Author: Susan Schulte

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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.

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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.”

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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.

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Dreams Always Tell Us the Truth

In his presentation titled “The Eagle’s Flight,” Jungian psychotherapist John Sanford says: “If we follow our dreams, we find that our dreams will correct us, encourage us, let us know when we’ve gotten off the path. Sometimes they will be beautiful dreams out of which we can derive faith and encouragement, and sometimes they will make us very uncomfortable. But they will always tell us the truth. They tell us how it is with us right now.” Sanford bases his comments both on his own dreams and on the dreams his clients shared with him during his many years working as a therapist. My experience since I began paying attention to my dreams many years ago attests to what he says.

I have shared several of my dreams in other posts to show how dreams have been valuable to me, with the hope that readers of my blog will see how their dreams can be valuable to them. A dream that stands out as an example of one that helped me to see I had gotten off my path had the image of a political figure who is bombastic and for whom I have no respect. By using the image of that person, my dream helped me to see that I was making some wrong decisions. Because I, like Sanford, believe dreams always tell us the truth, that dream helped me to take corrective action. An example of an encouraging dream was one that had many cats in it. Cats can symbolize health, and my dream came at a time when it helped me to be reassured that there were positive things occurring at an unconscious level.

Dreams are our primary link to what is happening in our unconscious. When Sanford says “they tell us how it is with us right now,” he is referring to what is happening right now in our unconscious and how that is related to what is happening at a conscious level. By honoring our dreams and trying to be open to what they might be telling us, we can use that information as we endeavor to live in a more genuine and grounded way.

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Putting Ourselves in Other People’s Places

In my work as a crisis line counselor, I have spoken with many women and men who have told me they have mental illness. The diagnoses I’ve heard most often are depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, PTSD, and schizophrenia. Many of the callers have told me they have a therapist and a psychiatrist, and some attend group therapy as well as individual therapy. Some have told me they have needed to be hospitalized at times.

I recently came across an Amish proverb that caused me to think about people who deal with the challenges of mental illness: “Instead of putting others in their place, put yourself in their place.” There is much need for more empathy in our world, including for people who have mental health problems. I am often impressed by the efforts people make to deal with their symptoms by doing coping skills, attending individual therapy and support groups, and practicing self-care, including healthy nutrition and exercise. For the more severe diagnoses, taking medication as prescribed also helps to manage their symptoms. Similar to having a physical illness such as diabetes where people need to monitor their blood sugar and do what is necessary to maintain a healthy level, people with mental illness need to notice when their symptoms increase and do self-care or coping techniques to help to manage them. This requires being aware and being motivated. Some people who call the crisis line talk about how overwhelming dealing with their mental illness is and the discouragement they sometimes feel.

It concerns me that many people who have the good fortune of not having mental illness have no idea what it is like for people who do, and therefore have no appreciation of the effort many people put into trying their best to take care of themselves. Too often people make generalizations and display little, if any, empathy. And too often this ignorance adds to the stigmatization of mental illness, another challenge callers have told me adds to their burden.

Through this post I want to acknowledge the women and men who struggle with mental illness and to applaud all that they do to cope and care for themselves. For I, and I’m sure many other people, are truly impressed by them.

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Doing Small Things with Great Love

“Not all of us can do great things. But we can do small things with great love.” I remind myself of this quotation by Mother Teresa from time to time. When I hear or read about some of the heartbreaking things that happen in our world, I sometimes feel discouraged. I question whether I and others can help to make our world a better place. And then I remember that whatever each of us does, when it is done with love, truly does matter.

On Thanksgiving Day some friends of mine volunteered to deliver meals prepared by a program for low-income and homebound people. Where I work some of my coworkers are collecting donations they will use to purchase gifts for children from low-income families who otherwise would not receive presents for the holidays. At the assisted living facility where my mother lives, I see adults spending time with their parents who live there and bringing items that their parents need. There are many additional examples of small things done with great love. And each of those things can mean so much to the person receiving them.

I visit my elderly mother several times a week. Each time she sees me her face brightens and she gives me a big smile. My visits to her are a small thing that I do out of love for her, and I in turn am the recipient of her love for me.

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A Meaningful Symbolic Connection

For many years I have kept a journal in which I write my dreams and synchronicities I’ve noted, along with my thoughts about both. Not long ago I experienced a meaningful connection between a synchronistic experience and a dream I had a few weeks after that.

About a month ago, I needed to take my cat to the vet. I was the only person in the waiting room when a woman came into the clinic with her dog which was on a leash. It was a tall, healthy-looking, attractive dog, with a light brown coat. As soon as the dog saw me, it started barking and straining at its leash. I love animals and had never had a dog act that way toward me. In a few minutes my cat was returned to me in her carrier and we left the clinic. The way the dog acted caused me to wonder if there might be meaning in what had occurred. For just as dreams use images of people and animals to symbolize certain traits and to get our attention, so do experiences in outer reality.

One thing that came to mind is that dogs can symbolize giving direction, based on the fact that dogs use their sense of smell to track and find people, other animals, etc. So on one level the incident served to remind me of the importance of trying to discern and trying to follow my inner direction.

About three weeks after that happened I had this dream: I’m standing outside when I see a person walking a tall dog on a leash. The person and the dog are a ways off, I would guess at least 150 feet away. When the dog sees me, he comes running toward me, not in an aggressive way; more like he’s just interested in me as a person standing there. The dog runs fast and it turns out the leash can extend that far. I’m not afraid of him–I’m more intrigued to know why he’s running to me–but I am concerned he’s coming so fast he might knock me down. But the owner is able to cause the dog to slow down as he nears me, and when he’s beside me I pet him and scratch his neck which it is apparent he likes. I learn from the person that this dog is available for adoption. Although I like this dog, I can’t consider adding caring for a pet to my busy schedule right now. Another person walking a dog in the adoption program comes up to us and says that often people will get a large dog and then give the dog up when they realize how much care it needs and the cost of its food, and that is why there are so many large dogs for whom they’re trying to find homes.

