I am in awe of universal truths. They are never ephemeral. Try as you might, they are impossible to break or alter. They are just true. The one that my grandfather continually reinforced was that “You create your own reality.” This, of course, does not mean that you can necessarily alter your physical reality. I can improve it, but a radical change is often difficult, to say the least. My mental state, however, I can change. The emphasis here is on the “I”– I can change – there is no one else who changes me but me. I do this by altering my reality – the way I see the world. We have the severe example of Dr. Frankl in the death camp. (1) He changed his perception and survived when most didn’t.
Continue reading Universal TruthsHow do you heal a broken heart?
What is a broken heart? It comes in many genres and styles. All indicate a situation that is totally unexpected, irrevocable, and irredeemable. Perhaps it’s a philosophical broken heart, a financial broken heart, an educational broken heart, or, of course, the one we often think of, the broken heart relative to love. One of my students recently failed a major university exam. Unfortunately, this had life-altering consequences, and she was totally distraught, to say the least. Many were quick to offer counsel and support.
Continue reading How do you heal a broken heart?Peace
We all want peace in our lives, yet it is so elusive. If I were a student of history, I could easily be forgiven for thinking that we have returned to the nineteenth century. The Russians, the French, and the British are poised to be locked in conflict, while the burgeoning power of America flexes its muscles. Even Islamic nations assert themselves. Militarism is once again “de rigueur.”
Continue reading PeacePodcast Episode 187: We must learn to protect the environment which consists of all creatures big and small. In this way, Gaia, Mother Earth, will allow us to continue to inhabit this planet.
Podcast Episode 186: We will all experience the trauma of a broken heart in our lives. How we overcome this tragedy will have immense implications for our future.
Why Do We Work?
The concept of work has taken on a pejorative meaning in contemporary society. It evokes pain, suffering, and drudgery. (1) Yet everyone knows, at least implicitly, that without work or effort, little to nothing can actually be achieved. But is this true? There is a curious disconnect between the idea of work and the reality of it. In modern thinking, work is unnecessary while reward and pleasure are treated as our birthright — something enjoyable, even fantastical, and seemingly achieved without effort. One might reasonably ask how this schism ever came about.
Continue reading Why Do We Work?Podcast Episode 185: Your mission, your plan, is already inside of you. You must only listen to your heart.
Podcast Episode 184: Real education can only come about when we truly learn to talk to one another. Violence only violence must be our first lesson.
Give it a rest
Bring some levity to your life. You take yourself — and most current events — too seriously. True, isn’t it? We are often dour beings. My life is the net sum of everything I truly know, yet this construction we call “my life” must contain an element of joy, even amusement. It cannot possibly be all activity and achievement. There has to be some fun, some humor. (1)
Continue reading Give it a rest