Month: October 2021

Chris Gardner, Spirited Away, The Crucible, Archetype of the Magician, and Proverbs 25:18

Chris Gardner, Spirited Away, The Crucible, Archetype of the Magician, and Proverbs 25:18

Published by Drew Alexander Ross on October 31, 2021

Sunday Supplement #25 (October 31st, 2021)

Below is another Sunday Supplement with a quote worth sharing, a movie worth watching, a book worth reading, brainfood worth consuming, and a spiritual passage worth pondering.

I hope you take something away from these recommendations that enriches your week ahead!

Quote of the Week:

“Strong people stand up for themselves, but stronger people stand up for others.”

– Chris Gardner

Movie of the Week:

Spirited Away

I highlighted Studio Ghibli in Sunday Supplement #2 and Sunday Supplement #16. Spirited Away is another brilliant movie from their catalog and is one of my favorite films.

The story follows 10-year-old Chihiro as she stumbles upon a world of gods, witches, and spirits. Her parents are turned into pigs for their greed, and Chihiro must find a way to fit into the magical world and figure out a way to save her parents. She receives help from Haku, a servant of the witch Yubaba, but must overcome many obstacles on her own while staying true to her feelings and beliefs.

One of the important takeaways from the movie is Chihiro’s belief in Haku when others do not trust him. The message of valuing friendship and standing up for what you believe in is subtle but powerful in the film.

Spirited Away won Best Animated Feature at the Oscars and is currently #28 on IMDB’s Top Rated Movies list. The film is a masterclass of storytelling, and the visuals are stunning. The themes in the movie (capitalism, spirituality, standing up for others) are brilliantly explored in a video by the YouTube channel The Take.

The story and tone of the film provide an exciting version of the Halloween movie. There are plenty of classic Halloween movies, but Hayao Miyazaki’s Spirited Away is one you should add to your list. There is so much to take away from the film, and I can’t recommend it more highly.

Book of the Week:

The Crucible – Arthur Miller

Arthur Miller’s classic play tells a fictionalized story about the witch-hunts and trials in 1700s Salem, Massachusetts. The story revolves around a disgraced maid, Abigail Williams, and her attempts to exact revenge by accusing citizens of Salem of practicing witchcraft. Her old employer, Elizabeth Proctor, is one of the women charged. And the accusation of Elizabeth comes after she was fired for a suspected illicit relationship with Elizabeth’s husband, John Proctor.

The Crucible touches on many themes about humanity and hysteria and is a valuable lesson of the power of fear and dishonesty. Miller wrote the play in 1953 and used the story to reflect the current times and effects of Senator Joseph McCarthy’s modern-day witch-hunt with Communism. The ruthlessness and eagerness of the community to turn on their neighbors is a reminder of the dark side of human nature and a warning against that path.

Halloween is often a chance to partake in festivities and should be celebrated, but inclusion and community should be at the center. The Crucible can be a way to connect with the history of witches in America while picking up some timeless lessons along the way.

Brainfood of the Week:

Like Stories of Old — Venturing into Sacred Space | Archetype of the Magician

Tom van der Linden is a video essayist whose YouTube channel (Like Stories of Old) explores different wisdoms, philosophies, social constructs, and spirituality. Linden’s videos tend to implement stories from authors and films to convey the thoughts behind the topics he discusses.

In this video, Linden goes over the final category in Robert Moore and Douglas Gillette’s book King, Warrior, Magician, Lover. The book is a venture into the four basic building blocks of our psychology. The video examines the archetype of the Magician and explores related concepts such as initiation, ritual process, and sacred space.

Lined quotes Carol S. Pearson for a description of the role: “The archetype of the magician teaches us about creation, about our capacity to bring into being what never was there before, about claiming our roles as co-creators of the universe.”

The video uses examples from movies and various books when discussing the archetype of the Magician. It focuses on the two sides of the archetype, Master of Technology and Knower. One has to do with the material world, and the other represents the personal psyche and internal/spiritual knowledge. The video then concludes with how the archetype of the Magician functions today. The qualities of the Magician revolve around the deconstruction of the ego, thoughtfulness, reflection, awareness, and insight. The purpose is to create and help others.

I recently came across Linden’s channel and am eagerly exploring its videos. The visuals and auditory background of his work are superb. The content is well worth checking out.

Closing Spiritual Passage:

“Telling lies about someone is as harmful as hitting him with an ax, or wounding him with a sword, or shooting him with a sharp arrow.”

– Proverbs 25:18

Amid Halloween celebrations, I see the masks and costumes we all put on for a bit of adventure. The above passage reminds me that people often still have masks on in everyday life. The previous entries on this post show the mistake of judging someone or bearing a false witness. I like to think that there is a reason for everyone’s actions, and a lot of times, crueler behavior masks an internal or previous wound. The backstory doesn’t excuse the action, but I try to pause and choose my response before making a hasty judgment.

