Jump to content
GreaseSpot Cafe

Self-awareness


T-Bone
 Share

Recommended Posts

I have recently gotten into journaling after some encouragement from Bagpipes. And the more I thought about it I realized similarities with some processes at work with journaling and posting/reading at Grease Spot Café. For me it has a lot to do with developing self-awareness. I have to confess I was hesitant with getting back into journaling – I did it religiously in the Way Corps. And in reviewing those old journals I am disappointed by how superficial they are and exhibit more traits of self-delusion than self-awareness…

Wikipedia says self-awareness is a unique type of consciousness in that it is not always present, and something usually not sought after.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Self-awareness

The Dictionary of Psychology by Arthur & Emily Reber defines self-awareness as the sense of having a relatively objective but open and accepting appraisal of one's true personal nature.

I think part of self-awareness would encompass reflecting on things like my intentions, actions, and emotions. While in TWI, especially during my Way Corps training I never saw the need to concern myself with any of that – since I was too busy "learning how to move the Word." :biglaugh: And really considering the hectic pace maintained in the Way Corps program - there wasn't much time for anything as frivolous as thinking about myself.

…And in thinking about having so little personal time in residence, burdened with umpteen tasks/busy work and the lack of self-awareness I found an interesting article by Gaia Vince of a study on the brain switching on/off self-awareness:

"Everybody has experienced a sense of "losing oneself" in an activity – being totally absorbed in a task, a movie or sex. Now researchers have caught the brain in the act.

Self-awareness, regarded as a key element of being human, is switched off when the brain needs to concentrate hard on a tricky task, found the neurobiologists from the Weizmann Institute of Science in Rehovot, Israel.

The team conducted a series of experiments to pinpoint the brain activity associated with introspection and that linked to sensory function. They found that the brain assumes a robotic functionality when it has to concentrate all its efforts on a difficult, timed task – only becoming "human" again when it has the luxury of time."

Above excerpt from:

http://www.newscientist.com/article.ns?id=dn9019&feedId=online-news_rss20

Edited by T-Bone
Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • Replies 57
  • Created
  • Last Reply

Top Posters In This Topic

Oprah had a great show with Ellen Bursten, Sheryl Crow, and Dana Buchanan. They all experienced things which helped them to get in touch with the real women they are. They realized that they weren't victims of life, but that there were lessons to be learned and how you get through those lessons and reflect back on them could add growth to yourself and teach you how to love yourself.

I liked the tidbit Sushi used to have on his posts. It goes something like: The lessons are repeated until they are learned. It is so true.

I hate journaling. It seems too laborious for me to put my thoughts in writing, but I have spent much time with my thoughts when I lived alone right after I left TWI. That was my time with me and God. And it was a time of self-reflection.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

T-Bone and Notawayfer,

I used to journal when things upset me and I wanted to write down my thoughts. It really helped. I also read a book during the same time period that you might like. It's called Something More; Excavating Your Authentic Self by Sarah Ban Breathnach. It remains one of my favorite books and I still pick it up from time to time and keep it by my bedside. The chapters are short and inspirational and tend to prod me to reflect upon what is in a good way and what could be that I haven't reached for yet. The writings are refreshing and thought provoking. It took me about a year to read the book because I'd savor each part before going on. Each chapter is written by a different person.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Getting back to the topic of being self-aware.....

I think there are other methods, besides journaling that keep us there.

Over the years, I've developed close friendships with people, that involve conflict, sadness, having to work things out, etc. that keep me aware of who I am, just as much as writing does.

To have close, intimate relationships, can do the same thing. I quit writing when I was young, because I realized it was a crutch for me, that kept me from confronting issues in my life, that I needed to deal with, with real live, in the flesh people. Maybe for some, it helps consolidate, verbalize what needs to be said, done. But for me, I've found it much more better to bounce stuff off a friend, talk to who needs to be talked to, and then remember it.

