Everybody has secrets. Unfortunately, some of those secrets are tied to emotional pain at the deepest levels of consciousness, pain that stays trapped by the unwillingness to look at or talk about what happened. How can you release Continue reading The Power of Deep, Personal Writing
All posts by Stuart
Happiness: A False Goal
The successful pursuit of happiness is always indirect. You can’t get there by trying to be happy. If this is not obvious, try right now to be happy. When that doesn’t work, try harder. Continue reading Happiness: A False Goal
The Inner Feel of Fall
It’s not just the cooler weather. Late fall has its unmistakable quality of darkness and cold closing in. How does this affect us and how can we respond?
Oneness on a Day of Elevens
Oneness, the core experience of feeling deeply connected with another person, a place, an idea of spiritual ideal, is a central theme of The Seventh System. Today’s date, 11/11/11, seems a perfect time Continue reading Oneness on a Day of Elevens
Happy Harmonies
Something about harmony makes us feel happy. If you feel anything at all in response to the coming together of the unexpected, it’s likely to be Continue reading Happy Harmonies
What is the Opposite of Love?
The opposite of love is not hate. It’s not fear either, though fear blocks love: you can’t feel any love when you are terrified. The true opposite of love Continue reading What is the Opposite of Love?
The Deeper Meaning of Halloween
There’s a good emotional reason why Halloween has grown so popular in recent years, even among adults. Coming when it does, in late October, Halloween addresses a primal and ancient fear concerning the coming of winter. Continue reading The Deeper Meaning of Halloween
Occupy! Converting Anger to Action
The “Occupy” movement on Wall St. and in other cities around the country has shown they are serious about their protest. What do the Occupiers need to do to generate real change?
The movement was born out of emotion, specifically anger. Millions of Americans were and are angry about our weak economy and the housing problem. They are mad at the financial leaders whose shortsighted behavior caused the economic collapse. And they are angrier still that these same tycoons have been rewarded with big bonuses rather than punished for their misdeeds.
But anger alone does not generate change. Change happens when angry people cool down and make wise decisions followed by measured action. For the Occupiers, getting past that anger is essential if they are to create any part of the change they long for. So far, they seem to be doing a pretty good job.
The same is true in your own life. Anger feels powerful. But it accomplishes nothing beyond your own feelings. Anger is not productive and does not create value. If something makes you angry enough to want to change the status quo, get over the hot emotion of anger first. Then channel that energy into cool, productive, organized, effective action.
Yom Kippur
This week is the Jewish holyday of Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement. Over the years my understanding of what it means Continue reading Yom Kippur
Stuffing Emotion by Eating
Do you stuff down emotion by eating? Millions of us do, and are overweight because of it. But have you ever really tried to understand what that stuffed-down emotion is? Continue reading Stuffing Emotion by Eating