Expanding Our Beliefs
WWW.MARYCOOKMA.COM Mary Cook is the author of “Grace Lost and Found: From Addictions and Compulsions to Satisfaction and Serenity”, available from Barnes & Noble bookstores, Amazon.com, etc. She has 35 years of clinical practice and 29 years of university teaching experience. She is a national speaker and has a private practice in San Pedro, CA. See website for further information.
vulnerable, then we typically attract others who are untrustworthy or harmful, or become that way ourselves and sabotage potential love. If we desire a promotion at work, but we cannot imagine ourselves as capable of the inherent responsibilities of that position, we will either not receive the promotion or will fail to maintain it if received.
What is necessary for success in the preceding examples is to re-examine original beliefs and the circumstances under which they were formed. How long have we had this belief and from whom and what situations did the belief arise? In looking back at these factors with adult perspective, were the people involved acting and communicating from a healthy or sick mindset? Were the events healthy or unhealthy? Beliefs and habits acquired during times of stress, substance abuse, confusion, loss, anger and trauma are not meant to apply to life in general. Recognizing our responsibility to heal and make constructive use of resources is critical to maturity, whether we are healing emptiness, abuse, betrayal or low self-esteem.
The ultimate goal regarding duality is not discovering and achieving our preferred states of mind and extinguishing their opposites. As all states of mind are useful in certain circumstances, our mission is ongoing observation and discernment of what to empower, what to change and what to process and surrender, so as to further spiritual growth. Discernment must change as we gain more information and experience. Basically, our beliefs must grow for us to grow.
How we act and communicate, under what conditions and to what purpose determines whether we are
Progressing or regressing spiritually. When sickness brings necessary rest and reflection and offers others opportunities to extend compassion and nurturing, it is an experience of spirituality. When I defend my child against abuse, or dance joyfully in a park on the first day of spring, I am honoring the preciousness of childhood, and its free spirited expressions at any age. When I compulsively attend 12 step meetings to support new sobriety, I am supporting my ability to heal. When I allow my hatred of prejudice to motivate my desire to see divinity and equality in all people, I am demonstrating spirituality.
We must communicate and participate in life experiences with the intent to increase learning and understanding rather than to reaffirm fixed ideas. It is in our best interest to listen to our body, heart, intuition and most importantly our Higher Power, in addition to our mind. What constitutes health, happiness and spiritual growth evolves as we do. Let us awaken to the ever-flowing energy of life. Let us learn from and transcend our personal prisons and wounds. And let us support our highest purpose; to be a blessing to ourselves and others.
What is necessary for success in the preceding examples is to re-examine original beliefs and the circumstances under which they were formed. How long have we had this belief and from whom and what situations did the belief arise? In looking back at these factors with adult perspective, were the people involved acting and communicating from a healthy or sick mindset? Were the events healthy or unhealthy? Beliefs and habits acquired during times of stress, substance abuse, confusion, loss, anger and trauma are not meant to apply to life in general. Recognizing our responsibility to heal and make constructive use of resources is critical to maturity, whether we are healing emptiness, abuse, betrayal or low self-esteem.
The ultimate goal regarding duality is not discovering and achieving our preferred states of mind and extinguishing their opposites. As all states of mind are useful in certain circumstances, our mission is ongoing observation and discernment of what to empower, what to change and what to process and surrender, so as to further spiritual growth. Discernment must change as we gain more information and experience. Basically, our beliefs must grow for us to grow.
How we act and communicate, under what conditions and to what purpose determines whether we are
Progressing or regressing spiritually. When sickness brings necessary rest and reflection and offers others opportunities to extend compassion and nurturing, it is an experience of spirituality. When I defend my child against abuse, or dance joyfully in a park on the first day of spring, I am honoring the preciousness of childhood, and its free spirited expressions at any age. When I compulsively attend 12 step meetings to support new sobriety, I am supporting my ability to heal. When I allow my hatred of prejudice to motivate my desire to see divinity and equality in all people, I am demonstrating spirituality.
We must communicate and participate in life experiences with the intent to increase learning and understanding rather than to reaffirm fixed ideas. It is in our best interest to listen to our body, heart, intuition and most importantly our Higher Power, in addition to our mind. What constitutes health, happiness and spiritual growth evolves as we do. Let us awaken to the ever-flowing energy of life. Let us learn from and transcend our personal prisons and wounds. And let us support our highest purpose; to be a blessing to ourselves and others.
