in contentiousness and then the whole house falls down around their ears. Reminds me of that movie "The War of the Roses," a divorcing couple that were savagely sadistic and destructive toward one another to the point of literally killing each other. What a waste of time and passion that could have been put to more constructive use for the betterment of others rather than the self-absorbed selfishness aimed at the need to win at all costs.

President Lincoln was a Republican President yet today would be recognized as a moderate or even as a Democrat. He was not a screamer partisan who hated all as the Republican Party has become in the past 25 years. He brought into his administration men from many political persuasions and parties of his time, including his political enemies. He made the effort to be bi-partisan. Whether the others chose to do right by the country was up to them.

Once in the White House, Lincoln quickly recognized he had tremendous power to do whatever he willed and desired not to abuse that power over the country. Before getting elected to the White House he lost 70 elections, surely a test of adversity. In this quote, Lincoln talks about adversity as he knew it well. He also knew great power. The politicians and political rhetoric folks could take a lesson from this thought-provoking President of high emotional intelligence and strong moral character.

Quote

"Nearly all men can stand adversity, but if you want to test a man's character, give him power." - President Abraham Lincoln


Abraham Lincoln, United States, Society and Culture, Politics, Emotional intelligence, Presidents, History, Social Studies, Kids and Teens, presidential quotes, quotes

What is the Interaction of Divinity and You?

Image by Lucas Janin via Flickr

From Denny: There is much ado on the spiritual front these days be it from the traditional mainstream Christianity to New Age exploration of less titled and neatly labeled areas of spirituality.

In the end, whether discussing God from a Personal Perspective of male or female gender like Father God and Mother Holy Spirit or illumination of the impersonal spiritual principles we come to the same questions as in this simple quote that packs quite a punch, demanding action from us.

Quote

"We are Divine enough to ask. Are we Divine enough to receive?" - Wayne Dyer


God, Wayne Dyer, Religion, Evangelism, Christianity, Opposing Views, Religion and Spirituality, New Age, quotes, God quotes, society and culture

What We Think, Know or Believe Equals What?

From Denny: Every now and then I run into a political article on the web that is, well, disturbing. Yesterday I was on my beloved HubPages where I have a lot of fun and have acquired a lot of contacts and friends. Then I ran across yet another "ditto" article (they call them hubs) about how liberals are evil. I tried to read it all to give the writer a fair hearing but, frankly, it was nothing but confused, irrational, illogical hate speech brain diarrhea.

The main focus of the argument was to promote themselves as real Christians because they have decided that anyone who is generous and kind is evil. The real definition of the word "liberal" means "to be generous toward others." Since when did the Jesus Christ acts of compassion, generosity toward others and kindness get thrown into the dungeon of the "evil" column?

Something is terribly "rotten in Denmark" and "wrong in River City." Something is rotten to the spiritual core in America when this kind of thing is so widely promoted as well as tolerated without so much as a comment as to why it is wrong. Hate speech like this is as destructive to the writers and speakers as it is to the society and country.

Of course, it also begs the proverb: "Not all the crazy people are locked up!" The problem is that with harsh, scorched Earth politics it lets loose the underbelly of humanity to do as it wills. What it wills is to destroy all around it rather than build up, connect and cultivate better relationships.

A destruction mentality is unbalanced and just plain creepy. What these people are really saying to us (read between the lines) is that they fear everyone and everything in life to the point of hysteria and extreme paranoia. Since these folks are unable at present to truly embrace the true Love message of Jesus, then I suggest their only alternative is a psychiatrist and meds. These people are seriously ill to scream hate at the top of their lungs like this because they are so very fearful. Jesus Christ told his followers, "Fear not; trust Me!"

This brings me to today's quote where we can spout off what we think, what we believe or even what we think we know, true or erroneous facts, but we will be found lacking if we do not choose to do well by others in our lives. There are some acts, like this irrational hate speech, that are better off left unsaid and not done. Everyone benefits in the end.

Quote

"What we think, or what we know, or what we believe is, in the end, of little consequence. The only consequence is what we do." — John Ruskin

Photo by snuzzy @ flickr


Jesus Christ, Christianity, liberals, hate speech, republicans, conservatives, bullies, insane, Christian, John Ruskin, Earth, Religion and Spirituality, Denmark, Jesus

Does Happiness Elude You?

