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

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

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)

How Do You View the World?

Image by Getty Images via Daylife

Considering the past eight years of our toxic politics, this quote is more poignant than ever to keep in mind when we interact with others for business, politics or personal relationships.

"To the man who only has a hammer, everything he encounters begins to look like a nail." — Abraham Maslow

Letting Go Takes Love

LETTING GO TAKES LOVE

To let go does not mean to stop caring;
it means I can't do it for someone else.

To let go is not to cut myself off;
it's the realization I can't control another.

To let go is not to enable
but allow learning from natural consequences.

To let go is to admit powerlessness which means
the outcome is not in my hands.

To let go is not to try to change or blame another;
it's to make the most of myself.

To let go is not to care for
but to care about.

To let go is not to fix
but to be supportive.

To let go is not to judge
but to allow another to be a human being.

To let go is not to be in the middle arranging all the outcomes
but to allow others to affect their destinies.

To let go is not to be protective;
it's to permit another to face reality.

To let go is not to deny
but to accept.

To let go is not to nag, scold or argue
but instead to search out my own shortcomings and correct them.

To let go is not to adjust everything to my desires
but to take each day as it comes and cherish myself in it.

To let go is not to criticize or regulate anybody
but to try to become what I dream I can be.

To let go is not to regret the past
but to grow and live for the future.

To let go is to fear less and love more.
Remember: The time to love is short.

- Anonymous

Photo by Brenda Hervold @ flickr