I don’t know about you, but one of my pet peeves about social media is the deluge of advice that comes my way from people I don’t know or barely know.

You know, those one-line quotes that appear with a cosmic picture depicting something I’m supposed to be or do?

Lord knows I have my faults and need advice. Unsolicited spiritual advice, mass-marketed, drives me a bit kookoo. I know what you’re thinking–short drive.

Nonetheless, the people who are sending this stuff out are, no doubt, well-intentioned. My question is are they well-trained? And do they walk their talk?

Some people are well-trained and are honestly trying to make a difference. Others are marketing themselves.

All of this reminded me of Evelyn Underhill. She wrote a classic book called Mysticism in 1911. Underhill spotted the problem a long time ago and was far more eloquent in assessing the potential damage done than I am.

Here, she lays out some thoughts that we would all do well to remember before we hit the send button on our next missive. I certainly will.

“Transcendental genius, then obeys the laws which govern all forms of genius… and indeed cannot develop its full genius without an educative processes of some kind. This strange art of contemplation… demands of the self which undertakes it the same hard dull work, the same slow training of the will, which lies behind all supreme achievement and is the price of all true liberty. It is the want of such training – such “supersensual drill” – which is responsible for the mass of vague, ineffectual, and sometimes harmful mysticism which has always existed: the dilute cosmic emotion and limp spirituality which hang, as it were, on the skirts of the true seekers of the Absolute, and bring discredit upon their science.”

Be Sociable, Share!

• 

Here is some material that helps clarify the behaviors associated with personal responsibility. It’s vital to know when we are being responsible–or at cause in our own lives–and when we have drifted into irresponsibility.

I am not sure of the source of this. Obviously, some genius somewhere. Hope this helps in your quest to claim your best self and create a visionary life:

“What is accepting personal responsibility? Accepting personal responsibility includes:

* Acknowledging that you are solely responsible for the choices in your life.

* Accepting that you are responsible for what you choose to feel or think.

* Accepting that you choose the direction for your life.

* Accepting that you cannot blame others for the choices you have made.

* Tearing down the mask of defense or rationale for why others are responsible for who you are, what has happened to you and what you are bound to become.

* The rational belief that you are responsible for determining who your are, and how your choices affect your life.

* Pointing the finger of responsibility back to yourself and away from others when you are discussing the consequences of your actions.

*Realizing that you determine your feelings about any events or actions addressed to you, no matter how negative they seem.

* Recognizing that you are your best cheerleader; it is not reasonable or healthy for you to depend on others to make you feel good about yourself.

* Recognizing that as you enter adulthood and maturity, you determine how your self-esteem will develop.

* Not feeling sorry for the “bum deal” you have been handed but taking hold of your life and giving it direction and reason.

* Letting go of your sense of over responsibility for others.

* Protecting and nurturing your health and emotional well being.

* Taking preventive health oriented steps of structuring your life with time management, stress management, confronting fears and burnout prevention.

* Taking an honest inventory of your strengths, abilities, talents, virtues and positive points.

* Developing positive, self-affirming, self-talk scripts to enhance your personal development and growth.

* Letting go of blame and anger toward those in your past who did the best they could, given the limitations of their knowledge, background and awareness.

* Working out anger, hostility, pessimism and depression over past hurts, pains, abuse, mistreatment and misdirection.”

© Patrick O’Neill 2012. All rights reserved.

Be Sociable, Share!

• 

The discovery of the Higgs boson, a sub-atomic particle that is responsible for mass, is being trumpeted as a breakthrough. It certainly seems to be a monumental accomplishment by the scientists at CERN labratory in Geneva.

British physicist Peter Higgs must feel vindicated. Thirty-four years ago he posed his theory of an invisible field, “strewn across space,” that was a binding agent for particles that resulted in form. According to The Daily Telegraph, Higgs’ “eureka” moment was inspired while walking in the mountains in Scotland.

He was ridiculed by the scientific community at the time.

The Telegraph also recounts German physicist Werner Herzenberg’s assessment of the Higgs boson. Heisenberg, one of the most famous scientists of the modern era, cliamed that Higgs and his colleagues, “did not understand the rules of physics.” Higgs and his colleagues were advised by others “to abandon their research or risk professional suicide.”

Thankfully, they didn’t. Now, a missing piece of the puzzle of the Standard Model of physics has been found .

The Telegraph, quoting Joe Incandala who announced the discovery, wrote:

“The discovery is so fundamental to the laws of nature, it could spawn new era of technology and development just as Newton’s laws of gravity led to basic equations of mechanics that made the industrial revolution possible.”

The lesson here is obvious. Even the experts can be wrong.

© Patrick O’Neill 2012. All rights reserved.

Be Sociable, Share!

•