From Denny: One of the beauties of coming from a family of very long-lived people is that you don't lose the institutional memory of historical events. Another plus is that you don't lose what former generations taught in the way of good character. What is in fashion in one generation is often out of fashion in the next and, so, we lose the cultural continuity of good values.

Like in any family there were those in mine who were, well, slugs, when it came to good character. To a person they lived miserable anti-social lives, unhappy the majority of the time because they focused too much upon themselves. In my book there is nothing wrong with being good to your self. Just try to make the same good faith effort for others as you would yourself and your life is enriched!

For instance, I enjoy writing all these many blogs. It gives me a creative outlet for color, design and writing about anything and everything that interests me in this world of awesome wonders. Writing these blogs also gives me a chance to share with others as if these blogs were the ultimate social site of sharing! By sharing with others a person can enrich the lives of others while they enrich their own.

Then comes the Joy as was taught in previous generations. This kind of Joy has lain dormant for the past 25 years or so, drowned out by business greed and the drive to unbalanced excessive and financial only success. There are a lot of facets to the concept of success. Monetary wealth and accumulation is only a small part of the equation. This much power and large wealth requires the learning of real wisdom in order to not be destroyed by such power. I could get into what the ancient Kabbalists have to say about the power inherent in money and how to prepare for basically trying to grab a tiger by the tail but that would be another very long post! :)

Perhaps it's time for global society to rediscover some of the ancient wisdom of past societies, learning to appreciate the success of others as well as their own. Happiness can be an elusive creature to those who are calculating and refuse to dig deep into their hearts and offer up greater generosity to those around them. Generosity of spirit goes a long way to creating a much happier life!

Funny Dog Photo by Phil Romans @ flickr

Goethe at age 69 Image via Wikipedia

Quote

“Who is the happiest of men? He who values the merits of others, and in their pleasure takes joy, even as though t'were his own.” - Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (German Playwright, Poet, Novelist and Dramatist. 1749-1832)

Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, Money, History, Family, German language, Good faith, denny lyon, Arts, Kabbalah, Literature, Kids and Teens

How is Your Mind Like a Parachute?

A member of the U.S. Navy Parachute Demonstration Team, the "Leap Frogs" returns to earth after a successful jump during the Northern Neighbors Day Air show at Minot Air Force Base, N.D. - Image via Wikipedia

From Denny: This quote is one of those that creates this visual image that is a lasting impression. Too often people close their minds because of fear of the unknown and fear of change. Worst of all there is a fear of they have to change by growing their attitude and then their actions toward others.

The reality is that if we don't embrace change in our lives, no matter how uncomfortable we are at first, we don't grow. When we don't grow, we stagnate. When we stagnate, we rot from the inside out - and that is never a pretty sight! Choose to embrace Life by embracing change. The way to embrace change is to open your mind to new possibilities and an unknown path that can take you to wonderful places!

Quote

"Minds are like parachutes - they only function when open." - Thomas Dewar

Do You Realize Speaking Kindness to Others Benefits You?

From Denny: This is a wonderful profound statement about the long-lasting effects of kindness when someone hears these words. Have you ever considered how much good it does your own heart - and health - when it hears you speak these words out loud for another? Both of you benefit!

This act of kindness goes a long way toward developing emotional intelligence to the highest level and boosting the health of your own immune system against disease. After all "dis-ease" is to be out of balance. Kindness creates an "ease" bringing all into balance again, making you and others stronger!

Quote

"Kind words can be short and easy to speak, but their echoes are truly endless." ~ Mother Theresa


Emotional Health and Wellbeing, healing, kindness, Emotional intelligence, Immune system, Intelligence, Conditions and Diseases, Social Sciences, Psychology, Cancer, Health

How Do You Handle Excessive Stress?

Interrupting GoGo's catnap to tell her about the health benefits of smiling... Image by elycefeliz via Flickr

From Denny: Every now and then you get to quote yourself which I find quite amusing! How does that happen? Well, the spiritual development people know exactly what I'm talking about as it often goes like this: You are replying to an email as I was in this instance, or, say, you were having a conversation with someone, and, suddenly, out pops this fantastic one liner. You know it's profound or memorable or just plain good advice.