Some of the stuff I wrote, when I was younger, caused alot of pain. I made the mistake of letting someone read a bunch of stuff I wrote, and it was hurtful, and caused alot of suffering, for them to read it on a page, instead of talking, touching, listening to me.

I think writing in a journal can be cathartic, refreshing, illuminating in many ways. But it can't replace working on my closest relationships, and discovering who I am meant to be, in the grander scheme of things.

I think if journaling is your thing, it should be kept to ones own self, and not be shared. Just my own humble opinion.

Love

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Oh T-bone!!!! Three of my favorite subjects: Journaling, TWI, and self awareness. :)

I confess.....I am an addicted Journaler. :)

I eyed a picture some years ago. Instead of a "Gone Fishing" sign, the picture had a "Gone Journaling" sign. Wierd....I know. Nothing new for me (the wierd). :biglaugh:

I have not time at the moment to post the many thoughts in my head regarding this subject. However, this is a refreshing thread to me and I might post a bit over the next week or so.

Sometimes I think people think of journaling as just writing about problems. Sort of like some folks think the really legitimate time to pray is about problems. (Not saying anyone hear has implied that.) Yet, I have some of my most joyful times in journaling. Yeah..wierd again. hee

I'm differeent from Ex, in that journaling many times helped/helps me get to the point of working out a relationship with someone. (But I understand what she is saying, in that a person can get "stuck" in his/her pages. Yet I believe if he/she keeps writing, action will result.) I am able to see more clearly before I approach the person, able to be less judgmental (toward myself and them). I have shared from my journals publically. It isn't easy and can be scarey. But I'd like to think it has helped someone somewhere along the way.

Waterbuffalo, I read that book! :) Did yout ever see Breathnach's scrapbook journal? Really cool. I gave a few away as gifts some Christmases ago. Maybe our next face to face I can show it to you, since you are a Breathnach fan. Did you ever read Cameron's The Artist's Way?

T-bone I want to dialogue on this thread about the relationship about self analysis and self awareness, 2 different things...but how (for me) jounaling led to self analysis which led to self awareness. (I even have a technique/exercise I used to do it. I'm not a formula person, but the exercise helped me.) And I want to bring up some stuff from Watchman Nee's The Normal Christian Life regarding this topic, and perhaps some stuff from something W**n* Cl*pp taught on "Hidden Chambers" regarding the heart. But like I said time is prohibitive at the moment.

Edited by I Love Bagpipes
Link to comment
Share on other sites

I know this thread is more about self awareness than journaling, but the two are related for me. Self awareness is part of dreams, yes?....knowing/deciding what one wants? being aware of that individuality?

Here are a couple things I posted regarding journaling from another thread:

Post 1: Posting on GSC is like journaling in a way....except most folks will sensor. (And we all hope we will. ) When you personally journal there is NO sensorship. And if a person keeps at it, the beautiful and the "ugly" will manifest.

Another thing journaling has done for me is to help me embrace goals. I used to hate the word "goals" because it was another darned standard that I would fail at. And still I prefer the word "dreams." After about 4 years of journaling I realized I had dreams/goals that were coming to pass. I began to notice that these goals/dreams were some of the thoughts I had been writing for years. It is a nice side benefit. Yet at the same time I realize that not all my dreams will come true (like growing gills and being able to stay under the ocean water for as long as I want..hee)....but there is always room to hope. Hope. Hope. Hope. One can't go wrong with hope. Even if I die, and I die hoping...it makes the process gentler.

One thing so fun/deep about journaling (for me) is that ANYTHING goes. This took awhile for me to develop...to not be afraid. I'm sure some of that fear was because of my TWI mindset.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Great posts everyone! keep it coming...I really wasn't concerned about limiting this thread to journaling - the main thing was self-awareness - whatever facilitates the process. WaterBuffalo - that book sounds interesting - I'll have to check it out.

