Posts Tagged ‘consciousness’
A TASK IN LIFE…
“Nothing is more likely to help a person overcome or endure troubles than the consciousness of having a task in life.”
Victor Frankl
A GORDIAN KNOT!
“Nurturing sattva guna is pulling the rope that will extricate us from the Gordian knot of material consciousness.”
David B. Wolf
EXCELLENCE & PERFECTION
Excerpt From A Coaching Letter - By David B. Wolf
“What is the distinction between excellence & perfection?”
One distinction that occurs to me in reading the above is that between demanding perfection and striving for excellence. Demanding perfection assumes some external standard and definition of perfection. Such a mentality, combined with ourselves and the world not conforming to this standard, is the source of a variety of distressing emotional and cognitive states. A consciousness of striving for excellence perceives perfection in the process of life itself as it unfolds and manifests, without needing to adhere to some externally defined conception of perfection. Striving for excellence is consistent with giving fully, be-do-have, and all the strategies for living. In such a consciousness we naturally support and challenge ourselves and others to ever-higher and deeper levels of character and performance. This is done from a platform of acceptance, joy and inspiration, not from a place of judgment, need or scarcity. In aspiring for excellence we naturally have expectations, though we are not emotionally attached to those expectations. Thus, our full and unconditional giving is not dependent on whether we or others meet those expectations. Whether the expectations are met or not, we’re not going to go into grungy resentment, hostility, hurt, etc. Rather, we continue to respond with compassion and with focus on personal growth for everyone.
BE-DO-HAVE REVISTED
Excerpt From Relationships That Work: The Power Of Conscious Living
- By David B. Wolf
In setting and accomplishing life goals from a paradigm of conscious living, the equation begins with being. Often we specify the have part of the equation, then do the work of achieving the goal, but neglect to be. For example, suppose I am thinking, “If I have the right companion then I will live the life I desire and I will be loved, appreciated and affectionate.” In this mode focused on having, the process moves to doing things that we believe make sense to achieve the goal. This could mean going to bars, parties or perhaps to work or church—all with the intention of acquiring what we don’t have. Be-Do-Have on the other hand begins with experiencing ourselves as loved, contented and fulfilled. With this consciousness we attract into our lives relationships that enhance our being. Experiencing love, power, beauty, clarity, vitality, radiance and confidence is not dependent on having any particular relationship or external result, although we do invite and attract relationships and successes that enrich the full experience of our being.
Be-Do-Have consciousness is joyful, contented and powerful from the start. Living these qualities, I naturally do the things that joyful, contented and powerful people do—with the result that I have things that joyful, contented and powerful people have. Being compassionate, loving and confident, I naturally act in ways that compassionate, loving and confident people act—and thus I have what compassionate, loving and confident people have. The salient point about Be-Do-Have is not that it culminates in have, but that it originates in be.
Be-Do-Have is always in effect, whether we are conscious of it or not. If I am being depressed, fearful and irritable, I will do what depressed, fearful and irritable people do, and have the sort of relationships and life results that depressed, fearful and irritable people have. If I am being trustworthy, powerful and spirited, I will do things that trustworthy, powerful and spirited people do, and have the corresponding results, such as extraordinary success and rewarding relationships.
While doing and having flow from our being, they also enrich our being. Thus, being powerful, trusting and determined, I act with power, trust and determination. This activity in turn enhances my experience of being. It is not that my being was incomplete before the activity; this a dynamic process where being energizes doing, and doing nourishes being. Activity is generated from inspired being, not from a place of need.
In the Do-Be paradigm, I am in a mindset that believes “In order to experience the qualities of my being, I need to do such and such.” That is different than Be-Do, where I am living from the consciousness of “I am complete and whole; I am inspired to do these activities, which naturally intensify and augment my experience of being.”
Because spirit is transcendent of matter, and because the self is more powerful than material coverings, it is possible to choose the qualities of our being at any given moment—whatever the intricacies of those coverings. By doing some clearing work, by pulling weeds and watering flowers in the garden, we can prepare the field and thus make it easier to choose being. (Without minimizing the value of this work, the choice to be is not dependent on the clearing and watering work we have done beforehand.)
For example, before conducting a seminar, part of my preparation is to do mantra meditation for about ninety minutes each morning. This helps me to feel strong, clear and connected. Sometimes that doesn’t happen, for whatever reason. I know that chanting before the start of the seminar day is very helpful for me to experience myself as focused, spontaneous, confident and connected; but if it’s 9 a.m. and the seminar is about to begin, and I haven’t chanted yet, I am not willing to use that as an excuse not to be fully clear, present and connected. Whatever my preparation work has or hasn’t been, I can choose to be weak or powerful, foggy or clear, defensive or open.
URGENCY & CONTENTMENT
Excerpt From A Coaching Letter - By David B. Wolf
… Also, I appreciated hearing that you are satisfied and content with your array of services as they are now whilst also being able to connect with an urgency for more service eventually in whichever form that transpires – this reminded me, or rather got me contemplating on, that experiencing healthy urgency does not mean being dissatisfied with the present – that urgency and contentment aren’t exclusive of each other; contentment doesn’t necessarily breed complacency or laziness, rather if it’s coupled with urgency it can be a fertile and healthy birthing ground for continuous expansion of whatever kind… that contentment can be the consciousness behind urgency, rather than lack and dissatisfaction which would breed a desperation for ‘more’ rather than a healthy urgency…
FROM GRACE
“Thank you eternally for your guidance and association. This class has been a re-awakening moment and inspiration to be who I wish to be and wish to accomplish. I have all what it takes and you have allowed me to confirm it with my consciousness and heart.”