There is a lot of chaos, job loss, sudden onset of health issues and violence going on right now in our economy. People are struggling with their particular life tests, looking for ways to battle or handle excessive stress.

I grew up in a harsh environment of constant stress and created a lot of coping skills to help me manage the stress instead of the stress controlling me. Here is the most recent advice my spirit jumped up and offered to a recent email friend whose husband is now out of work and lost their house of many years.

There is a lot of hurt going on throughout this country. Like anyone I have my own garbage to deal with from time to time, yet I follow my own advice as in this quote. It has never failed me.

Inevitably, the bad times begin to fade and finally end and then a new cycle of properity begins. Keep your mind and eyes on the positive - even when you know it's down the road. Eventually, you will arrive at that better point in your life.

Quote

“Keep smiling. Humor keeps your attitude pushed up and your heart wide open to sight the new opportunities coming your way.” Denny Lyon, 16 July 2009


Health, Stress, Mental health, Coping skill, Emotional Health and Wellbeing, Kids and Teens, Lyon, Support group, Denny Lyon, humor, smiling

What is the Simplicity of Living True Happiness?

Image by *MizzEl* via Flickr

From Denny: Happiness is something people pursue in every generation. It's even written into our American Constitution as every person's right! Philosophers opine about it endlessly. Religious teachers have their varying opinions.

Yet it seems too many learned sectors miss the obvious as is stated in this quote of pure unadulterated simplicity! And the photo, well, it was just perfect as a pairing for this quote; take a look!

Quote

"Happiness is never stopping to think if you are." ~ Palmer Sondreal


United States Constitution, happiness quotes, United States, Law, Politics, Government, Constitution, Society and Culture, quotes, happiness

Joy is the Holy Fire for Your Passion!

Image by john curley via Flickr

From Denny: This is the third of three quotes on Joy. One of the reasons I promote Joy so much is because it is directly related to a personal passion, the passion of the spirit which refreshes and rejuvenates us to live another moment, another day, our life time. It ignites us to act and fuels us to go on when a situation can look tough otherwise and warms us in our time of disappointment. Joy is so strong it can propel us past all obstacles! Cultivate your Joy today!

Quote

“Joy is the holy fire that keeps our purpose warm and our intelligence aglow.”

Helen Keller quotes (American Author and Educator who was blind and deaf, a pioneer in promoting sign language to communicate. 1880-1968)

Where Do We Find Joy and Peace?

Image by Bern@t via Flickr

From Denny: This is the second of three in the series of quotes about Joy!

How many times have you witnessed someone - or done it yourself - watching people seek a peaceful place away from the people who are nothing but inner chaos? Excessively negative people can be a real emotional drain sometimes.

And yes, you will require removing yourself physically from association until you learn how to cultivate that Peace internally. In the end, the world and others will always be chaotic as they struggle with growth - or as is usually the case - they resist inner growth - and that makes their struggle turn violent.

You will find that the more you focus upon inner Joy the more balanced you will be. As you grow your awareness in this Joy you will find that when the negative chaos bursts into your world and tips you off balance, it will only be momentary. How will it be momentary? The longer you cultivate anything the more familiar it becomes! It is easy to find your way back to that calm place after some practice.

Spiritual development is like that, requiring constant practice that daily makes you more aware and stronger to handle stressful situations.

Quote

"You are seeking Joy and Peace in far off places,

but the spring of Joy is in your Heart.

The haven of Peace is in Yourself."

~ Sai Baba

How is Joy Related to the World Soul?

Gaia Image via Wikipedia

From Denny: Apologies, folks, the 100 degree summer heat and 90% humidity is slowing me down a bit and the daily blogging has suffered!

To catch up I thought I'd do a series of JOY quotes that I really enjoyed recently as they link up well with each other. This is the first of three quotes. The profound AND useful for daily living is a winner! :)

The Colors of My Soul Image by ♪ María ♥♣ Trébol ♪ via Flickr

Quote

"Joy is the realization
of the Truth of our Oneness,
The Oneness of our Soul with the World,
and of the World-Soul with supreme Love."

