Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community - View Single Post

levite · 02-09-2008, 06:58 AM

1. Read. Read a lot. Read books on self and psychology. Read books on spirituality and religion (and not just one or two varieties). Read classical literature, poetry, and philosophy. Read books on science and history. Think about what you read. How does it make you feel? Why?

2. Expose yourself to Art. And I don't mean start flashing actors. Go see plays, operas, and concerts. Go to museums and gallery shows. Do it a lot. Think about what you see and hear. How does it make you feel? Why?

3. Introspect. Think about who you are, where you're at, where you came from, and what you've seen and done. Think about what you like and dislike, and ask yourself why. Confront the things in yourself you are reluctant to confront. Analyze the most painful, least pleasant experiences you've had: how have they affected you? Why are they so painful? What made you feel as you did? Do the same for your most pleasant experiences. Confront your sexuality: what turns you on? Why? Do you have a good sex life? What works and what doesn't? Think about everything in your life, past, present, and your hopes and dreams and fears and worries about the future.

4. As an aid to 3, consider spending some time talking to a therapist of some sort. There is nothing wrong with this, and one need not be unbalanced or neurotic in any way to benefit from time spent talking to a competent professional. A good therapist is unintrusive, acts as a sounding board for you to analyze yourself.

5. Learn to meditate. Meditation fosters clarity, balance, and inner peace. Most communities of any size have classes in meditation someplace. There are many good books on the subject. Meditation, in one form or another, is compatible with all religions, or with atheism, or agnosticism.

6. As an aid to 5, consider taking up a physical practice that promotes meditative goals. This might be some kind of yoga, or tai chi. Perhaps a martial art. Such practices promote good spiritual discipline, awareness, attention, clarity, and healthfulness.

7. Give yourself concentrated down time. Awareness and self-actualization are promoted by lack of stress. Take one day per week (usually one of the weekend days is best), and do nothing. Don't bring work home with you, don't think about work. Don't space out in front of the TV. Don't do housework or home maintenance or gardening. Don't run errands. Don't pay bills. Don't go shopping. Don't fight or quarrel with anyone. Instead, meditate. Sleep late. Eat and drink things you enjoy. Take a relaxing bath. Read. Listen to calming music. If you're married or involved, talk to your husband/BF. Play a game. Have sex. If you're single, don't worry about dating. Enjoy being with yourself. Have a glass of wine. Masturbate. Have a friend or two over for lunch or dinner, not to talk business or politics, but just to chat and laugh and relax.

All these things, taken together, promote self-awareness, awareness of the world around you, introspection, self-analysis, self-actualization, deepening of the self, maturity, and healthful happiness.

02-09-2008, 06:58 AM	#26 (permalink)
levite Minion of Joss Location: The Windy City	1. Read. Read a lot. Read books on self and psychology. Read books on spirituality and religion (and not just one or two varieties). Read classical literature, poetry, and philosophy. Read books on science and history. Think about what you read. How does it make you feel? Why? 2. Expose yourself to Art. And I don't mean start flashing actors. Go see plays, operas, and concerts. Go to museums and gallery shows. Do it a lot. Think about what you see and hear. How does it make you feel? Why? 3. Introspect. Think about who you are, where you're at, where you came from, and what you've seen and done. Think about what you like and dislike, and ask yourself why. Confront the things in yourself you are reluctant to confront. Analyze the most painful, least pleasant experiences you've had: how have they affected you? Why are they so painful? What made you feel as you did? Do the same for your most pleasant experiences. Confront your sexuality: what turns you on? Why? Do you have a good sex life? What works and what doesn't? Think about everything in your life, past, present, and your hopes and dreams and fears and worries about the future. 4. As an aid to 3, consider spending some time talking to a therapist of some sort. There is nothing wrong with this, and one need not be unbalanced or neurotic in any way to benefit from time spent talking to a competent professional. A good therapist is unintrusive, acts as a sounding board for you to analyze yourself. 5. Learn to meditate. Meditation fosters clarity, balance, and inner peace. Most communities of any size have classes in meditation someplace. There are many good books on the subject. Meditation, in one form or another, is compatible with all religions, or with atheism, or agnosticism. 6. As an aid to 5, consider taking up a physical practice that promotes meditative goals. This might be some kind of yoga, or tai chi. Perhaps a martial art. Such practices promote good spiritual discipline, awareness, attention, clarity, and healthfulness. 7. Give yourself concentrated down time. Awareness and self-actualization are promoted by lack of stress. Take one day per week (usually one of the weekend days is best), and do nothing. Don't bring work home with you, don't think about work. Don't space out in front of the TV. Don't do housework or home maintenance or gardening. Don't run errands. Don't pay bills. Don't go shopping. Don't fight or quarrel with anyone. Instead, meditate. Sleep late. Eat and drink things you enjoy. Take a relaxing bath. Read. Listen to calming music. If you're married or involved, talk to your husband/BF. Play a game. Have sex. If you're single, don't worry about dating. Enjoy being with yourself. Have a glass of wine. Masturbate. Have a friend or two over for lunch or dinner, not to talk business or politics, but just to chat and laugh and relax. All these things, taken together, promote self-awareness, awareness of the world around you, introspection, self-analysis, self-actualization, deepening of the self, maturity, and healthful happiness. __________________ Dull sublunary lovers love, Whose soul is sense, cannot admit Absence, because it doth remove That thing which elemented it. (From "A Valediction: Forbidding Mourning" by John Donne)