The Virtue of Detachment
05 Jun 2010 2 Comments
in Detachment, Self-Discipline, Thankfulness, Trust
Detachment is experiencing your feelings without allowing your feelings to control you. Instead of just reacting, with detachment you are free to choose how you will act. You use thinking and feeling together, so you can make smart choices.
(www.thevirtuesproject.com)
Detachment is a powerful and profound virtue. Unlike the virtues of Creativity and Joy, Detachment calls us to our True Self by requiring a more focused attention to our thoughts, feelings, actions, and consequences of those actions.
Without really knowing, Ekhart Tolle, auther of the wonderful books “The Power of Now” and “The New Earth” is calling us all to the virtue of Detachment by teaching us how to be more detached and he explains that when we are detached, we become free and we experience bliss.
At the beginning of trying to detach from something it doesn’t feel like bliss. It usually feels like hell. Whether we are attached to a certain outcome in a job interview, or attached to a certain material object, or even being attached to a certain part of ourselves that we thought was permenant. When we lose something — don’t get the job, have a house fire, or receive promptings from a doctor to change our diet — it is hard to let go.
Change is hard. Detachment reminds us that though the change is difficult, with detachment it becomes easier, and then with patience we will find that the change was for the better. It is easy to be grateful in hindsight. Detachment helps us to have gratitude before hindsight kicks in.
When we are striving towards personal empowerment and well-being, detachment will be both the sliver and the balm. Detachment hurts — but it also heals.
What is something you have been clinging to that has been causing you pain? Is it time to let go and try something new?
The Virtue of Cooperation
18 May 2010 Leave a Comment
in Cooperation, Self-Discipline, Unity
Cooperation: is working together and sharing the load. When we cooperate, we join with others to do things that cannot be done alone. We are willing to follow the rules which keep everyone safe and happy. Together we can accomplish great things. (www.52virtues.com)
Cooperation is one of those “things I learned in Kindergarten” kind of virtues…but even still…many of us struggle with cooperation in our workplaces and at home.
Why is that? I’m thinking that it is because cooperation calls us to put aside our ego in order to put the needs of the group above our own needs. Putting aside our ego is NOT an easy thing to do. Eckhart Tolle makes it seem easy in his books “The Power of Now” and “The New Earth” but don’t be fooled. It takes effort, determination, and sacrifice on everyone’s part in order to truly come to a place of genuine cooperation and unity in a group.
Even though it’s not easy to put aside the ego, it is certainly worth it. By cooperating we can achieve greater things than if we alone. Reflecting on the virtue of cooperation makes me think of that story with the twigs and how one twig is so easy to break but when you have 50 twigs bound together none of them can be broken. That is the way it is with cooperation. Together, we create a powerful bond that is unbreakable.
Copyright Rachel Perry 2010
The Virtue of Commitment
06 May 2010 Leave a Comment
in Commitment, Determination, Gentleness, Joy, Joyfulness, Love, Moderation, Patience, Perseverance, Purposefulness, Self-Discipline, Trust, Uncategorized
When the virtue of commitment is considered in light of personal well-being, what comes to mind is how important it is for commitment to be paired with Love.
Commitment without Flexibility can be harsh and unyeilding. Commitment without Love can be cold and uneffective.
Commitment without Trust can be useless and daunting.
Commitment without Gentleness can be blind and without purpose.
Commitment is making a goal and sticking to it regardless of the obstacles. Commitment is dedication and determination and optimisim.
When we have commitment then we have strength. When we have strength we can achieve any wellness goal that we have set for ourselves. When we set and achieve small goals we will be empowered to achieve more. In this achieving our true potential can be realized and manifested. When our true potential is discovered, great Joy is experienced and all struggle falls away.
Day 179: The Gift of Desire
17 Feb 2010 Leave a Comment
in Enthusiasm, Moderation, Self-Discipline Tags: personal growth, positive thinking, self-improvement, virtues for well-being
Now, now, I don’t mean desire as in red, hot desire…this is that small spark of desire that is that quiet voice in our hearts that whispers songs of hope.
Today I’m thinking about the gift of desire because when I completed Debbie Ford’s 21 Day Consciousness cleanse (and by the way I am not getting paid to promote it) I was eager to do it again! That’s because the change in my focus and energy has increase so much in the past 21 days that I think by doing it again I can continue to release the “chains” from the past (my negative thoughts) and move forward positively into the Moment.