~Rabindranath Tagore

How Do Your Words & Actions Become Your Destiny?

Stylized deity like veneration of Lao Tze Image via Wikipedia

From Denny: I guess this ancient Chinese philosopher ought to know what he's talking about! As people we really are a collection of what we focus upon over time. As a result we can experience disastrous consequences or bountiful rich happy experiences. Most of us experience Life somewhere in the middle zone.

Our decisions can make us or break us. In the end, our decisions certainly teach us all. And what is Life but one long-running classroom anyway? Keep smiling no matter what; sooner or later you will work your way out of a bad decision Karma backlash. It happens to the best of us. :)

Quote

"Watch your thoughts; they become words.

Watch your words; they become actions.

Watch your actions; they become habits.

Watch your habits; they become character.

Watch your character; it becomes your destiny."

— Lao-Tze

Are You Careful How You Form Your Opinions?

From Denny: This quote really sums up the problem in American politics the past decade or so - and said by an assassinated President decades before our current issues, how appropos.

You also can apply it to crank science, literature analysis and just plain gossip about your family, friends and neighbors! :)

This quote really warns about not going off "half-cocked" and becoming "a loose cannon on deck" lest you end up labeled a fool or an irresponsible flake by those around you.

President Kennedy in the Oval Office Image via Wikipedia

Quote

"Too often we enjoy the comfort of opinion without the discomfort of thought." - President John F. Kennedy

Eye Photo by alexv1317 @ flickr

President John F. Kennedy quote opinion politics American politics United States History Presidents

How Do You Cultivate Inner Happiness?

From Denny: What I so enjoy about quotes are two things: they are short, and therefore, easy meditations and also they often speak a facet of the truth in an amazing way! This is the first quote I've run across that discusses more than cultivating personal harmony or doing outward actions to help cultivate happiness. When you read between the lines what this author is talking about is acquiring a particular attitude toward self BEFORE you begin cultivating happiness - pretty cool take on it!

Quote

“Happiness is really a deep harmonious inner satisfaction and approval.” — Francis Wilshire

Photo by h.koppdelaney @ flickr

happiness meditation harmony mental health arts literature health self-help love Francis Wilshire quotes quotations

Happy July 4th!

Happy July 4th!, originally uploaded by JRyle79.

HAPPY INDEPENDENCE DAY!

HAPPY INDEPENDENCE DAY!, originally uploaded by hungrytiger.

Celebrating Freedom

Celebrating Freedom, originally uploaded by Creativity+ Timothy K Hamilton.

Fourth of July Quotes: Serious and Funny

Photo by Morgan Frederick @ flickr

From Denny: I just love the fireworks on this day. I also like to remember all the soldiers over the centuries who lost their lives preserving our freedom, whether they voted Democrat, Republican or not at all.

Courage is always to be respected and admired. We may not agree on whether there should be a war at all, how to conduct a war once started or how to end it. What we can agree on is to respect those who were sent to fight as our first line of defense. They paid a hefty price for the rest of their lives for those wars were always with them.

Here are some very serious awesome quotes and a few light-hearted ones as well to give you pause and a grin on this solemn national holiday.

Serious Quotes

“Let every nation know, whether it wishes us well or ill, we shall pay any price, bear any burden, meet any hardship, support any friend, oppose any foe, to assure the survival and success of liberty.” – President John F. Kennedy

"Those who expect to reap the blessings of freedom, must, like men, undergo the fatigue of supporting it." ~ Thomas Paine

"He that would make his own liberty secure, must guard even his enemy from opposition; for if he violates this duty he establishes a precedent that will reach himself." ~ Thomas Paine

"This nation will remain the land of the free only so long as it is the home of the brave." ~ Elmer Davis

"Liberty is always dangerous, but it is the safest thing we have." ~ Harry Emerson Fosdick

"Let freedom never perish in your hands." ~ Joseph Addison

Image by photobunny via Flickr

"Freedom has its life in the hearts, the actions, the spirit of men and so it must be daily earned and refreshed - else like a flower cut from its life-giving roots, it will wither and die." ~ President Dwight D. Eisenhower

