This was a therapy day and a day packed with other activities in addition to hosting our guest.
I did my down and back drive, then visited a friend’s new baby, picked up RB then we headed to FroYo after dinner. He was enthralled by the machines and how it all worked. They don’t go for these things in France, and I don’t blame them.
I also had another board meeting before I drove down. What a full, but good day.
This from Rohr on this ongoing topic of understanding our purpose and meaning in the world/cosmos:
Contemplation is challenging and even unnatural in an overstimulated culture. It is next to impossible as long as we identify with our passing feelings and opinions. No new perception, no new engagement, no honest name for God will emerge in our cluttered existence apart from a contemplative stance which relativizes the shallow and egoic chatter in our minds.
I am convinced that many, if not most, modern neuroses are a direct result of the lack of a common, shared story under which our individual stories are written. As a result, our tiny lives lack a transcendent referent, a larger significance, a universal meaning. Our common life is a “dis-aster,” literally disconnected from the cosmic “stars.” We are lost in insignificance.
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In therapy, we talked about my Enneagram type, what Ones are like, what our strengths are and what we need to be aware of for weaknesses or tendencies.
When I’m stressed, imagine there might not be a solution and be okay with that. Looping happens when your system wants a solution or we’ll die!
I didn’t have any training to deal significantly with life differently. This will take days, months, years to fully change, but someday it will be automatic.
If you’re a One, you promote justice and fairness. Encourage people but don’t boss people. I don’t need to take responsibility for outcomes. Ones are quick to judge. Try coming from place of love instead.
Here’s some practical ways to do that in conversation:
Help me understand your perspective
Help me see
Explain that
I want to see
All good ways to initiate conversation instead of plopping your ideas out there immediately. Allow your own thoughts to then flow in in response to other’s comments.
I have a lot to learn, but I’m in the game.