My desire today, my goal for the next 21 days, is to continue writing and continue growing my new copywriting business. 21 days ago I had a vague idea that I would like to write and get paid for it. But today I now have 2 clients whom I am working with to improve the content of their websites! Exciting right. Right!
What strikes me is the power that I am finding in doing what my heart guides me to do. I had read all about the joy and strength people find when they do what they love, but to experience it is altogether different. Last night, I wrote and researched for my copywriting business for 4 hours and when I closed up my computer and was getting into bed I was saying, “Night night Rachel” and the whisper from my heart was “keep writing! I don’t want to go to bed! I want to keep writing!”
“Seriously?” I said to myself.
“Seriously!” was the answer.
So, with this little internal battle between my inner writer (with enthusiasm) and my inner desire for sleep (wisdom) I had to call on the virtue of moderation.
“Self,” I said, “You have written for 4 hours and that’s great. But now it is time to sleep. Sleeping rests the mind and body and will give you more energy to be able to keep writing tomorrow. How about we just sleep now and dream about writing? How would that be?”
And to my delight the answer was a quiet, “Okay.”
Day 179: The Power of Presence
17 Feb 2010 Leave a Comment
in Love, Moderation, Self-Discipline, Unity Tags: living in the moment, power of presence, virtues for well-being
Ekhart Tolle made this phrase popular in his book “The Power of Now” when he wrote about becoming “present” and living in the moment. When I read that book I could tell there was truth in it right away. It was one of those things where you just read it and go, “Yes! That’s it!” I love that book and go back to it often. My other favourite of his is “The New Earth” which doesn’t seem to get as much attention but was really captivating for me.
Well, today was the last day of my 21 day Consciousness Cleanse and I am feeling a significant strength in my ability to live in Presence. (Tolle capitalizes the word in his book which I find interesting as it connects it to the divine and sacred in that way for me.)
Living in the present moment today has got me reflecting on, “what virtue is being used when one is “living in the moment” or “living in Presence”?
What would you say it is?
If you have ever felt that wonderful feeling of being connected to yourself and the sacred in you at the same time, when it felt as though you fit in the world and were basking in light and acceptance then you will know what I mean. I discovered this wonderful and magestic feeling first in meditation and now I call on it often in the course of my day.
I think it is the virtue of Unity. Oneness. Acceptance. Love. I think there must be more than one name for it.
But this wonderful expression of the divine in our lives is a true gift that offers so much inspiration and strength. From it all other virtues become possible.
My greatest challenge today was physical. I came home tired from a long day of training at the new job and was craving sugar after dinner. The only sweet treat in the house are some cookies that I made and froze that are gluten-free but not dairy free. The last time I ate them they caused me great pain and discomfort for the next 24 hours.
I stood there looking at them thinking, “Mmmmmm…cookies!” And I thought to myself, is it worth it to eat them when I know they may cause me pain? At first I said No. But THEN I WENT BACK TO THEM!! And I had not one, or two, or three, but four! Oh boy! No self-discipline there. But it was a choice I made fully conscious of the consequences so there was a certain awakeness to the moment and a giddiness that I felt at being able to choose.
Well, that was 2 hours ago and I do have some cramping now but nothing like I thought it would be so maybe I’ll be alright. Or maybe I’m kidding myself and I will suffer all day tomorrow.
Needless to say, I lived in the moment of “Cookie Eating” and really, really enjoyed it. Now if I can stay in the moment and love myself through the pain as well then I’ll really be doing okay.
Day 158: Purposefulness
06 Feb 2010 Leave a Comment
in Commitment, Confidence, Courage, Daily Log, Determination, Perseverance, Purposefulness, Self-Discipline Tags: purpose of life, Purposefulness, resolution, virtues advocate, virtues for well-being
Today I was reminded of the spiritual wisdoms contained in the message of Deepak Chopra and his description of what he calls 7 spiritual laws inspired me.
He writes that the 7th Law is that of Purpose of Life. This law includes discovering your True Self, discovering your unique talent, and then using these unique talents in service of humanity.
Inspired by this idea, I gave thought to my own purposefulness today.
www.52virtues.com describes that Purposefulness is…
“having a clear focus. Begin with a vision for what you want to accomplish, and concentrate on your goals. Do one thing at a time, without scattering your energies. Some people let things happen. When you are purposeful, you make things happen.”