...ooops - almost forgot - the reason I started this in About the Way - was also for thoughts about doctrines, programs and practices in TWI that hindered the self-awareness process.

Edited by T-Bone
Link to comment
Share on other sites

I like to keep a journal at specific times. I note “activities” in a diary (one liners, about, perhaps, places I visit). But my thinking is done with a journal. It helps to crystallize what’s going on and see direction.

As has been said, we were required to maintain a journal in rez. Sometimes it was very hard – too much to do, too little time to do it. Sometimes it just records the myriad activities of that day (or some of them). But I always tried to look at what I had learned, or been challenged in, that day.

Some of the entries (I looked at some of my journals recently) are about things that are laughable – oh, the things that they got us wound up about in rez! How hard we all tried to “be our best” and to “do God’s will” (ie, whatever activity, however bizarre, in rez) :realmad: . I wonder why I didn’t just take it a bit more laid back (oops, not a good choice of expression, but I don’t mean in that way!) or just tell ‘em they were being daft :biglaugh: .

Some of the posts record the good times (and there were good times) and fun activities, that I had forgotten about.

We were told, things will happen in rez and you won’t know or understand why at the time. It might be ten years down the road that you realise why something happened.

Well, that ten years is up and passed. And yeah, I am coming to some interesting realisations. Those journals might be worth reviewing, if I can get past the annoyance at the pettiness of some things that happened. If nothing else – how things should not be done.

In the last few months, I have gone through an immense period of head- and heart-healing and great blessing, and the current journal records that. I don’t want to forget this truly awesome time. Sometimes, my journal entry might just be a copy of an email to or from somebody, or a post I made on GSC (which has been very healing) or something I saw on GSC with my own comments in the margin. When time allows, it’s nice to sit down with a pen and a blank sheet of paper and say, okay, what did I learn today? Sometimes nothing is in my mind until the pen hits the paper and then I might write quite a lot, thoughts, emotions, motives, excitement, discouraging bits, good bits, bad bits, reflections, how someone helped me, or I helped someone - but really it’s (in my mind) quietly talking things over with God. And he often gives me a bigger picture on something. Very calming and settling. It’s quiet time with me and God. Perhaps that’s how Paul felt when he wrote his epistles (not that my scrawlings are on that level).

It’s not the “you must” from in rez but the delight in seeing how my life has improved so very much lately. I want to capture that great joy. It is soooo different from the bottom of the deep dark cold well where I lived (call that living??) before I got healed. I demanded the restitution from Job 42 and – oh Lordy – have the windows of heaven opened!

Also in my journal are specific things I want or need: like my new job (start on Monday, yippee :dance: ). I wrote out my “wish list” in the back of the journal a few months ago, and just happened across it a couple of weeks ago when I knew my employer was going to offer me the job. No prizes for guessing that every single thing on the “wish list” was encompassed in the new job. And some extras.

Share what’s happened? You bet. Share the actual handwritten words on the page? Never!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I journal

It's something most LDS are encourage to do--a living history sort of thing

Sometimes It is just to record the events of the day

sometimes to put in writing how I feel

Sometimes esoteric ramblings

but what ever it is a good emotional release

Sort of a put out the brain lights before sleeping exercise

Link to comment
Share on other sites

wonderful topic...self-awareness

plz permit a tad rant as i pass thru...

yeah...journaling is an amazing way to see our "selves" from elsewhere, as it were.

for 4 months now, about 200 of us have been practicing twilight journaling, where we develop a habit of writing before we even fully wake up. Henriette Anne Klauser has been our mentor in this, as well as other things.

we find that as we write about our dreams...our dreams become clearer, more vivid, more memorable. as if our dreamlife responds to our paying closer attention to them.

dare i say that for thousands of years, in all corners of the world, journaling (or any form of re-telling) and dreams have been the bread and butter of spiritual practice and disciplines. without such habits, we lose the lessons that are thought in our dreams.

but also, the folks i work with in hospice (monks, nuns, harpists, nurses, doctors, etc...) have been practicing journaling around how contemplative prayer and meditation effects their work.

not in how it heals anyone, but in how their deepening self awareness helps them become better healers.

this spring, the 200 of us are going to get back together and share and compare notes.

