“You need something to which you can give your full powers. The swan doesn’t cure his awkwardness by beating himself on the back, my moving faster, or by trying to organise himself better. How does it by moving towards the elemental water where he belongs. You only have to touch the elemental waters in yourContinue reading “Comforting Thought: The Awkward Swan”
Tag Archives: psychology
Comforting Thought: Loneliness is a doorway to belonging
Loneliness is a place from which we pay real attention to the voices other than our own. Being alone allows us to find the healing power in the other. The shortest line of an email can heal, embolden, welcome home and enliven the most isolated identity. Lonely human beings are lonely because they are madeContinue reading “Comforting Thought: Loneliness is a doorway to belonging”
Comforting Thought: Be the humble apprentice of life
What we recognise as honesty in an individual is actually the humble demeanour of an apprentice. Someone who pays close attention to themselves, others, life and the next steps they will take. Someone who does not have all of the answers but who is attempting to learn what they can. Someone who is just likeContinue reading “Comforting Thought: Be the humble apprentice of life”
Comforting Thought: The Five Precepts of Buddhism @jhalifax
“When I am not clear what road to take, I might ask myself: ‘What would Buddha do?’ This is not to ask the impossible of myself. Rather, it is a reminder that the seeds of freedom are already in me. My vows water those seeds, and this seemingly innocent question has helped me to avoidContinue reading “Comforting Thought: The Five Precepts of Buddhism @jhalifax”
Comforting Thought: Disappointment is a measure of our courage
What we call disappointment may just be the first stage of our emancipation into the next great pattern of our existence. The measure of our courage is the measure of our willingness to embrace disappointment. To turn towards it rather than away from it. Disappointment is the understanding that every real conversation of life involvesContinue reading “Comforting Thought: Disappointment is a measure of our courage”
Comforting Thought: Life is too short for anger
Life is far too short for anger. You must learn to repress emotions that disturb your peace of mind and prevent you from standing firm. If you want to stand firm, it is a precondition that you aren’t easily knocked off your stride. We are constantly bombarded with appeals to our emotions – on television,Continue reading “Comforting Thought: Life is too short for anger”
People make things to express their need (or fear) of connection
“It seems funny to think that healing or coming to terms with loneliness and loss, or with the damage accrued in scenes of closeness, the inevitable wounds that occur whenever people become entangled with one another, might take place by means of objects. It seems funny, and yet the more I thought about it theContinue reading “People make things to express their need (or fear) of connection”
Kintsukuroi or why we are perfect in our imperfection
“There is a Japanese practice called Kintusukoroi or kintsugi which means ‘golden repair’. Kintsukuroi is the art of repairing broken pottery with powdered gold or platinum mixed with lacquer, so that the repair reflects the history of the breakage. “The repaired object mirrors the fragility and imperfection of life – and also its beauty andContinue reading “Kintsukuroi or why we are perfect in our imperfection”
Comforting Thought: Empathy Between Gift and Invasion
“I’m interested in everything that might be flawed and messy about empathy, how imagining other lives can constitute a kind of tyranny, or artificially absolve ourselves from guilt or responsibility. How feeling empathy can make use feel we’ve done something good when we actually haven’t. “We start to like the feeling of feeling bad forContinue reading “Comforting Thought: Empathy Between Gift and Invasion”
Book Review: Ikigai The Japanese Secret to a Long and Happy Life
Book Review: Ikigai The Japanese Secret to a Long and Happy Life by Hector Garcia and Francesc Miralles Rating: 🌟🌟🌟🌟 Ikigai (生き甲斐 Reason for being, Japanese n. Having a clear purpose in one’s life that makes it worthwhile, give one a sense of satisfaction and give meaning to one’s life. Read more on Wikipedia InContinue reading “Book Review: Ikigai The Japanese Secret to a Long and Happy Life”
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