"In the truest sense, freedom cannot be bestowed; it must be achieved." ~ President Franklin D. Roosevelt

"May the sun in his course visit no land more free, more happy, more lovely, than this our own country!" ~ Daniel Webster

"We on this continent should never forget that men first crossed the Atlantic not to find soil for their ploughs but to secure liberty for their souls." ~ Robert J. McCracken

"Those who deny freedom to others deserve it not for themselves." ~ Abraham Lincoln

"If our country is worth dying for in time of war let us resolve that it is truly worth living for in time of peace." ~ Hamilton Fish

"I prefer liberty with danger to peace with slavery." ~ Author Unknown

"Without freedom, no one really has a name." ~ Milton Acorda

"Where liberty dwells, there is my country." ~ Benjamin Franklin

Funny Quotes

The United States is the only country with a known birthday. ~ James G. Blaine

“You have to love a nation that celebrates its independence every July 4, not with a parade of guns, tanks, and soldiers who file by the White House in a show of strength and muscle, but with family picnics where kids throw Frisbees, the potato salad gets iffy, and the flies die from happiness. You may think you have overeaten, but it is patriotism.” ~ Erma Bombeck

"There, I guess King George will be able to read that." -
John Hancock, after signing the Declaration of Independence with a huge signature well flourished to stand out from the crowd!

Stay safe this holiday; Happy Fourth of July! Thanks for visiting!

What Can Adversity Do for Our Talents?

Photo by Peter Kaminski @ flickr

From Denny: This quote is especially poignant with the recent figures out on job loss in America. Adversity really can test us and make us or break us. Try watching some of NBC News segments called Making A Difference to see what other people are doing when they lose their jobs. Many people all across the globe as well as America are reassessing their passion in life and following it. They are also realistic enough to realize they may need a day job to pay the bills.

One example? A man who has the experience as a motivational speaker and loves to talk to teenagers goes around his area giving speeches for free after his company succumbed to the recession. What's his job now? He works at a far reduced pay as a janitor and is delighted to have the job yet still follows his passion.

Adversity has a way of strengthening us as we decide our priorities. The transition can be a bit difficult to adjust to yet over time we do adjust when we decide to put our focus upon it. In the end, we work our way through the rough patches (which can last months and even years) and find ourselves positioned well for sudden good opportunities staring us in the face at a later date.

Why? Because we worked through it - instead of sitting in a mud puddle whining about what we don't have any longer. We struck out on a fresh start and began building another dream! Most of us in America had pioneer ancestors who faced all kinds of adversity. Maybe today's America can take a lesson from them on tenacity.

Quote

"Adversity has the effect of eliciting talents which, in prosperous circumstances, would have lain dormant." - Horace

What Must We Do to Promote Honesty in the World?

George Bernard Shaw expressed doubts about the distribution of wealth under individualist anarchism - Image via Wikipedia

From Denny: This is the first time I've seen a quote from this angle concerning honesty. It really does speak to the hypocrisy of a society to demand honesty of its citizens yet promote greed, lies, deceit and corruption on the government and business levels all because it fills their wallets with wealth and their hands with ruthless unchallenged power. Absolute power really does corrupt absolutely.

For too long cultures and countries have relied upon the honesty of their middle class to carry the weight of the sins of their leaders. In America the Republicans finally achieved their 50 year plan: destroy the unions, the middle class wealth and redistribute wealth and power back into the hands of the few. Now the Democrats are left trying to pick up the pieces and resurrect a better and functioning society. Meanwhile, the Republican wealthy continue to attack and confuse the minds of the middle class with the usual lies and misdirection about how they created this mess in the first place.

What's truly amazing is how many people from the middle class actually were foolish enough to support an agenda that took away their jobs, jacked up the prices of their health care and raised their federal, state and local taxes. God really is calling people to personal responsibility and to quit giving away their common sense and personal authority to others to use for selfish reasons. The watch phrase in this new time is: choose wisely.

Quote

"We must make the world honest before we can honestly say to our children that honesty is the best policy." - George Bernard Shaw