Rise and Shine – Personal Development is a Lifestyle

“To accept your own is also a guidance to accept that which you have created, accept your responsibilities. It is in essence a directive to claim all of who your are- the good, the bad and the ugly.”

The above is the essence of my previous post. Claiming and taking ownership of the results of our actions is a crucial step in being Oneself.

Your Oneself is already perfect. Your Oneself is just and true and there is no unrighteousness in your Oneself. But there is a false self that we have learned from birth. This false self is “who we think we are.” The I.

What’s in a name?

Even when we take on the label of being conscious, righteous, saved, god, muslim, christian, hebrew, buddist, khemetic, moor, spiritual, etc., if the false self has not been subordinated, we are simply changing mask.

As it is in heaven, so shall it be on earth.

Our inability to unite around one common cause is due to our inability to unite and integrate the many selves within. Our outer condition is but a reflection of our inner conditioning. We are inwardly divided and expect to be outwardly united.

We are focused on changing the world and have devoted little effort to the most effective and greatest of changes, the movement from i self – to own self – to Oneself.

The death of the ego, is the life of the group.

self- O.E. self, seolf, sylf “one’s own person, same,” from P.Gmc.*selbaz (cf. O.N. sjalfr, O.Fris. self, Du. Zelf, O.H.G. selb, Ger. Selbst, Goth. silba), P.Gmc. *selbaz, from PIE *sel-bho-, from base *s(w)e-”separate, apart”

The i self is a consciousness of separateness. It specializes in perceiving division. The i self is blinded by the light of the common cause behind the separate effects. The unity behind the multiplicity.

The i self thinks that it is the judge of good and evil. This tendency results in the rejection of other parts of self that don’t meet it’s learned, fear based criteria of right/wrong. It in essence ignores the the experiences, thoughts, memories, ideas and possibilities that don’t agree with it’s present model of reality.

In it’s ignorance, the i self confuses the map with the territory and can only lead you in the wrong direction.  For in the real world, the territory is always changing.

The lessons are a blessing

The lessons that lead to uniting the diverse parts into a unified whole are locked within the rejected stones of past errors. The elitist consciousness of the i self will not grow until it embraces the entire “Community of Self.” There is a lesson on the lips of the preacher and the pimp, the nurse and the witch, the trauma, the victory, the dream and the snitch.

Here are further exorcises to locate and reintegrate the fractured and rejected inner teachers of your soul.

1. Begin to keep a journal of your dreams. The M.I.A. members of your inner army often make their appearance here, when the I self is incapable of shock blocking.
2. Take note of comments, situations, people that make you uncomfortable and especially those that evoke an outburst of anger, fear, confusion, depression or any extreme emotion.
3. What, who, when, where do you forget? What are the things that seem to always “slip your mind”? Start taking note of the Lost members of your inner tribe. Allow them to find their proper place in your psychic flock.
   

There are jewels in the above exorcises. Use them to reclaim your abandoned offspring. The family that stays together, rises together.

Rise and Shine.

Have you heard or read anyone refer to being your ‘authentic self’, becoming your ‘best self’ or you ‘divine self’. These statements embody a common theme running through the spiritual, self-improvement and holistic healing communities in recent years.

The idea of a “personal best” representative of who we are or simply who we really are is an ancient idea that has cycled back into the psyche of the current generation of ‘seekers’ after that certain something that is missing.

We become seekers because of a strong sense of emptiness or incompleteness that longs for ‘full-fill-ment.

We seek outside of the mass consciousness information networks, only to feast until stuffed at the information overload banquets of pseudo wisdom host.

The temporary satiation they provide leave us more aware of our hunger and inability to provide nourishment for ourselves and family.

The solo seeker after the “truth” thus becomes a lone voice crying in a wilderness of untamed desires, uncultivated spiritual resources and uncivilized kinsmen. Lost from home with neither map or compass, we wander blindly through life.

Never recognizing that which we seek is all around us, all the time.

Yet, there is light at the end of tunnel vision. There is an answer to the cry for a guide. But it can not be heard above the constant din of psychic infomercials. Above the looping break beat which distracts us from healing music of the inner spheres.

The guidance sought, sounds at the level of a song whispered. It is not a message to the crowd, nor a message to all seekers. It is private and confidential. Delivered directly, with no intermediary.

From God’s lips, to your ears.

The message unlocks your heart. Wherein lies the compass that will lead the way to that which you seek.

Let me share a few simple assignments to help seekers to lower the volume within:

Not to long ago, A wise man advised me to- “Accept your Own and Be your self.”

The common understanding held by most who are familiar with the above phrase, is usually limited to accepting your kith and kin. To embrace your culture, your people and your common concerns as your own.  This is true, but limits us to only addressing the surface, outer world dimension of this wisdom.

To accept your own is also a guidance to accept that which you have created, accept your responsibilities. It is in essence a directive to claim all of who your are- the good, the bad and the ugly.

