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Tuesday 5 November 2024
On this day of your life
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I believe God wants you to know ... ... that you are
slaves to whatever you don't understand. Vernon Howard said
that, and he was right. So do not avoid hearing, or
even studying, other points of view. Indeed, do so
rigorously. The more that you oppose something, the more
you will benefit from looking into it deeply -- with
an open mind, not cynically. This is excellent
advice right now if you live in the United States and
are deciding upon a person for whom to vote in the
upcoming election... |
Before the World Wakes (OM)
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The
first moments of day, before our mind is fully awake, can be a wonderful time
for meditation. |
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Just before the coming of the pale rays of
dawn, Mother Nature exists in a state of flux. Earth's energy is
stable, free of the disordered vibrations that are a by-product of
humanity's comings and goings. In these first moments of day, when
the sun's golden light is just peeking over the horizon, our animal
mind remains in the land of slumber though we ourselves are awake. Deep sleep
has washed away the impurities of existence that accumulated within us, so
our mental, physical, and emotional potential is heightened. To meditate in
this peaceful yet energetically charged in-between time is to connect with
the divine in an extremely intimate fashion. We discover a new kinship with
the universal life force during morning meditations because our awareness
becomes a mirror for earthly consciousness. We wake as the world wakes,
quietly embracing the joy of being and setting the tone for a serene,
fulfilling day. In the first glorious glow of morning, the
light, air, and energy flowing around us speak in hushed tones of the
activity to come. While we recognize that another day of being means becoming
once again immersed in the challenges of action and reaction, we also
understand that we can draw upon the unique energetic qualities of daybreak
for comfort, creativity, and vigor. There is bliss in the simple knowledge
that we have been given the gift of another day of existence. We are inspired
by sights and sounds of the sun's gentle ascension. Birds serenade
the luminosity, which grows richer by the minute. And though we may feel a
residual lethargy, our vitality returns as our meditation helps us to become
one with the stirring of other beings rubbing the sleep from their eyes. At
the start of each day, our destiny has not yet been written, and so there is
nothing we cannot do. How we choose to meditate is less important
than our choice to attune ourselves to the spirit of wakefulness that travels
around the world each and every day. Even the briefest moment of quiet
contemplation in the muted light of the sun can put all that is yet to come
into perspective. As a consequence of our daybreak reflections, our lives are
imbued with the same stability, tranquility, and increased awareness that
humanity has long associated with the stillness of early morning. |
An Open Letter to my Fellow Progressives.
{*Did you know you can write on Elephant? Here’s how—big changes: How to Write & Make Money or at least Be of Benefit on Elephant. ~ Waylon}
~
“This is the way the world ends
This is the way the world ends
This is the way the world ends
Not with a bang but a whimper.”
~ T.S. Eliot, The Hollow Men
In 2016, I published an article here on Elephant Journal.
This is the article: Five things Red & Blue have in Common: Notes from Outside the Liberal Bubble.
Here is my final plea.
An open letter to my fellow progressives:
I am going to do my best at brevity, which has always been challenging for me. Only recently did I learn that this, and many other challenges were at least in part due to undiagnosed “Audhd” and not stupidity, obstinance, and laziness as many people including myself once believed. By the way, if you had any part in cultivating an awareness of “neurodivergence,” thank you. Word choice is powerful. Words can hurt and words can heal.
Back to brevity:
No one is “okay” right now; it would be pretty fd up if they were, to be honest. Things are bad. I think we all can admit that.
I encourage you to resist common platitudes like “there’s a reason for everything” or someone’s “higher self” chose their terrible circumstances, or it is due to their “karma” or the like—you are usually my people and I love you, but if you wouldn’t say that directly to the person suffering, you might consider whether this is why there is a lack of diversity in some “new age” spiritual communities.
However well-meaning your intentions, it’s equally important to be intentional in how something is said and how it is being interpreted.
But, of course, everyone is entitled to their beliefs, so feel free to ignore me (preferably rather than berating me in the comments, if possible).
Which leads me to my plea: for us to consider whether it is possible that in our fight for equality we forgot to include other vulnerable groups of people who may have inadvertently wound up on the wrong side? I know an otherwise good guy, for example, who got hung up on the semantics of “All Lives Matter” not understanding why “Black Lives Matter” essentially meant the same thing.
Not all people are pros at discerning nuance; not all people trust themselves more than they trust the majority of people around them. Have enough people around you saying the sky is purple and you’re bound to think you’re the one with the eyesight problem.