As I was remembering and writing down this dream, I was struck by the fact that the dog in the dream looked exactly like the dog at the vet’s. It was also significant to me how differently the two dogs acted toward me, the one in outer reality clearly disliking me and the dog in the dream clearly liking me. I felt like the dream maker, by having the dog in the dream look identical to the dog who had barked at me, did that to bring to my attention the contrasting behavior of the two dogs.

Seeing this symbolism, I believe my hesitation in the dream to adopt the dog reflects the hesitation I sometimes have of listening to and following my inner voice. I believe the dream was emphasizing the importance of my making this dog a part of my life; that is, embracing direction from within. The dog chose me and now I needed to choose him, no matter what objections my ego raises.

For these reasons I decided to write a dream extension; that is, to add to the dream and change how it ended. Here’s what I wrote: Even though I have some concerns about adopting a dog right now, I believe I should adopt this dog. It chose me and there must be a reason for that, even though that reason is not clear yet. So I tell the person I will adopt this dog, and the dog snuggles its snout against my leg as if to let me know he’s happy with my decision.

I felt good after writing the dream extension. It was my way of saying to my inner voice that I’m sorry my ego gets in the way and that I am thankful for the synchronicity and the dream that were given to me. And also that I honor how my inner voice spoke to me through both.

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A Beautiful Art Form

I attended a professional dance performance today that I thoroughly enjoyed. There were three pieces, each a different theme and style of dance. The eight dancers had prepared well and displayed their high level of talent and skill. The dancers’ ability, along with the creative choreography, music, and costumes, made for a wonderful program.

Dance is one of my favorite art forms. I appreciate and respect the hard work and years of training the dancers have completed to be able to perform at the professional level, and I’m impressed by their ability. I think one reason dance appeals to me is because it is symbolic. Some dances portray a story, but many dances are more abstract and touch each audience member in a personal way. I am thankful for the many beautiful aspects of life, and dance is one of them.

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Dreams Reflect Inner Reality

One of several authors who have helped me to better understand Jungian concepts is psychotherapist Mary Ann Mattoon. In the introduction to her book Understanding Dreams, she writes that her principal objective for writing the book was to organize and clarify Carl Jung’s ideas to help people better understand and gain from his findings. It was quite an undertaking because Jung was a prolific writer, writing many volumes stretching over many years. The result of Dr. Mattoon’s work is an informative and insightful guide.

Dr. Mattoon writes: “Dreams express what the ego does not know or understand: inner reality, not as the dreamer would like it to be, but as it is.” When trying to discern what a dream might be saying to us about ourselves, it’s important to keep an open mind and to be receptive to hearing something that our egos might not want to hear. If we’re serious about learning from our dreams, this approach is essential. And I admit that there are times when I need to remind myself of this.

I recently had this dream that demonstrates this principle: I’m in the yard of my home and see some boys in the yard next door. I’ve seen them before; I think two are brothers who live in the neighboring house and the other two boys are their friends. The boys are loud and disruptive and come into my yard. I tell them to stay in their yard, that there’s no reason for them to come into mine. They don’t listen and run around yelling and laughing. I tell them if they don’t leave I’ll call the police, but this threat doesn’t have any effect on them and they’re still in my yard when the dream ends.

Keeping in mind that, according to Jungian theory, the people who populate dreams usually reflect aspects of the dreamer, I need to accept that part of me, as shown by the boys’ behavior, is belligerent, self-centered, and disrespectful. Even though in outer reality I try to be respectful and helpful to others, it’s important that I accept that in “inner reality” that is not always the case. And the message of this dream resonates with me because I recognize that the wishes of my ego are not always in line with the direction given by the Self, to use Jung’s terminology, or by the Creator, to use spiritual terminology. Because my dream showed me that part of me who is insolent and egocentric, I can be watchful of those tendencies as I make choices about what I do each day.

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Thank You to Writers

I would like to thank all of the authors for writing the books that have enriched my life. Thank you for listening to that part of you who told you it’s time to begin to write. And for staying with it despite inevitable challenges. Reading books written by people knowledgeable about Jungian concepts has helped me to better understand myself and therefore to grow in consciousness. Many of these authors are psychotherapists who have assisted numerous clients, including helping their clients to discern the messages of their dreams and the possible meaning of synchronicities. With their clients’ permission, the authors have shared their clients’ experiences, and they often have written about their own experiences as well. My life has also been enriched by reading books about spiritual and religious topics. Spirituality and consciousness are directly related, and many of the books by certain Jungian authors are about that relationship.

I also enjoy reading well written novels. I make a point of saying “well written” because, sad to say, there is much that is published that is of poor quality and can be emotionally harmful to the reader. By reading well written novels, I have learned about human nature as the stories’ characters deal with life situations and display compassion, courage, perseverance, sacrifice, creativity, and strength of character. Some of the best written fiction is by authors who thoroughly research the eras and geographical settings of their stories, giving me a sense of what it might have been like to live in a different place and/or time, adding to my empathy for others.

In addition to being thankful to writers for enhancing my life experience, I also have a great regard for them. It takes courage to share their ideas and experiences. Through their writing, they open themselves up to possible criticism from people who disagree with the ideas they express. I’m thankful that their inner voices give to writers inspiration, creativity, and writing ability and, in addition, that essential virtue of courage.