So, here we are. We've arrived at our last live-with, Be Ordinary. I know, after last night's wonderful experience of "The Strength I See In You" exercise, that you know being ordinary is no ordinary matter at all.
You shared your Essence with your classmates, and in turn, witnessed theirs. That is no ordinary experience. It is extraordinary. This is what our live-with is all about. Sharing your ordinariness with the world.
Take this week to do the inward-bound journey we spoke of last night. You now have all the tools you need to do this. You know you are creative, you heard all those strengths that were showered on you last night, and you have the courage to look within to those places long ago put into the shadow.
This looking within and seeing your own light doesn't have to be a serious matter. Let is be filled with curiosity and a true desire to know yourself as your highest Self. Remember from last night, it is right here in front of you. It's not hidden at all.
We look forward to reading about your experiences right here on the blog. This is our last week to post, so be brave and courageous and share your Selves with your community that truly now does see you with their hearts.
Hal & Julie
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I’ve found out that trying to be ordinary or yourself is choosing to be genuine. One doesn’t need to try hard to get there. One just needs to let go of expectations and the VOJ, and simply “be”. These types of wisdoms are referenced in Eastern Philosophy of Vedanta, Buddhism, and in the famous Hindu scripture, “The Gita.”
ReplyDeleteIn my experience to be yourself and find your true self seems to take effort. Buddha spent a good portion of his life to discover his higher self.
When I wanted to be ordinary, I just let go of too much thinking and planning.
When I let go and be myself, there seems to be more flow. Probably, there is less VOJ involved of what I should be, how I should act, feel, or think.
At these times, I feel that there is a flow, true understanding of your limitations and strengths. Then, I can truly feel for the other being and also see that others are also trying to find peace in themselves and trying to live a life that they were meant to live.
Since I haven't been feeling well this week, I decided to let go of worrying about pain and accept things as they're. This time allowed me to be myself, and no one else I imagined to be. I could relate to the pains of other people. Then, the Loving/Kindness prayer kicked in my head, and I wondered that just like me, the other person also has joy and pain...
Even though one is is pain, one can be oneself. I dIdn't have to be strong and the best shape while I was sick. I can't force myself to be like that but accept what I am going through,but also not complain and get frustrated. Otherwise, I would be not truly being who I was, and give myself stress to be in a state I was not in.
I had to accept the fact that I was not in the best possible mental and physical state, and live with that. Striving to be or wishing to feel good and searching for the state I wasn't in didn't help.
By deciding to stick with this state, and do the best that I can do in that state was a relief. I worried less and let things unfold. I took more care of myself and felt that I showed more concern to family, friends, and colleagues.
"Be Ordinary" This is very interesting it means don't think, whatever i am thinking, is best so that means i have to listen to each and every body around me who has some idea about my thinking to get the best idea out of all of those. So it means letting my VOJ out of the door and listen carefully everybody around you and treat everybody equally important as myself.
ReplyDeleteI started practicing this live with and i think this live with opened so many other ways to tackle the same problem. Before this live with may be i was not so open for all the ideas because of ego or other reasons or may be i was thinking that i am extra ordinary but once i realize that i am a ordinary person i am actually listening and trying to find out from every body what could be the best possible solution and then take a decision which way to go.
I think this live with is helping me to solve the same issue in best possible way.
Thanks,
Mayank
Before taking this class, I knew about this live-with "Be ordinary." It's like one of those proverbs that's ingrained in you from early on, but the one that you don't truly understand.
ReplyDeleteBefore, I used the "be yourself" rule as a defense mechanism. Even though I may be hurt that someone doesn't like me, I thought, "I don't have to change myself so someone would like me." However, I think that was a bit selfish and childish way of thinking about this ideal...
I totally agree with the fact that the more you strive for "bigger and better" things, the more compromises you have to make. I know so many people who have put off starting a family (whether it be getting married or having kids) because they are career driven. At the end of the day, you come home to an empty house; even if you have a lot of money, you have no one to share your experiences with.
I used to be very driven too. I did not care about creating lasting friendship at college because I was too busy with my double major and a minor. Now, I'm so jealous of my friends who did enjoy their college life to the fullest... And the saddest part is, no one seems to be envying my degree!