Often what looks like anger is actually fear, frustration, confusion, loneliness, pain of all kinds. Did we forget that every human is conditioned, programmed, manipulated in too many ways to list? Follow the money—if it does not flow into the person’s home, they’re probably being manipulated by whomever benefits from people hating themselves and one another.
Who do you know who doesn’t seem an inch away from falling apart?
Those who have been the bigger animal went wild with that power. They did despicable things, allowed despicable things, at best turned a blind eye, played dumb. And as the power has finally started shifting, they refuse to admit the truth because they are scared af (as f*ck).
Before we say they deserve it, is it possible that every human is capable of the same things under the same conditions? Is it possible that humans are allergic to too much power and lose perspective, which would make sense since we are designed to share power and resources as an interdependent species?
Is it possible that as a Jewish female I would have different views had I been brought up in Israel, for example, versus New York City? Depends. Who the heck knows who you or I would be if our DNA, environment, and/or various circumstances were all different.
Can I tell you about someone real quick? He is an a-hole who used to live in my building. The first time I met him he called me a self-hating Jew. I heard him out and told him to lower his voice. After he was done insulting me, I asked what his life was like.
He told me it sucked. He was obviously lonely. He was shot when he was younger. He had untreated PTSD. He was sh*tty at engaging with people.
I don’t think anyone would’ve paid him any attention had he not annoyed them. It might’ve been the only way he knew how to have any interaction. We became friends. He eventually got kicked out of the building for antagonizing people. I get it.
But what could’ve happened if we set some rules for him? He stepped over the line a couple times when we spoke but stepped right back when I told him to. Clearly, he was in it for the company, not the argument. He was relatively harmless (I was still careful, as one must be) and at times generous and kind, but you had to look past the offensive armor to find the human inside.
Not everyone is like him; some people are so hardened they can kill you, I get that.
I only suggest that we can and should acknowledge how easy it is for intentions to get lost in the delivery.
Anyway, this is simply my opinion and an invitation for respectful discussion:
In whatever way you can, are willing, and are able, I encourage you to:
>> Consider that you can probably be a jerk sometimes.
>> Consider the possibility that under certain circumstances you and every other human is capable of being a jerk.
>> Consider that it’s relatively easy to lose your way and to figuratively or literally go insane in this insane world.
>> Consider that most people have the ability to be kind and compassionate, even if that part of them has been systematically buried by fear and misinformation.
Are there really this many truly irredeemable people out there? Even diagnosed narcissists are sometimes if not often willing to channel their energy into a collective cause, as long as they receive appropriate support and genuine appreciation, since their self-esteem is completely in the sh*tter.
I certainly don’t recommend ignoring risk and making one’s self vulnerable to harm. I instead recommend creating appropriate boundaries and just interacting with less judgment.
I think at the end of the day most humans wanna be included, safe, loved, respected, understood, appreciated, educated effectively in a way that acknowledges neurodiversity and other factors that impede learning. The United States has not provided or allowed adequate resources for people to create much less sustain a fair and symbiotic society. In fact, there are several entities that would lose a lot of money if this were the case and have directly and indirectly thwarted such attempts.
We cannot snap our fingers, pretend it’s all a wash, forgive everyone, and start over. Many wrongs will need to be made right in any way possible. But I think its worth considering that T.S. Eliot was right when he wrote about The Hollow Men. This is all of us. Indoctrinated, powerless, disconnected, confused, ashamed, enraged, lonely, afraid. Often, we are angry at the wrong people, looking in the wrong direction, instead of looking at where the money flows.
In every human, there is a scream that comes out like a bang but began as a whimper.
All I suggest is that whenever possible, we listen for the whimper.
~
How to Advocate for Yourself when Your Talents go Unnoticed.
View this post on Instagram
{*Did you know you can write on Elephant? Here’s how—big changes: How to Write & Make Money or at least Be of Benefit on Elephant. ~ Waylon}
~
We all have natural talents that come effortlessly to us, but not all talents are celebrated. Some go unnoticed or, worse, are dismissed as irrelevant or even problematic.
A talent can be something practical, like knowing how to kick a soccer ball to score, or more subtle, like sensing someone’s emotions without them saying a word.
Whether it’s hearing what isn’t being said in a conversation or staying calm during a heated debate, talents come in all shapes and forms—but not all are recognized or appreciated.
In fact, some of the most powerful talents are the ones people are often encouraged to suppress or abandon. The irony? These talents could make all the difference if only others understood their value. While not every quirk or behavior is useful, when it comes to the things you do naturally and exceptionally well—things others can’t quite match—it’s crucial to stand up for them. If you don’t, they might go to waste, along with valuable opportunities to contribute meaningfully.