...

on another note...from what i have learned, self-awareness is not merely a deepening of knowing who we are (and god knows that are a hundred way to do this), but an actual expanding of our notions of the word "self."

like i have often mentioned around here in the past...our sense of self expands and changes, whether we like it or not. death, being perhaps the ultimate breaker of self awareness.

as we deepen our inner awareness, we shed our earlier senses of self identity.

we stop thinking we are merely a body, and realize that we are also a soul.

and then we stop thinking we are merely a soul, and realize that we are spirit.

perhaps even our definition of the word "spirit" and "soul" changes with our experience of it

and so the meanings of scriptures change as well as our perspectives are reborn

and perhaps even realize that the spirit that we are, is not limited to our small self

or merely something seperate we have within our smaller sense of self

but something that exists and permeates the entire universe

yes, when the sun rises in the morning

it rises WITHIN our awareness

the sun is not merely out there somewhere...but WITHIN our awareness

yes, our awareness extends to the ends of the universe

and we are all swimming within each other

utterly soaking wet with each other

we are stains on the walls of each other's souls whether we like it or not

and we are also our awareness

and so self awareness has no bounds, except that which we give it

indeed, we find that our truest and oldest self existed prior to the big bang

prior to creation

and we have simply forgotten this

and for thousands of years, in most all traditions and cultures, meditation and contemplation, it seems, is the pretty much a way to practice dying..in that, our sense of self dies and is reborn into this greater something.

such grand divinity and spirituality becomes something ordinary, universal and free

but something has happened in both religion and science (and language) that has limited our access to greater self-awareness

subjectivity and objectivity have both been dramatically flattened, limited and crippled

spiritual xenophobia does not allow us to compare scripture with scripture

and shared reality-scripts have replaced actual spiritual practice and transformational experience

and so forth

and its not that we are merely meat-sticks and must get something put in us (like VP said)

but that we are NOT mere meat-sticks and have never been...we only think we are

and so the journey of self-awareness is one of a series of often brutal humiliations

when we realize that who we think we are, and what we think we are made of

is likely completely correct, but also severely wrong for being so so limited and partial

we have given up our birthright for a scrap of meat

or a mere scrap of conceptual thought

yet, we are not our thoughts

nor are we are bodies

and if we can somehow realize this prior to death

we are blessed

and free

...

ok, rant over

thanks for starting this thread

great wiki article, too, Tbone...a lot of helpful links

anyway...i hope someone gets something out of my clumsy stumbling words

peace

Edited by sirguessalot
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Journaling must bring bring yourself or inner self to the quiet place inside, that we so ofteen ignore..For me my brain is being wasted on the every affects of life..I like my brain..so journaling must be a way to get purest of thoughts and taking notice....when I am able to quiet down, my thought are quick and not a deep as I know I can be..there must be value to this..thanks:)

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I wrote books and books and books the five subject type when i was marked and avoided.

I really felt no one understood what happened and no internet and no one my family didnt get it so wrote i did.

then i put them away. nearly twenty years later my son found them and read them!

o my GOD!!!!! no i didnt reread them he asked me alot of questions tho, I still have them. honestly when i wrote them i felt like my kids should know what happened God almighty what a cult head I was my whole world was about the fact i was no longer in twi! I cant imagine who I was then now.

soo i do not write now, no really i have gotten to a point where speaking is better for me to people about me and where I am , going etc. like ex10 said.

but at the time writing was very important to me and i do get how it helps one feel better.

it is great that you can see God answer your prayers and dreams in writing i think that is fabulous and great.. Im thinking Ophrah used to say to have a thankful journal in which you write 5 things your thankful for that day. that is a great idea.

