An Individual Assignment

I love this idea of Dr. Jean Shinoda Bolen:

"Activism and individuation (to find a meaningful, inner directed, chosen life-path) come together when the choices we make express who we are. There is a soul purpose to life. Be centered, and archetypes, dreams and synchronicities provide depth and direction. As one phase of life shifts into the next, energy becomes free to take on something that is personally meaningful, fun, creative and motivated by love—my definition of 'assignment'. "

There is a link on her website http://www.jeanbolen.com/ to videos in which she discusses this idea. What moves me about the idea of a person having an "assignment" or series of assignments in life is that expression of oneself is interconnected with meaning, fun, creativity, and love. This sounds wonderful to me.

I've also been reflecting on her very beautiful definition of individuation:  Finding a meaningful, inner-directed, chosen life-path.  How often we "fall" into things or let the momentum of life, of external circumstances and pressures, carry us!  An inner-directed life path takes work; and I believe is well worth it.

May you be inspired to discover your inner direction.

Where will you go?

Oh! The Places You'll Go!

Congratulations!
Today is your day.
You’re off to Great Places!
You’re off and away!

You have brains in your head.
You have feet in your shoes.
You can steer yourself any direction you choose.
You’re on your own. And you know what you know. And YOU are the guy who’ll decide where to go.
Thanks, Dr. Seuss, and Sarah for the inspiration.

One Life, Just One

“Doesn’t everything die at last and too soon?
Tell me, what is it you plan to do
with your one wild and precious life?” 

Mary Oliver, The Summer Day

We're not blank slates

I've been hanging around children more often lately. If there was ever a doubt in my thinking, they have now convinced me that we are born with the seeds of a particualr character, personality, psychological blueprint already in place. My eight-year-old niece, Molly, still has Haloween candy from three years ago. She holds onto everything and chooses to savor experiences, allowing herself only a piece of something at a time. Her younger sister Nora stuffed an entire fruit roll-up into her mouth yesterday. I watched, surprised there was room in there for her to move her jaw up and down as she chewed it. She seemed very happy to be savoring life with one big bite.

I think of my sister, T, who will turn the same age as me next Tuesday. We will remain like this- twins of sorts- for one full month prior to my solar return, when I'll pull ahead of her (ahead meaning closer to death) again. Like Molly and Nora, we could not be more different!

I sometimes think psychology focuses too much on the sameness across human beings, those experiences we have in common. These days I'm fascinated by the differences.

Emptiness

Below are the opening stanzas of a Rumi poem. His words encourage us to embrace emptiness, openness, and to loosen our attachment to permanence, to a desire for such.  I love how he honors craftsman in their ability to seek the empty.

Every Craftsman

I've said before that every craftsman
searches for what's not there
to practice his craft.

A builder looks for the rotten hole
where the roof caved in. A water-carrier
picks the empty pot. A carpenter
stops at the house with no door.

Workers rush toward some hint
of emptiness, which they then
start to fill. Their hope, though,
is for emptiness, so don't think
you must avoid it. It contains
what you need!
Dear soul, if you were not friends
with the vast nothing inside,
why would you always be casting your net
into it, and waiting so patiently?

This invisible ocean has given you such abundance,
but still you call it "death",
that which provides you sustenance and work...

from 'Rumi : One-Handed Basket Weaving