I'm still driven, but now I know what it means to have a balanced life. Work is work and life is life. Work is a part of life, not my entire life. Dreaming about my future, I see myself coming home to my lovely family, not being stuck in the office until the wee hours of night and coming home only to sleep. This is why I decided not to pursue a law degree! :)
Thank you for such a wonderful class, everyone. All the sharing and the advice have been tremendously helpful! I know I will keep everything I've learned close to my heart and whenever I'm stressing out due to all the ordinary (and extraordinary) problems in life, I will know how to deal with them due to all I've learned here!
Best Wishes,
Catherine
I really love this Live With. I feel that it brought me “home” in a certain way. It serves as reminder that I don’t have to be anything else but be the person I already am. The psychologist Hwoschinsky’s question from the book: ”What are the qualities I’m representing by being myself ?” together with the last week’s exercise, inspired me. There is a huge source of energy in my spirit that I just need to tap in and let my self be. Trying to be “more,” or being sorry that I’m not any different is just a distraction from who I already am. The question can also be reversed and sent outwards to other people. For the last couple days I was meeting some new people and some old friends with the same question: “What are qualities that this person exhibits when you find him or her at the place when they are the most truthful to themselves?” Then you tune in, let them be and see what happens. The key for me was not to even expect them to demonstrate those qualities to me directly, now, soon or ever. Believing that they have them and curiously that question has created brought me enormous joy.
ReplyDeleteHi,
ReplyDeleteThis Live-with is nice, it allows you to “be”. I have been under an important amount of stress this past week and being ordinary helped me a lot. I had more clarity and less up and downs.
It allowed me to accept the situation, acknowledge my feelings and fears without pretending being strong and not affected. It actually allowed me to get better faster.
Being ordinary might just allow you to accept a situation and move right along.
This past few weeks were very interesting. This class allowed me to learn and understand a lot about me and my capacity to interact with others. The structure of the class is well balanced.
n addition, it’s great to take time to reflect on the week, implement new live-with and discover. Thank you very much to both of you. I hope to continue and use all the great knowledge I learned in this class.
Eugenie
As I reflect on the last few weeks of taking this course, I learned more about myself. This weeks's Live-With "Be Ordinary" reminded me of putting it all together and realizing that sometimes it's easier for me to just "Live-with" what I have and what I have control of.
ReplyDeleteBeing ordinary reminded me that we are all in this together and we all start at the same playing field. Some individuals choose to do more than others, some choose to sit back and enjoy the ride and others just choose to do nothing. That's all okay as long as it doesn't hurt anyone else :)
This past week - I went with my daily plan(s) as it and remained to be ordinary in the sense that there was no need to put myself on a pedestal or step off the soap box. Instead - whatever I was feeling - I did... Of course my responsibilities are always carried out as they are suppose to, but I really allowed myself to let others speak and others take a leadership role in their positions. I was at ease and not intense.
Being a manager puts a lot of stress with the expectation of "leading by example". But "Being ordinary" - excels one at doing their best and strive for the things you would like to be better at and accomplish those tasks that you desire to complete (like this blog)without added tension, expectations and jusdgement - a life better lived at peace.
I look back and I see that my life remembered will not be what I accomplished - but how I accomplished things with the right attitude and treating those around me with respect and friendliness. I appreciate the information received in this course as it assists me in my future to be a better "ordinary" person.
In my view, this live-with seamed together all the ideas and experiences together. It is such a relief to be yourself and use the tools and experiences of the class in order to move in the direction to be yourself.
ReplyDeleteI thank both the inspiring and illuminating teachers, Julie, and Hal, as well as the knowledegable and wonderful class-mates for teachning and sharing these life lessons. I want to remember this class and use its knowledge for a long time, and build on this experience.
Writing the final papers enabled me to examine myself, and be true to myself. I was able to see what my values and goals were, and what I really enjoyed. It was a journey to be myself and move towards "being me". I started with the piece that I thought would be easy and enjoyable, and used the energy and focus to move to other pieces.
I enjoyed the wonderful experience of being ordinary this past week.
This was a terrific live-with.
ReplyDeleteIsn't it great to be an "extraordinary ordinary human being", who lives from her Essence...rather than being ordinary extraordinary who is not her true self.
When I stopped trying too hard to please others, they actually were more pleased :)
When I stopped comparing myself with others, I felt free. I can compete only with MYSELF and try to be better than what/how I was yesterday.
I am trying to stop myself from ruining my present by worrying about future or by regretting wrong decisions made in the past. I realize there are few things that are beyond my control, so why waste time thinking of them?