On the path of evolution, we move from being a willing and obedient member of the group to wanting to take control over our own lives. This is a necessary but difficult transition.
Andrew Schneider says, "At this point we are afraid of being ourselves. We are afraid of being unique and different. We are afraid of being individually powerful, and even successful. For all of these things stand against the old ways that told us that conformity was right and individualism was wrong.
"For as long as we possibly can, we make a compromise. We try to live both lives - the dependent tribal life and the independent personal life - as contradictory and opposite as they are.
"We want approval from others. We want to be accepted and popular. We seek this comfort to overcome our fear and feel more secure. ...So, at times when we conform, we don’t feel the fear of living. But we might lose the new sense of adventure, discovery, daring and enthusiasm for life that the questioning and questing have brought us."
"Nature never repeats herself, and the possibilities of one human soul will never be found in another."
"The future, higher evolution will belong to those who live in joy, who share joy, and who spread joy."
-- Torkom Saraydarian
Joy, as the energy of love, is the highest vibration on this planet. Everything in the universe is energy; it can be measured and reduced to vibrational frequencies. It’s a universal law that as we think and feel we vibrate, and as we vibrate we attract. When we are in the high joy vibration, we attract what is for our greater good.
The Ancient Egyptians saw Joy as a sacred responsibility. They believed that upon their death, the God Osiris would ask them two questions: "Did you bring Joy?" and "Did you find Joy?" Those who answered ‘yes’ could continue their journey into the afterlife.
For at least the next week or two, ask yourself these two questions each and every day: Did I bring joy? Did I find joy?
"Man loves because he is Love. He seeks Joy, for he is Joy. He thirsts for God for he is composed of God and he cannot exist without Him."
-- Sathya Sai Baba
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"Never argue with an idiot... They'll drag you down to their level and beat you with experience..."
LOL, Tim, I do my best housework to Steely Dan's Kid Charlamagne. What can I say? I'm a skinny hippy in a flowing skirt, twirling to Grace Slick, stuck in a chubby Gramma's body...
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"Never argue with an idiot... They'll drag you down to their level and beat you with experience..."
Wellllll get back Jack and do it again! I was only a few years behind you back then, but that doesn't mean **** to a tree. Those were really good times and probably the most socially concious of the recent "generations", if not of all time. The battles for equal rights, end the war, the overall socialistic view of how the world should be ("I'd love to change the world, but I don't know what to do...") Trying to change the world for the better!! And a lot of good came out of it. Ahhhh...memories........Heck, I'm going to grow my hair to a ponytail one last time before it falls out!!....Tim
P.S. Thank you Wren. It's really good to chat with someone who remembers.
-- Edited by timverton at 13:17, 2006-09-25
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"We posess the eyes through which the universe gazes with wonder upon its own majesty."
I am at a point where I recognize that I got sober so I could HAVE some type of life, and being afraid to try new things and to achieve will not help me have a life, that is for certain. I have some comrades in AA who have been sober for many many years but are stuck in fear of doing anything out there in the real world. Yes, we need the shelter and safety of the rooms until we get our spiritual feet under us, but to not set out and try to have a life of some sort is very sad. Case in point, is a friend in his early 30's who has close to 8 years sober and is still living in one little room in the sober-house where his sobriety all started for him. He has been talking about moving out for years now, but I believe he is afraid of that change, and of the responsibility it will require. It just makes me sad, and yes, to each his own... but it bothers me that it bothers HIM, yet he is stuck in fear.
I have a lot ot be grateful for, and especially in the people around me who are so very adventurous and encouraging to me. Some of you are right here!!! :o) Makes me feel like, "What's the worst that can happen... I'll FAIL???? ..... OH WELL!!!!!!!"
Good to see you back Joni! I LOVE that attitude---"What's the worst that can happen, I'll fail.." Always has it been that I have learned more from a failure than a success. The lesson of a failure just seems to stay with me a little longer and clearer...Tim
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"We posess the eyes through which the universe gazes with wonder upon its own majesty."