Have you ever felt that you see or sense something others just can’t? Do you find it difficult to speak up when your talents go unnoticed? If so, you’re not alone.
Why Women, Especially, Struggle to Advocate for Their Talents
One of the greatest challenges women face is that many of our talents, like sensing and intuition, are often overlooked or dismissed. Historically, women’s voices have been ignored or silenced, and when our insights come without hard data to back them up, it’s easy for others—and even ourselves—to label them as “crazy” or irrelevant. When we sense something is wrong, it’s often brushed off as paranoia. But when our instincts prove right, it’s too late, and people find ways to explain away what was actually a valuable talent.
Here’s an example of mine:
A few months ago, my family and I moved into our dream home, but we needed to sell our old house quickly. The night before the first showing, we discovered that the front door handle wasn’t working. My husband and our realtor wanted to replace it immediately, but I saw something they didn’t.
You see, I have a talent for spotting potential problems before they unfold. It’s not a conscious thing—it’s more like an image that pops into my head, showing me what’s likely to happen if we take a certain path. I had installed that door handle myself and knew the wood around it was deteriorating. I saw that if we removed the handle, we wouldn’t be able to put a new one back on, and we wouldn’t have time to buy a new door. Showing the house with no front door handle? Not a good look.
I insisted we use the side door, which led into a beautiful mudroom. After some pushback, they agreed—because I used the steps I’m about to share with you. By the next day, we had multiple offers over the asking price. My talent for spotting problems before they happen—something that isn’t always valued—ended up being crucial to our success.
This is why it’s so important to advocate for your talents, especially when others don’t immediately see their value.
So How Do You Advocate for These Often Invisible or Misunderstood Talents?
How do you make others see what you see?
Step 1: Recognize Your Talents for What They Are
First, you have to recognize your talents yourself. Ask yourself: What do you do easily that others struggle with or don’t seem to notice? When do you feel most in your element—where time seems to disappear and you find yourself consistently successful? These are the clues to your hidden talents.
Ask those around you what they see as your natural gifts. What do people come to you for help with—organizing, problem-solving, or even knowing just the right thing to say? This outside perspective can give you insight into the talents you might not realize you have.
You can also use assessments like CliftonStrengths to help identify your natural abilities, but even with an assessment, self-reflection is key. Own the unique talents you bring to the table. Before anyone else can recognize your magic, you need to recognize it first.
Step 2: Learn to Talk About Your Talents
Talking about your talents can feel awkward, especially when they aren’t as visible or tangible as others might expect. But you need to find the right words to describe what you do well.
For example, I describe my talent for foreseeing problems as being able to “think one step ahead” or “see issues before they happen.” But it’s important to find language that resonates with both you and those around you.
Pro tip: Create a “bank” of different ways to describe your talent, and collect examples of when your talent helped solve a problem or achieve something important—just like my house story. This will help you feel more confident and articulate when it’s time to advocate for yourself.
Step 3: Link Your Talent to What Others Care About
Now, this might seem counterintuitive when you’re advocating for yourself, but understanding what the other person values is essential. Why? Because they don’t see the world through your talent; they see it through their own. You have to meet them where they are before you can show them what you see.
In my case with the front door handle, I knew my husband was worried about carrying two mortgages and was listening to our realtor, who had the authority of her job title. To get them on board, I had to see what they were focused on—quickly selling the house—and show how my solution directly addressed that concern, even if they couldn’t initially see the problem with the door.
Think of it like guiding someone’s gaze. If they’re focused on a beautiful tree in the landscape, but you want them to see the cardinal perched on a branch, you need to understand their perspective before you can redirect their attention.
Step 4: Start Small, Then Scale
If you find advocating for your talents daunting, start small. Try this: The next time you’re in a meeting, or even a casual conversation, pay attention to where your talents could add value, even in a subtle way. When the opportunity arises, speak up. The more you practice advocating for your talents, the easier it becomes—and soon, it will feel natural.
The Power of Self-Advocacy
Advocating for your talents when they go unnoticed is critical—not just for your own confidence but for the success of the family, team, business, or situation you’re trying to improve. The key is recognizing your talent first, finding the language to describe it, and linking it to what others care about. When you can master these steps, you’ll find that not only are your talents recognized, but they also start making a significant impact.
Don’t wait for validation. Take a moment today to recognize one talent you’ve been dismissing. Write down how it has helped you or others, and commit to speaking up the next time you see an opportunity to use it. Your talents are meant to be shared—don’t let them go unnoticed.
~
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