Month: January 2019

Posted on

A Motivating Synchronicity

I’d like to share a synchronistic experience I recently had. When I went to open a door in a common area of the building where I’ve lived many years, the handle felt loose and then came off, and the door wouldn’t open when I pushed on it. So I went to a different part of the building and used a different door. Although that door opened, it didn’t open readily because the metal plate beneath it had become loose and was wedged against the bottom of the door. The next day I was walking in a skyway, and a door I’ve used many times opened only about a fourth of the way and wouldn’t open further. And in the building where I work, the doors of one of the elevators–the one I happened to choose–opened noticeably more slowly than usual. These are all doors I’ve used often and they usually work fine.

Such unexpected occurrences, especially when more than one happens within a short period of time, cause me to wonder what the symbolism of the occurrences might be. The words “doors opening” can refer to opportunities becoming available. So I thought about what opportunities might be closed to me. But then I thought about how doors not opening could signify my not being willing to open doors, such as my not being “open” to new ideas and experiences. I tend to stay with what is familiar and to avoid taking risks. Because the doors not opening happened at a time when I was struggling to embrace inner direction I had discerned, this second possible meaning fit. Once again, I had received a reminder from my unconscious that it was time to move forward, to open the door to something new in my life, despite my resistance. The synchronicity also provided encouragement because it seemed to confirm that what I had discerned was correct.

Synchronistic experiences have a dream-like quality. What are the chances of my having that many doors that I’d never had problems with before not working correctly in the space of two days? It’s more like something that would happen in a dream. And that makes sense, because dreams and synchronicities are from the same source: our unconscious.

Posted on

Being in Partnership with Our Unconscious

In his book Death: The Beginning of Life, Jungian psychotherapist Terry Chitwood writes: “One of the first steps in gaining consciousness is to realize that your ego is not the ruler of your psyche. The unconscious is autonomous. In the unconscious lie the seeds of your destiny. Only by making your unconscious your partner can you begin to understand your life’s true goal.” Learning these truths has changed my life, helping me to have a sense of purpose and meaning.

For most of us, the idea that our ego does not know everything that is going on with us and what is best for us is hard to comprehend, let alone to accept. In our western culture, there is much emphasis on the ego as the decision-maker and center of self-knowledge. I believe, and my belief is supported by a number of writers, that this incorrect assumption is one of the reasons there are such high rates of depression, anxiety, and addiction in our culture. Those of us who either cannot accept or have not become aware of how the unconscious influences our lives often feel an emptiness that can lead to those problems.

We make the unconscious our partner by recording and paying attention to our dreams, noticing synchronicities, and listening to our intuition and to those thoughts that come to us unbidden. These are ways our unconscious speaks to us, but we will not hear what it is conveying unless we are both aware of its existence and open to hearing its messages. It helps considerably to read the books of authors such as Terry Chitwood, John A. Sanford, Helen Luke, Robert A. Johnson, and others. Reading their books leads to a better understanding of these truths and also shows our unconscious that we are making an effort to be in partnership with it.

Posted on

Let Your Light Shine

“You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hid. Nor do men [and women] light a lamp and put it under a bushel, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. Let your light so shine before men [and women], that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.” (I added the bracketed words.)

These verses 14 through 16 from chapter 5 of the Gospel of Matthew are among those writings in the Bible that are most meaningful to me. They are Matthew’s record of some of Jesus’ many teachings. Although my family attended Sunday church services regularly when I was a child and I heard many Bible readings and many sermons based on those readings, it wasn’t until I was in my 30s that they began to have personal meaning for me.

At first glance, it might seem that people being told they are the light of the world could cause them to have too high of an opinion of themselves. But the words are not directed to one person or just certain people. They are directed to all of us. Every one of us has something to offer, talents to share, ways of helping others, gifts to give.

I was shy as a child and I had a tendency to walk behind others, such as when my family was walking somewhere or for school activities. I was shy about being in front, and I wonder if, at an unconscious level, I thought I wasn’t good enough to be in the front. Although I’m no longer as shy and I had enough self-confidence to do well in school and in the jobs I’ve had, some of that “don’t be first” tendency is still a part of me. So when I was prompted by my dreams and by synchronicities to start writing a blog, I found it very difficult to begin. There was that part of me that didn’t believe I had anything to share, that didn’t believe I could write in a way that “let my light shine.”

Because I believe our dreams are from the Creator, and therefore it is essential for all of us to try to follow dream direction, I did begin writing this blog. Writing my blog is vital to my personal growth. It is also a way for me to try to help those who read it to have hope and to grow as individuals. For every one of us has ways to shine by doing good works using the talents and blessings we have been given.

Posted on

Practice Compassion

In my work as a crisis line counselor, I receive calls from women and men of all ages and often from adolescents too. Each person is calling for assistance, emotional support, and sometimes resource information to deal with whatever difficulty prompted them to call. Sometimes they are calling about something that happened to them just recently, and sometimes it is about ongoing problems. Capable counselors need to have the qualities of compassion, empathy, being nonjudgmental, and being able to give each person who calls their complete attention.

Actually, all of us should strive to develop these qualities. What a difference that would make in our world! It would become a far better place, one interaction at a time. And not only would we help to make the world better for others but also for ourselves. For as the Dalai Lama says, “If you want others to be happy, practice compassion. If you want to be happy, practice compassion.”

Posted on

Let Us Begin

“Yesterday is gone. Tomorrow has not yet come. We have only today. Let us begin.” These words by Mother Teresa are a good reminder to try our best to use each day well. Whatever our situation, we have been given the ability to do those things that are in our power to do, and we should value that gift.

“Yesterday is gone.” We are all human and therefore we are all imperfect. We make mistakes and have regrets. It’s important for our motivation and for our emotional well-being to not let those regrets keep us from using the present day well. When fitting and possible, we need to apologize and make amends, do what we can to right a wrong that we caused, and then move forward. If we’re regretting not starting or completing a task, we now have the present day to do that.

“Tomorrow has not yet come.” Looking forward to future occasions and activities can add to the joy of living. Some examples are having plans to visit people we care about who we seldom get to see or attending our child’s sports event or dance performance. Enjoy such anticipations but make effective use of each day as well. “Tomorrow has not yet come” also reminds me how it is sometimes tempting to put things off without having a good reason for doing so. To help avoid this, I remind myself how good it feels to accomplish things, to know they’re taken care of and off my mind, and to feel the satisfaction of a job well done.

“Let us begin.” Often taking that first step releases the energy to continue an endeavor. This is especially true when we are trying to follow direction from within. Mother Teresa’s words “Let us begin” also remind me that our Creator forgives us when we make mistakes and always makes it possible for us to begin again. And those of us who pay attention to our dreams know that when we do not discern the message of a dream that is directing us to do certain actions, we will be given additional dreams that try again to get our attention. The Self wants what is best for us and gives us chances to begin again. Thank goodness. For many of us, myself included, need additional prompting. Trying to do what we hear our inner voice guiding us to do through intuition, sychronicities, and our dreams leads to a sense of peace and well-being.