Grace and I watched the movie Black Swan last night. Incredible portrayal of the "voice in our heads". Nataly Portman was plagued with a very loud and dark voice and she went "through it" as opposed to being paralyzed by it. The movie is painful and uncomfortable but in a way that is real and connectable. It was a great demonstration of this "force" which lives within us all (the unconscious mind) that can shape our lives if we let it. Sometimes the best path is just to not listen to the voice in our heads -- instead, we can listen to the other voice which is also in our head but comes from quite a different source. Being able to differentiate between the two seems paramount.
This is a picture from the Eucalyptus Grove At UCSD -- my dogs' favorite walk. Upon our return from our adventure, I read this from Buddhist psychologist, Rick Hanson. I really resonate with this aspect of connection. Connecting is in 3 directions -- inside with oneself, with others and with the world. When we strengthen one direction, we simultaneously strengthen our general connection. This is guidance to connect more deeply with the world. What makes you feel connected? I'd like to know. Are we really so separate? The Practice Love the world. Why? Your brain evolved in three stages (to simplify a complex process): Reptile - Brainstem, focused on AVOIDING harm Mammal - Limbic system, focused on APPROACHING rewards Primate - Cortex, focused on ATTACHING to "us" With a fun use (to me, at least) of animal themes, the first JOT in this series - pet the lizard - was about how to soothe the most ancient structures of the...
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Or, as Gandhi said: "Be the change you want to see in the word." (and be the change you want to see in yourself!)