Grace Pampo
Foundational seminar – Florida July 2010
MOSAIC OF LIFE
“Every act, thought, and choice adds to the permanent mosaic: Our decisions ripple through the universe of consciousness to affect the lives of all. Every act or decision made that supports life, supports all life, including our own.”
David R. Hawkins, MD, PHD
TO RECEIVE APPRECIATION
Excerpt From A Coaching Letter - By David B. Wolf
“What is the spirit in which to receive appreciation?”
I think that when we are in spiritually-connected consciousness we receive all genuine appreciation in the spirit of ‘It’s not about me. Rather, they are perceiving some qualities of the divine that I am fortunate to be reflecting.’ So, in such a state of mind we don’t become proud or arrogant when we receive appreciation, and neither do we deny or block the flow of giving, appreciation and affection. We receive it in a mood of celebrating our divine nature and quality.
THE NATURE OF SPIRIT
Excerpt From Relationships That Work: The Power Of Conscious Living
- By David B. Wolf
Great wisdom traditions affirm that our nature reflects the supreme. In Genesis, for example, it is said that we are created in the image of God. What is this supreme nature that we represent? Is it fearful? Confused? Resentful? Weak? Overwhelmed with anxiety? When I think of divine nature, I envision qualities such as power, vitality, fearlessness, contentment and compassion. In accord with the world’s major wisdom traditions, my conviction is that our fundamental nature is spiritual and sacred, inherently balanced, whole and complete. This understanding underlies the principles and process of this book.
The Vedic body of spiritual knowledge that has inspired much of my thought describes the central qualities of our spirit as sat, chit and ananda. This means that we are constitutionally eternal, conscious and blissful. We can understand something about this nature by observing ourselves. For example, whether through anti-lock brakes or thermonuclear devices, much of our energy is employed in eluding death. Why? Because as spiritual beings we are not meant to die. Each of us seeks to expand our consciousness, perhaps through a study of history, philosophy or maybe through the politics and economics of the day. We strive for happiness, knowledge and eternity in so many ways, but often do not find the joy and fulfillment we seek. This indicates that our activities may be misdirected, with respect to spiritual development, and leads us to wonder, “What is my essential activity as a spiritual being?”
LANGUAGE REFLECTS CONSCIOUSNESS
Excerpt From Relationships That Work: The Power Of Conscious Living
- By David B. Wolf
An important aspect of the courses I conduct is that the participants examine their lives from alternative perspectives, and change for the better as a result of that exploration. At the core of this examination are the principles of choice and responsibility. A stance of personal responsibility is the most effective attitude for living a life of excellence and creating the experience and results we desire.
In the seminars we spend time looking at how language affects and reflects consciousness. For example, we consider the expression “I can’t” in contrast to “I’m not willing to.” Through an experiential process, participants often realize that they use “I can’t” to express a sense of disempowerment, whereby the script of their lives is written by external forces, whereas “I am willing to” or “I am not willing to” reflects a consciousness of responsibility, personal power and choice. Frequently I hear participants say that “I can’t” feels easier to say, although “I’m not willing to” is more honest.
Several years ago I was conducting couples counseling. In one case a man would regularly lose his temper with his wife. Sometimes this would happen at especially precarious times, such as when they were driving on the highway. Understandably, this behavior damaged the relationship. The woman acknowledged that she had played a part in the situation, provoking him in various ways. The man said, when his wife prodded him with particular statements, in a certain tone of voice, “There’s nothing I can do. I can’t help it. I just become enraged at her.”
I proposed to him a hypothetical scenario. “Your wife has said what she says in the tone of voice with which you are so familiar. She has done that, and it is the moment before you explode with rage. The difference is that this time you know that if you don’t lose your temper, you’ll receive ten million dollars, tax free. Would you become enraged with your wife?” Some hesitation, then, “Well, if I knew I was getting ten million dollars…no, I guess not.”
“But wait a second. I don’t understand. You said that you couldn’t help it. There was nothing you could do. You just had to get enraged with your wife.”
“Yeah, but ten million dollars…”
“Okay, now this is a different ball game. Now I am understanding that you have a choice, and you’re choosing to get mad at your wife. You just indicated that you could make other choices, and you’re choosing anger in that situation.”
As long as the power for his anger is with his wife, or any external factor, there is not much room for progress in addressing this client. Once he acknowledges choice, there is something to work with. “You have choices. How come you’re deciding to lose your temper with your wife? What other possibilities are available?”
As director of an international child protection office, I worked with a forensic psychologist who assisted us in designing training for child protection team members. He specialized in therapy for sex offenders. He shared a technique he utilized when the sex offender would not accept responsibility for his actions.
“I was in the room with the girl and I couldn’t help myself…”
The therapist would then offer, “Okay, suppose it’s the same scenario. You are in the room with the nine-year-old girl. This time, though, the difference is that also in the room is a police officer with a handgun. Would you touch the girl?”
“With a cop there with a gun! Of course not.”
“But you said you couldn’t help it.”
“Yeah but if a cop is there with a gun I’m not going to touch the girl.”
“Okay, so you had a choice. You could have decided differently. How come you chose to molest the girl?”
In this way the psychologist helped the offender acknowledge that he had hundreds of choice points, at each one of which he made a particular response, which led to a distinct result. He chose to speak to the girl in a specific way; he chose to turn the doorknob, and so on and so on. At any of these choice points the man could have responded differently and created a different result. Once this person had recognized his responsibility, and acknowledged that his responses (or lack of them) had led to the final situation, the therapist could productively address issues with him.
