On Motivations

Thu, 03 Jan 2008 19:48:12 GMT

Looking inward is essential. For one, you will hurt others, and you will be hurt by others. You'll act from impulse and lack self control (which leads to wondering, if you're not in control, then who is?) and do the unexpected.

We are often (not always) motivated by deep and dark things. These are deep because they are unknown because they are unexamined. These are dark because they are often incorrect or immature and ineffective for achieving peace. I say things because we are moved either by an untested thought or an undefined feeling. With every act also springs from desire and belief.

We accept many ideas without challenge and we accumulate a mass of poor or harmful assumptions. Our feelings are even more difficult to handle: we rarely try to consider them because their honesty is ruins our comfortable self deceptions. When we do look at them, they are easily labeled and excused, rather then considered and understood. Desire and belief impact our actions because we must want something to act and we assume we'll get it or achieve the goal.

So, where do we look? Taking the time to look is the most important thing. You'll discover more on your own than you can read or hear from someone else (most of the time). Consider your thoughts, and discern their truth and foolishness. Deal honestly with your feelings, and don't be afraid or ashamed (unless you refuse to change). Consider the object of your desire, and the quality of your faith: do you want the right things, for the right reasons?

Try not to be surprised by surprise, and don't be ruined by confusion that comes from something painful done by you or to you. Without surprise and confusion, you'll never stop to look inward and you'll never change.

On Patience

Sat, 08 Dec 2007 19:40:33 GMT

More than simply waiting, patience is waiting well: maintaining peach when the unexpected shows up and delays or derails our plans. Patience seems to come from a combination of the following practices: (1) Forgiving others when they get in the way of what we want. (2).Trusting God that his plan includes the obstacle before us (by include, I mean desires, only that his plan is bigger). (3) Content in the midst of lacking.

(It seems as if contentment and patience should be the same thing. While they are very close, I think there are some significant differences that warrant exploration later)

Should you lack patience: Who do you need to forgive? Where must you trust God? How can you gain satisfaction without gaining what you wanted?

It is a tough balance to want something without its lack leading to discontent; and this must be don’t while being passionate and not lazy.

not alone in my head: IOC

On Motivations

On Patience