I think folks such as bagpipes has a gift with writing and able to write the thoughts so everyone can be blessed and relate to the words.

that is so wonderful ,well my journaling seem stupid next to some of the stuff I read some write that really make a difference for all.

I still would write like "I saw johnny in the hall today , I think he likes me". 6th grade stuff. I have no talent for writing, but those who do I am impressed.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Nottawayfer – I know what you mean about journaling being a laborious process – I’m not saying I’m a big fan of journaling – not yet anyway. But the process does intrigue me – and it’s growing on me. That’s part of why I started this thread.

WaterBuffalo – I will have to check out that book you mentioned - Something More; Excavating Your Authentic Self by Sarah Ban Breathnach. I usually read 2 or 3 books at a time…I’m not an intellectual – just a slow reader/learner that gets bored and jumps back and forth from book to book :biglaugh: .

Ex10 – I agree there’s other ways to foster self-awareness. And meeting you, your family and friends at the Texas BBQ I saw how relationships are a BIG deal to you – and that you are comfortable with being yourself. You were such a gracious host and worked wonders to put my shy little soul at ease!

Bagpipes – do explain the stuff about self-analysis differing from self-awareness…Interesting - you mentioned dreams, goals, and hope with journaling…Those things seem to crop up in mine. I look at them like mental doodling. Some things start as nothing really…some silly idea or a “I would like to do blah blah someday…” And I do see the difference between posting at GSC and journaling in terms of not editing what I write in the journal. However – there’s a honing process I like when dialoging with people on GSC – I’m “forced” to crystallize a key thought – and there’s also sort of a reality-check when talking with other people – I may be kidding myself over something but it might not fly from another person’s viewpoint or experience.

Twinky – That’s what I was talking about with saying there was a similarity between journaling and posting/reading on GSC. And I kind of feel like you do towards reviewing my old Corps journals – man was I a dullard! And congrats on the new job!

TempleLady – Wow – this thread has been graced by three of the lovely ladies of the Texas BBQ [counting Bagpipes and Ex10] I’m still licking my chops over that delicious reindeer sausage you brought! I like your mentioning of “esoteric ramblings” while journaling – again a sort of mental doodling thing – fun!

Sirguessalot – It’s always a good day when you grace a thread with your poetic “tad rants.” That’s an intriguing term you had - “the journey of self-awareness.” It’s a journey - - and sometimes I get so impatient. It’s a simple pleasure – like reading a book – sometimes I sit down and just read through threads like this one – think about what someone said – it’s a nice little break from this hectic world.

LikeanEagle – I said to Tonto the other day, “My problem is I don’t know how to relax.” I’m always on the go – doing stuff for work or around the house. I think journaling has a calming effect for me – “forcing” me to settle down and find some quiet place inside.

Pond – I think you’re describing my journals . When I’m crafting a post for GSC – I stew and fret over the turn of a phrase – wonder how it’s going to compare to gifted writers [people like Bagpipes and Sirguessalot just bowl me over – salute! ]. Anyway…it’s actually a relief to kick back and just let my writing flow – it’s sort of a Cro-Magnon meets Steve Martin style of prose :) .

Link to comment
Share on other sites

T-bone you are such a gem. Tonto is sure blessed to have your around!!! (And equally you are blessed to have her too! :) )

...ooops - almost forgot - the reason I started this in About the Way - was also for thoughts about doctrines, programs and practices in TWI that hindered the self-awareness process.

This subject scrambles my brain..many thoughts, many thoughts. There are things that I feel regarding your quote above, that I am unable as of yet to put into words...and may never be able to. Following are a couple subjects that come to mind. There is a lot of thought/experience/biblical contemplation behind the following observations regarding this subject:

A perhaps doctrine: Somewhere along the way I remember being taught (or it was insinuated strongly) that there was no such thing as intuition and it was just a cover for devil spirit possession. That pretty much snuffs out self awareness.