Now I know some of you reading this have no bad, negative, error, unresolved issues, lacking, weakness, addictions or demons. You folks can stop reading now. The rest of what I have to say will just be a waste of your time.

We are all willing to accept and claim or best parts, but most of us are in denial about our worst part.

We hide it. Cover it with makeup. And nickname it, so that others (and especially we ourselves) don’t recognize it for what it really is. The problem with this approach is that by denying our demons their due, they become stronger and increase their power over us.

Our errors influence are thoughts and behavior from behind the scenes, because we have not brought them out into the light of day (conscience).

It is the light of the Sun that carries the power to kill the demons that depend on our blood (food) and the darkness (shelter) for life.

Here is a brief history of the word own- (adj) O.E. agen “one’s own,” lit. “possessed by,” from P.Gmc. *aigana- “possessed, owned” (cf. O.S. egan, O. Fris. egin, O.N. eiginn, Du. Eigen, Ger. eigen “own”), from pp. of PIE *aik- “to be mater of, possess,” soruce of O. E. agan “to have” (see owe).

The idea of possession is ancient. To the uninitiated it evokes images of ghost and demons from below the ground.

When in fact, the ghost and demons are unresolved, splintered, orphans of the psyche. Abandoned at birth, raised in the darkness, with no love, forgiveness or guidance.

Hell bent on making the life of anyone who symbolized their parents miserable. Sound familiar.

The only way to slay your demons, is to bring them into the light. Take responsibility for your errors. “To err is human, to forgive is divine.” Admit your mistakes. Make amends with those you have hurt, forgive your self and exorcise your demons in one day.

The key is to forgive, but do not forget. Forgetting leads to repeating your errors. Forgetting is equivalent to losing the knowledge of yourself. And we know where that leads.

By exorcising these demons, you put and end to their shouting for attention. Now you can begin to listen for the soothing voice of your lord.

Next post- Accept you own and be yourself Pt. 2

The term “personal development” is sometimes confused with a sort of personality development. The development of an attractive, appealing, magnetic image that opens doors and hearts.

This could not be further from the truth. Personal development principles of today are the evolution of a long line of leadership training going back to the character development Wisdom Literature of Ancient Egypt and the Middle East.

Notable works of this genre include the Instructions of Kagemni, The Maxims of Ptahhotep, the Instructions of Amenemhat. More familiar to us are the biblical books of Psalms, Proverbs, and Songs of Solomon.

And so contrary to this line of thought which places personal development within the modern day image magic genre. It is the extension of a chain of instruction that has sought to develop the character and skill of individuals charged with the responsibility of managing, guiding and serving others.

Let us use it in this manner, to improve our organizations, businesses, communities and families. Our outer persona will then shine forth the guiding light of character, wisdom and competence.

A healthy lifestyle addresses all of the aspects of our lives that contribute to our ability to thrive physically,socially and psychologically. No stone should be left unturned. These three components of our lives are integrated.  They support each other, inform each other and work together as a unified whole that is the cornerstone of true health.

As you already know.  I am a stickler for efficiency when it comes to health and healing power tools (strategies, techniques). I am a believer in the acronym KISS: keep it small and simple.  So anytime I find a tool that is not only safe, effective and efficient, but addresses more than one of these crucial areas of our being at once. I incorporate it into my way of life. One essential power tool that I discovered over 30 years ago and have been committed to for over 20 years is the practice of meditation.

Meditation practice addresses the physical body through relieving stress and resetting the sub-conscious, life maintenance faculties of our being, in the way that you re-start your computer after a minor crash.

Meditation teaches us patience and to pause the constant ego chatter that prevents us from truly hearing and connecting beyond our own self interest, without becoming a slave to tribal, common senser standards of right and wrong.

Meditation also acquaints you with that part of your self that is quiet, non-judgmental and most important enduring.  The part that is always and forever in the here and now, which is all there is. Making this acquaintance is the key to mind health and to tapping the wealth of the psyche.

Here is another simple meditation practice you can begin today.

1. Find a comfortable, quiet space.
2. Sit erect, but not tense on the edge of your seat.
3. Breathe deeply and slowly into your belly (your chest and shoulders should not rise and fall).
4. Mentally scan your body from head to toe for areas of tension and release them.
5. Now, begin counting backwards from 100. Counting one number for each inhalation and each exhalation.
6. If at any point you lose count, return to 100. Do not become frustrated. Losing count is normal in the beginning. It too shall pass.
7. When you arrive at 0, just sit quietly and listen. Just listen.
8. After 5-10 minutes, very slowwwly open your eyes.
9. When your focus fully returns to the outer world, slowly stand and end your practice.

Run this experiment for 28 days (four weeks) and keep a journal of your experience during the practice and of new things you notice in your physical, social and psychological life since beginning the practice.  Come back and share with us your findings.

The proof of the pudding is in the eating!
bro. jamal

muchpeace,
Kazi

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kazi@mybdoytemple.net