18:18 May 15 2008
Times Read: 681
Here is the rough draft for an introduction to a friend of mine's book that he asked me to write.
I am sure I will need to edit again, but who has time when writing a thesis?
hmmm - I put this in Jedi Wisdom because I think it fits here than anywhere else...
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We live in possibly the most uncertain age of human existence. In spite of our increased knowledge, we as a species have started to deteriorate from within. Reliance on quick access to information has had the reverse affect of diminishing our ability to listen to our intuition as we blindly accept what others – especially in the mass media – propagandize through our televisions, printed material and computers. We have become the victims of our own designs. Religions are failing to guide us towards serenity, as the extremists on all sides still do not understand that beliefs are extremely personal experiences that cannot be dogmatically thrust upon others. At the same time, the age of ‘political correctness’ has led to mounting controls on our bodies and minds in a futile attempt to appear to manage our environment and selves. If one questions this statement, all one need do is look at the increasing amount of mistrust of others, laws that seek to limit our behaviors and personal freedoms, and swelling prison populations. All these things are culminating in an increasing sense of hopelessness that is almost palpable in the air in around us. Everything appears to be a ‘cause’ these days and getting a message heard that needs telling is becoming increasingly difficult. We, as a species, principally in highly developed countries, would rather entertain ourselves with trivial pursuits than work hard to earn what we deserve and, more importantly, to face what lurks beneath the skin. The gulf between the rich and poor is widening yearly as we are constantly under threat of ‘losing everything’. We live in a most uncertain time and it appears that it will only get worse as people attempt through either violence or legal means to place stopgaps on the situation.
These statements perhaps seem drastic but we as a species need to wake up as we are in the midst of a confusing and demoralizing paradigm shift that is uncovering so much angst and guile that our ability to harness the inner peace we all crave is more difficult to attain. Practicing yoga, holistic health care, meditating and ‘paying it forward’, among other ideas for achieving happiness, all appear to be creative ways to increase our karmic goodness. However, with pervasive negative news, fascination in destructive outlets such as aggressive video games, insidious addictions, self-medicating with drugs, alcohol, or food or simply wasting time watching a cathode ray we are rapidly becoming the most redundant generation that has inhabited this world. More and more of us encounter those who give off a sense of entitlement, disconnection or are abusive in some fashion and it is increasingly rare to meet others who are shine with real tranquility, are altruistic towards their neighbors and have found a balance and harmony between themselves and their environment. Most of us feel confused, lonely, depressed or maybe even scared of what the future holds. Life is easier on us with all our gadgets, yet more of us feel that we have less quality time and happiness in our lives than our antecedents. Do we have faith in our neighbors or ourselves any longer or do we see each other as labels? Can any of us truly look any deeper than the surface? So many people try to love and fail that estrangement, divorce or break-ups seems almost banal. Our society seems more interested in the actions of so-called celebrities than in those we live near and work with daily.
This all appears to be a blueprint for disaster but there is still hope and a great deal of good in our world if we choose to seek it. Anger can be transformed into love, disillusionment can become inspiration and we can select how to frame our lives with quality and meaning. It all starts from within. I came to understand that in order to heal from my own painful past, I needed deeper work – a spiritual cleansing of sorts. I had tried religion, counseling, psychiatry and the ensuing medications only to realize that most of what was hampering my efforts lay somewhere deep in my subconscious and the only way to repair my inner well-being was to turn off the noise in my mind. How to do this seemed impossible for a single mother in the midst of an undergraduate degree but the answer came to me through a research study on hypnosis. What I experienced in the study allowed me to be outside my own ‘presence’ and I finally had the ability to tap into something amazing that I thought could heal the wounds I carried internally. That time finally came several years later when I started working with Bill Jump. We were able to establish a dialogue and I was literally able to transform myself from underachieving doormat to someone who at least was able to recognize destructive impulses and leave many bad habits behind. It is still work to maintain equilibrium, but the power that I experienced through the hypnotherapy sessions finally allowed me to get beyond mental struggles that were holding me back and emerge as a strong, benevolent person able to help others. By turning off my conscious self, I was able to ‘defrag my hard drive’ and return to a more positive, peaceful and functional state. It can be done by anyone who is willing to dig a little deeper and can accept a new way of thinking. I know that things can truly become better for us if we just take that first step.
I am pleased to be a part of the effort that Bill has worked on for so long and am proud to have been of assistance to him with some of his clients. I realize that I have an extraordinary gift of sensitivity to others and am hopeful that our times will change as more of us accept that there is something beyond what we see in our chosen reality connecting us all. Perhaps the first step is realizing that hurting inside our mind and heart achieves nothing but destruction to all inhabitants of what is a truly beautiful planet. A healing process is available if only we choose to find it.
Cheryl Garrett
MLitt, History
University of Aberdeen
May 14, 2008
COMMENTS
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Skjaldepigen
11:34 May 31 2008
I am sad to hear that Cheryl but I understand your point. Often though it is the "grown ups" that create a lot of the drama which is just as sad.
Hope that you will pop in once in a while.
hugs to you dear friend.
ChemicalxReaction
15:36 May 31 2008
Not all the teens on this site are like that. There are adults on this site that cause just as much drama as some of the teens.
As for Journal Commenting - It's Cancer's site. You either need to get over it and make your entries private, or delete comments when you get them.
I dont know you, but I know it takes time and effort to reach Sire. Hell, evern Necromancer. So, it would be sad to see you go. Sometimes you have to do whatever works for you, though.
Goodluck. =)
deathnitegrl
16:03 May 31 2008
Err... why concentrating on the negative sides only?
Changes happen and the site is no different, but there is still good stuff on the site.
SithPadawan
01:13 Jun 04 2008
Obviously even Jedi have moments of weakness.
It is such a fitting thing to do when you have tried hard to be a valued member and all others want to do is take you down.
Screw them.