A practice: Rote memorization of scripture for problem solving, like one size fits all. I'm all for meaningful memorization (if that is what meets the need for that situation for that individual.) Scripture memorization has helped/aided/healed me, but it was because of a heart understanding and God's spirit within showing me how that scripture applied to my circumstance, heart, emotion, etc. TWI did teach to look at the context of the scripture as written in the Bible (well their context), but fell short (supressing, impeding, hindering) in allowing God to work within an individual's context of life...to work out his/her own salvation with reverence, awe, and trembling.

I'll have to write the self anlysis to self awareness stuff later, when I have more time. It is sort of lengthy and will probably take a couple posts.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

...ooops - almost forgot - the reason I started this in About the Way - was also for thoughts about doctrines, programs and practices in TWI that hindered the self-awareness process.

Based upon the truth that the real you is the Christ in you, yes, I think twi taught keys on how to become Word conditioned and aware, rather than self conditioned or circumstance conditioned.

Of course, how that related to an individual was according to that individuals own commitment, attitude and mindset.

It was up to the individual how far one wanted to go with "walking in the spirit".

Edited by oldiesman
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Well ladies and gentelmen, I'd like to warn you that one of our patrons is passing around a plate of his home-made holiday nutty horse-sh i t crunch. It's choc-full-o e-coli, so consume at your own risk:

Based upon the truth that the real you is the Christ in you, yes, I think twi taught keys on how to become Word conditioned and aware, rather than self conditioned or circumstance conditioned.
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Regarding journaling....I agree that it can be laborious. But that isn't a bad thing; I labored with childbearing, yet the outcome is new life. I do cheat in journaling because I know shorthand, so the physical act is less laborious. I prefer pen and book to keyboard and screen, but that is just me.

So, in light of laborious, the following exercise is just that: laborious. Yet it helped me to be aware of my presence, my gut, my thoughts. THEN hopefully, I made more Godly and honest (or at least somewhat close to it) decisions on whatever I was dealing with.

(BTW Oldiesman, self conditioned and self aware are two different things. I figure you know that, but just to clarify.....)

I used to have to do the following exercise a few times a week (talk about laborious!!!) I don't know for how many months I did that, but it was many. Some may say, "That sure is a lot of work and is time consuming." However, the exercise might take me and hour or so which was less time than I would spend "looping" in my head had I not done the exercise. Whatever the issue (emotionally charged) I could get it out and balance it.

This exercise is a combination from 3 different books and a handout. T-bone, you have probably read about this in Burn's book.

1. Write out the situation: who? what? when? where?

If you can't think of the situation simply go to step 2. AS you srite situations may surface. There is

no right/wrong way to do this exercise.

2. List any moods or negative feelings. (The emotions list can help identify/put words to any feelings.) Rate each mood or feeling to its intensty (20%, 40%, 100%, etc.).

3. Write down any automatic negative thoughts (ANTs). Notice THOUGHTS, not feelings.

If you can trace the feeling/mood from #2 to an incident, try to place yourself mentally back in that

situation. What were your THOUGHTS?

4. Label each ANT according to it's distortion(s). (The "distortions" list cna help label these.)

4a: If it helps, identify evidence that supports some of the ANTs and then identify evidence that

does not support the ANT.

5. Write a rational, balanced alternative response for each ANT. Rate how much I believe in each

rational response. (0% - 100%)

6. Go back to step 2 and rerate each mood. (0% - 100%)

That is the exercise. It has worked EVERY time I have done it. Over time I began to need it less and less and became more self aware. I have only needed to do it a handful of times the past couple years.

