A spiritual thesis statement
I was taught to approach writing assignments with a clear thesis statement stating the goal, overall contents or purpose of what was contained in the writing. Besides checking for grammar, spelling and overall accuracy of the content the teacher would then “suggest” that one remove phrases or sentences which, no matter how interesting, did not help achieve the goal stated in the thesis statement. I continue to attempt to follow this when writing blogs, designing a workshop or a speech. It is easy for this human to get off task and, as some of my friends have reminded me, wax on and on and on and on until the reader is confused regarding the goal of the writing. If the reader is confused, I am undoubtedly also confused.
I have discovered in all areas of my life it is helpful to be clear about my goals before I engage in any action. There are many possible goals including:
I am sure that I have missed other potential goals, but the reader can add their own. It is also possible that some actions are intended to accomplish more than one goal. For example, some will maintain that the goal of punishment is to prevent repetition of certain harmful behavior in the future. (I cannot identify any research results which confirms that punishment often reduces future harmful behavior. It is true that some people do change as a result of punishment although some would claim that it is in spite of punishment that they change.)
Confusion arises when an action is not consistent with one’s stated spiritual goals or when research does not support that the action is likely to achieve some goal. For example, I have seen couples or families who come to therapy with the stated goal of healing, but who attempt to use therapy/counseling time to dump hurtful words on each other or to remind each other of all past “sins”.
I have found that it is very helpful to begin each day with my spiritual intention or purpose. Throughout the day, as I engage or prepare to engage in various behaviors or activities, I challenge myself to clarify my spiritual goal. I may, at times, need to do some internal housecleaning prior to starting a task or activity. Housecleaning is the immediate goal. I do not want to dump the internal garbage on another person(s). If I did, the intent would be to hurt that person(s). Hurting another person is not consistent with my personal spiritual beliefs or goals.
I suspect that if we as organizations, communities, states, nations and international bodies were to challenge ourselves to set spiritual goals or thesis statement consistent with our core values we would make some progress in healing and working together to create a safe, nurturing community. If, however, our goal is to punish, hurt, pay back, insult, benefit a person(s) at the expense of another person(s), prove we are better/bigger/more powerful than/can talker louder than or be more insulting than we will continue to create a world which is polarized – more us and them.
Written October 24, 2018
I was taught to approach writing assignments with a clear thesis statement stating the goal, overall contents or purpose of what was contained in the writing. Besides checking for grammar, spelling and overall accuracy of the content the teacher would then “suggest” that one remove phrases or sentences which, no matter how interesting, did not help achieve the goal stated in the thesis statement. I continue to attempt to follow this when writing blogs, designing a workshop or a speech. It is easy for this human to get off task and, as some of my friends have reminded me, wax on and on and on and on until the reader is confused regarding the goal of the writing. If the reader is confused, I am undoubtedly also confused.
I have discovered in all areas of my life it is helpful to be clear about my goals before I engage in any action. There are many possible goals including:
- To educate or inform.
- To amuse.
- To attempt to identify the questions which might lead to problem solving.
- To problem solve.
- To dump or vomit anger, resentments, grief or other internal emotional storage tanks filled to the brim.
- To heal.
- To punish.
- To get spiritually centered enough to be present.
- To improve health of individual, family, organization or community.
- To prevent a repeat of some hurtful or harmful action.
- To nurture self or another.
- To explore
- To shame
I am sure that I have missed other potential goals, but the reader can add their own. It is also possible that some actions are intended to accomplish more than one goal. For example, some will maintain that the goal of punishment is to prevent repetition of certain harmful behavior in the future. (I cannot identify any research results which confirms that punishment often reduces future harmful behavior. It is true that some people do change as a result of punishment although some would claim that it is in spite of punishment that they change.)
Confusion arises when an action is not consistent with one’s stated spiritual goals or when research does not support that the action is likely to achieve some goal. For example, I have seen couples or families who come to therapy with the stated goal of healing, but who attempt to use therapy/counseling time to dump hurtful words on each other or to remind each other of all past “sins”.
I have found that it is very helpful to begin each day with my spiritual intention or purpose. Throughout the day, as I engage or prepare to engage in various behaviors or activities, I challenge myself to clarify my spiritual goal. I may, at times, need to do some internal housecleaning prior to starting a task or activity. Housecleaning is the immediate goal. I do not want to dump the internal garbage on another person(s). If I did, the intent would be to hurt that person(s). Hurting another person is not consistent with my personal spiritual beliefs or goals.
I suspect that if we as organizations, communities, states, nations and international bodies were to challenge ourselves to set spiritual goals or thesis statement consistent with our core values we would make some progress in healing and working together to create a safe, nurturing community. If, however, our goal is to punish, hurt, pay back, insult, benefit a person(s) at the expense of another person(s), prove we are better/bigger/more powerful than/can talker louder than or be more insulting than we will continue to create a world which is polarized – more us and them.
Written October 24, 2018
RSS Feed