Many people feel purposeful on January 1st when they make new year’s resolutions, but without determination or committment they lose the momentum to overcome the challenges that test their resolution.
My new year’s resolution is to let this be the year that I turn my finances around, the year that I embrace the abundance that is all around me. I have a clear focus and am following a plan that will bring me to the achievement of that goal.
What was your new year’s resolution? Where do you hope to be in one year from now? Send me an email or write a comment on the blog.
Day 137: Re-discovering Rumi
10 Jan 2010 Leave a Comment
in Daily Log, Patience, Peacefulness, Perseverance, Purposefulness, Self-Discipline, Trust Tags: Peacefulness, Rumi, self-discovery, Spirituality, virtues, well-being
Thirteen years ago, when I was first thrown into The Valley of Search I found myself asking these questions: What Is My Purpose? What Is Right and Wrong? Why Does It Matter If My Actions Are Right or Wrong?
During that time of great self-discovery I discovered the great poet Rumi and his divine inspiration filled my soul with hope and mystery. Now, as I am going through another great passage into a new chapter in my life I find myself drawn back to him again. (It helped that my therapist also loves him and encouraged me to re-visit him as well). I share this poem today because it tells the story of a soul finding peace…peace for me is that “everlasting home” that he mentions in this poem.
First he appeared in the realm inanimate;
Thence came into the world of plants and lived
The plant-life many a year, nor called to mind
What he had been; then took the onward way
To animal existence, and once more
Remembers naught of what life vegetive,
Save when he feels himself moved with desire
Towards it in the season of sweet flowers,
As babes that seek the breast and know not why.
Again the wise Creator whom thou knowest
Uplifted him from animality
To Man’s estate; and so from realm to realm
Advancing, he became intelligent,
Cunning and keen of wit, as he is now.
No memory of his past abides with him,
And from his present soul he shall be changes.
Though he is fallen asleep, God will not leave him
In this forgetfulness. Awakened, he
Will laugh to think what troublous dreams he had.
And wonder how his happy state of being
He could forget, and not perceive that all
Those pains and sorrows were the effect of sleep
And guile and vain illusion. So this world
Seems lasting, though ’tis but the sleepers’ dream;
Who, when the appointed Day shall dawn, escapes
From dark imaginings that haunted him,
And turns with laughter on his phantom griefs
When he beholds his everlasting home.
R. A. Nicholson
‘Persian Poems‘, an Anthology of verse translations
edited by A.J.Arberry, Everyman’s Library, 1972
Day 136: Re-inventing and re-creating myself in the new year
09 Jan 2010 1 Comment
in Creativity, Daily Log, Perseverance, Self-Discipline Tags: virtues
It’s the new year and I’m still giving thought as to this website and what will be on it. This year, 2010, is going to be a good year. I can tell already. Although I don’t know what it is exactly that I am creating in my life I can tell it is going to be very interesting.
Think of a baker who goes out and gets all these awesome ingredients, flours, fruits, butter cream etc and then she comes home and puts it all on the counter. It looks like a mess because all the ingredients, baking products and recipes books are laying all around. But soon the baker turns on the oven to pre-heat it, and then she choses a recipe, and gets the bowls and measuring cups ready and then the fun begins.
That’s me right now. The “ingredients” that I have around me are so interesting and exciting…the oven is even turned on and heating up…now I just have to pick a recipe and start mixing. Maybe I’ll have a lot of fun and not even pick a recipe…maybe I’ll take the ingredients I have and make my very own creation!
The virtues of creativity, obedience, and perseverance are my guide.
Can’t wait to see what wonders the year bakes up up!
Creativity – Creativity is the power of imagination. It is discovering your own special talents. Dare to see things in new ways and find different ways to solve problems. With your creativity, you can bring something new into the world.
Perseverance -Perseverance is being steadfast and persistent. You commit to your goals and overcome obstacles, no matter how long it takes. When you persevere, you don’t give up…you keep going. Like a strong ship in a storm, you don’t become battered or blown off course. You just ride the waves.
Self-Discipline – Self-discipline means self-control. It is doing what you really want to do, rather than being tossed around by your feelings like a leaf in the wind. You act instead of react. You get things done in an orderly and efficient way. With self-discipline, you take charge of yourself.
(Definitions from The Virtues Project, The Educator’s Guide)