I can post the emotions and distortions lists if you want me to.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

aw...man, Tbone

i tell ya

i think something huge that your most recent post points to

...something that turns both science and religion on their head and inside out...

is how it is long been proven how we can investigate and measure the interior human experience

as many ways we can find as we would with any art and science

the spirituallity of integrating body, heart, soul, mind, spirit

can be (and has been) approached as much a technology and science as unexplained religious experience and imagination

demonstrable, verifiable, adaptable...

ordinary awareness is not limited to the body, but includes the body...as fully as possible

and the mind...as fully as possible

and the heart...as fully as possible

ordinary awareness IS the essence of spirit...as fully as possible

Spirit is that which deeply witnesses body, heart, soul, mind, etc...

that which remains

even when your dreams have gone to sleep

that invisible holy ghost observer who was there all along

an impossible and not impossible person or thing to find

but the most most most obvious damn thing that never ever ever refuses to leave us or forsake us

even at our lowest

we cant help but feel

our eyes feels the waves of light

our ears feel the waves of sound

and we see what we feel

and paint pictures of it with our stories

and we feel the meaning of the stories

it is our capacity to witness feeling

hearing and seeing is like feeling the music of a harpist vibrate your very bones with your eye closed

and a shared awareness of this with each other can become an extraordinary and amazing thing

because there is a sense of our selves that actually deeply literally inhabit each other

like fish in a bowl together...and we are also the water

we do it all the time...family, friends, enemies

taking and receiving paintings on our inner walls of every occasion with each other

through all of our sense and other ways we often dont even realize

dripping soaking wet with each other like waves in an ocean

imho,

and ask any good jew

this notion is the origin of the Christian God of whom it is said there is no escape

ISness

AMness

stubborn, untameable, fierce

everywhere present whether in heaven or hell

this invisible God is always right here and now

awareness itself

manifold

awesome

terrible

wonderful

ordinary

yada yada yada

IT is no secret

and has never been lost

we are simply asleep

and we have lost our stories of IT

perhaps IT is not even an IT

but simply IS

but such a God is also only the simplest flicker of attention away

which seems cruel, depending our expections, perhaps

though its also kind of playful

and mysterious

and omg...dare i even say it is deeply erotic, at times

...this ultimate God and the quest for this ultimate God is also a very sensual reality

in the Bible, or anywhere else

to approach any such naked awareness

must be an act of shamelessness

and wide open heart

naked and shameless and subtle

to approach such wide open heart of this Awareness

of course...is like a baptism of fire for most all of us

and almost always always always...a life long journey

...

of course, for some, these are often not light things to hear

i know...especially if i say it so casually

cuz...reality bites

especially this time of year

last thing we often want is more awareness of all this crazy insane crap in the world and my life

blood, puss, smoke, waste, smoke, tears...

but awareness of reality

and awareness of possibility

are two different kinds of awareness, it seems

and either one can suck

but they go better in marriage

than they do in enmity

unless it playful game, or course

or some sort of romantic flirtation

or otherwise playing at parting and reuniting

(like scientific method)

perhaps it could be said that reality and possibility are best observed as dance partners

and perhaps it could be said that

presence

presents

gifts

in these cold dark days

ho ho ho,

an elf

Edited by sirguessalot
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Wow, t-bone, you have given me the greatest compliment I could ever receive. Thanks for that.

Relationships with the people I love, and who love me are the biggest priority in my life. And I think "self-awareness" allows us to give the greatest gift we can give, in those relationships........ourselves, heart and soul.

What an awesome topic this is.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

dear t, i love what you wrote. since i was little enough to have "thought" i have always felt there was a deeper "spiritual" perhaps ? part of me observing life.....

i told my mom about my search when i was quite young.... how absolutely sure i was of something more in this life. she said, "honey you're searching for something that's in your own backyard....." i thought she was wrong. now i wonder.... like you said on the other thread about the journey of going home.....

love you always

yes, our awareness extends to the ends of the universe

and we are all swimming within each other

utterly soaking wet with each other

and this really touched my soul
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

 Share

Announcements


×
×
  • Create New...