More of Robin's navel gazing

Wed, 21 Mar 2007 05:49:50 GMT

As I was driving to work this morning, I was thinking about doing some volunteer work (I commute in to Seattle now which is beginning to surpass the shower as a great time to think.) Anyway, I was putting together a plan to volunteer – maybe helping build houses or something – and (check this out) the thought that arose “that would be a great way to meet people” was instantly met with another negative thought “then you’re not doing it for the right reasons.” Whoa, whoa, whoa, little missy! I’m considering a volunteer gig and I have to be completely magnanimous about it too? Who am I? Mother Teresa? (I assure you, I am not.) So what if there might be a side benefit - and duh! it's great if both sides reap some benefit.

It’s so cool to shine the light on dumb beliefs! So where did this come from? It stems from some conditioning from loooong ago. Something to the tune of this: in order to attain spiritual rewards, blessings, what-have-you, you must be giving but ask for nothing in return. If you say a prayer, it must be for God’s will, not for anything specific. (Admittedly that seems more aligned with “goodness” than all the praying for specific outcomes of health scares, wars and football games.) Unfortunately while my child-brain was forming, it was a little black and white about it. I need to watch that. Remember that I can include myself in the “giving” equation, too!

Heads up: my next entry may be about a super-sized version of “The Secret" that I'm devising. Some ideas still percolating but I'll leave you with my thought of the day: 40 cars, with drivers who use the Secret, approach an intersection. 10 from each direction. All are “attracting” a green light. In the end 20 have their beliefs confirmed, while 20 others are clearly not doing it well enough! Ah magical thinking. You gotta love it -- for the entertainment value :-)

Little Miss Sunshine

Fri, 16 Mar 2007 06:43:50 GMT

I love this article.

It made me think about how much of the grasping and struggling many of us do to attain happiness is wasted energy. Chasing after something or someone new is rarely fulfilling. Attaining a feeling of satisfaction in life has more substance, more meaning. Happiness is not always what we *think* we need (want.) What we really need is much more fundamental. Simple. Calm.

Victor Frankl believed that finding meaning in every moment one's life is the key and that it is possible to find this meaning even during times of the most extreme suffering. He wrote about finding beauty in a flower that grew in a puddle of muddy filth in a concentration camp. I look around me now: at my beautiful home and paintings that cover my walls. Gorgeous kids and cuddly dogs and of course there's this guy who almost never fails to make me smile. :-)

I remind myself daily how good my life is. I never want to take any of it for granted. There are moments that I feel overwhelmed (house, job, kids...) but they're brief and fleeting. Overall I'm extraordinarily happy: partly because of my painting explorations, partly because of the people in my life, partly because I simply choose to be.

Robin's content... :): Psychology

More of Robin's navel gazing

Little Miss Sunshine