Sunday Musings – July 22, 2018
It is a deliciously cooler, although cloudy, late July morning here in Wheeling, WV. I am happy to be at home this Sunday and not traveling as I have been the past couple of weeks. Although I am very grateful to be able to travel whether it was to spend time with my son and his partner or to be with family as they celebrated the life of my brother-in-law. I also really appreciate the fact that when I travel I frequently meet and talk with many individuals or families who whose background, beliefs, education, and interests are much different than mine. I attempt to put myself in the presence of different opinions and backgrounds even when I am not traveling, but airports, train stations, planes, trains and other shared modes of traveling frequently put one in the direct path of those from whom one can learn.
Even reading the local paper or exposing myself to the variety of media which today is so readily available challenges me to think outside of the boxes I have built in my small brain. Yet, my first tendency when reading or hearing an opinion which is diametrically opposed to the “truth” I have already constructed is to flip the chatter switch. The chatter switch in my head controls the pouring forth of the “truths” just sitting in my brain ready to attack any conflicting information. Just a minute ago I was reading an editorial in a newspaper when the chatter was unleashed: “How can you compare apples and oranges? What person X did is not comparable to what person Y did. Blab! Blab! Bal!” Earlier I was reading something else on line espousing what someone else thought was or was not patriotic. The chatter switch immediately turned on.
Earlier today I had shared my spiritual intention with a friend. My spiritual intention for today is “to be still and listen”. Obviously when the chatter switch has been turned all the way on, I am not being still and I am certainly not listening to the universe or even another person!
I like to tell myself that I love to learn which is true as long as new information does not leave me uncomfortable. If I am learning a new concept in physics, something about the stars, how to operate a new piece of equipment or even a baking tip I may furrow my brow as I try to meld the new information with the old, but I am not emotionally uncomfortable.
Of course, I know that my thoughts have had many different influences starting at a very early age. All I “know”’ is frequently constructed on a very shaky foundation. Yet, there is some temporary comfort in pretending that I can relax and predict a piece of the future based on what I know. When I cannot pretend I have to give up the illusion that I can predict the future and open myself to new possibilities.
In my role as a counselor I am constantly asking others to face the discomfort of opening themselves to a new way of thinking about themselves and the world. I want to stay very aware of what I am suggesting/asking of others and be willing to do the same.
Today, I will be more aware of the chatter and, when noticing it, breathe, allow the switch to shut off, and stay open to new ideas and possibilities. I know that I may stay open for a second and then allow the chatter to resume. No matter how often this occurs I will notice, breathe and open. Notice, breath and open. Notice, breath and open!
Written July 22, 2018
It is a deliciously cooler, although cloudy, late July morning here in Wheeling, WV. I am happy to be at home this Sunday and not traveling as I have been the past couple of weeks. Although I am very grateful to be able to travel whether it was to spend time with my son and his partner or to be with family as they celebrated the life of my brother-in-law. I also really appreciate the fact that when I travel I frequently meet and talk with many individuals or families who whose background, beliefs, education, and interests are much different than mine. I attempt to put myself in the presence of different opinions and backgrounds even when I am not traveling, but airports, train stations, planes, trains and other shared modes of traveling frequently put one in the direct path of those from whom one can learn.
Even reading the local paper or exposing myself to the variety of media which today is so readily available challenges me to think outside of the boxes I have built in my small brain. Yet, my first tendency when reading or hearing an opinion which is diametrically opposed to the “truth” I have already constructed is to flip the chatter switch. The chatter switch in my head controls the pouring forth of the “truths” just sitting in my brain ready to attack any conflicting information. Just a minute ago I was reading an editorial in a newspaper when the chatter was unleashed: “How can you compare apples and oranges? What person X did is not comparable to what person Y did. Blab! Blab! Bal!” Earlier I was reading something else on line espousing what someone else thought was or was not patriotic. The chatter switch immediately turned on.
Earlier today I had shared my spiritual intention with a friend. My spiritual intention for today is “to be still and listen”. Obviously when the chatter switch has been turned all the way on, I am not being still and I am certainly not listening to the universe or even another person!
I like to tell myself that I love to learn which is true as long as new information does not leave me uncomfortable. If I am learning a new concept in physics, something about the stars, how to operate a new piece of equipment or even a baking tip I may furrow my brow as I try to meld the new information with the old, but I am not emotionally uncomfortable.
Of course, I know that my thoughts have had many different influences starting at a very early age. All I “know”’ is frequently constructed on a very shaky foundation. Yet, there is some temporary comfort in pretending that I can relax and predict a piece of the future based on what I know. When I cannot pretend I have to give up the illusion that I can predict the future and open myself to new possibilities.
In my role as a counselor I am constantly asking others to face the discomfort of opening themselves to a new way of thinking about themselves and the world. I want to stay very aware of what I am suggesting/asking of others and be willing to do the same.
Today, I will be more aware of the chatter and, when noticing it, breathe, allow the switch to shut off, and stay open to new ideas and possibilities. I know that I may stay open for a second and then allow the chatter to resume. No matter how often this occurs I will notice, breathe and open. Notice, breath and open. Notice, breath and open!
Written July 22, 2018
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