One of the things I’ve learned and enjoyed is how a one-on-one conversation can completely change my perspective on someone I don’t know. It’s interesting to see people take off their masks and connect with someone I haven’t met before. Sometimes the best of these experiences have been with people I’ve judged before without knowing them or their story. I’m glad for these lessons, and I’m constantly working on being more aware of my thoughts and actions, especially when talking with and about other people.

Have a happy Halloween, and have a blessed week ahead!

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Pema Chödrön, Flowers for Algernon, Brokeback Mountain, Eckhart Tolle, and an African Proverb

Pema Chödrön, Flowers for Algernon, Brokeback Mountain, Eckhart Tolle, and an African Proverb

Published by Drew Alexander Ross on October 24, 2021

Sunday Supplement #24 (October 24th, 2021)

Below is another Sunday Supplement with a quote worth sharing, a book worth reading, a movie worth watching, brainfood worth consuming, and a spiritual passage worth pondering.

I hope you take something away from these recommendations that enriches your week ahead!

Quote of the Week:

“You are the sky. Everything else is just the weather.”

– Pema Chödrön

Book of the Week:

Flowers for Algernon – Daniel Keyes

A mentally disabled man, Charlie, undergoes an experimental program that increases his intelligence. His journey mirrors and coincides with a test animal, a mouse called Algernon. The story is told through Charlie’s diary entries and focuses on how he perceives the world after the brain operation increases his IQ and begins to change his life. The procedure goes into uncharted territory as Charlie’s intelligence expands and surpasses the doctors behind the experiment. When Algernon starts to show signs of deterioration, Charlie fights to make sure the same doesn’t happen to him.

This short novel is one of the most heart-wrenching books I’ve read. Every high school student should have to read this before graduating. If it has slipped through the cracks in your life, I highly encourage you to check it out.

Charlie’s realizations of the world he lived in and how some people treated him before he knew their true motives is stirring. And the change in his character as his IQ grows paints a vivid image of hubris and arrogance. The themes of morality, love, cruelty, empathy, and intelligence vs. wisdom are powerful.

Flowers for Algernon is a sad read but one of the most important books I’ve read in my life.

Movie of the Week:

Brokeback Mountain

In the early 1960s, a ranch-hand and a rodeo cowboy develop a relationship when they take a seasonal job herding sheep on Brokeback Mountain. Hardships beset them as they navigate their lives in a time that doesn’t welcome their relationship. Marriage to their girlfriends furthers the complications for both the men and women. The movie beautifully depicts each character’s struggles and is a landmark in Cinema.

Ang Lee directed the stunning film and won Best Achievement in Directing, becoming the first Asian person to receive the award. Heath Ledger, Jake Gyllenhaal, and Michelle Williams all received nominations for acting. The movie won Best Writing – Adapted Screenplay (Larry McMurtry and Diana Ossana) and Best Achievement in Music Written for Motion Pictures – Original Score (Gustavo Santaolalla). It was also nominated for Best Achievement in Cinematography and was famously nominated but not the recipient of the award for Best Motion Picture of the Year.

Brokeback Mountain came out in 2005 when it still wasn’t a widely accepted part of life to show in film. The movie was often referred to as the “gay cowboy flick” and was the recipient of many cruel jokes. An attitude.co.uk article paid tribute to Heath Ledger’s response when asked what he would say to people who believed the movie’s gay themes to be disgusting. The question represented a point of view that wasn’t widely criticized at the time and was handled amazingly by Ledger.

There are many reasons why Brokeback Mountain is a brilliant film. And the impact it made on the times is one of its lasting legacies.

Brainfood of the Week:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3JZdecMzaWY

Aligning with the Present Moment – Eckhart Tolle Teachings

I’ve highlighted Eckhart Tolle in two previous Brainfood of the Week posts, Sunday Supplement #7 and Sunday Supplement #18, but I still come across clips of his I think are worth sharing.

In this video, Tolle discusses becoming okay with the present. Many people have an antagonist relationship with the present moment, which causes a lot of unnecessary suffering and happiness. People can believe that a future moment is more important than the current moment. When this happens, you are never truly at home with the now; you are always looking forward to some other destination. And when there is little future left, some people turn to the past and think about previous moments.

Tolle states that one of the most important things in life is being aware of your relationship with the present moment. Is the now welcomed, appreciated, or accepted? A worthy goal is to have a harmonious relationship with the present moment. And coming to alignment with the present moment can bring about a shift in consciousness.

That is a brief summary of what Tolle talks about in the video. Check it out, and check out his other videos and writings if it calls to you.

Closing Spiritual Passage:

“He that beats the drum for the mad man to dance is not better than the madman himself.”

– African Proverb

This proverb reminds me of how we can be aware of others’ mental states but not always be empathetic. There can be someone who is upset or aggressive, and we make a judgment about who they are and how they are behaving. And at our worst, we can exacerbate the situation by provoking or laughing at that person. It might not be conscious, but this behavior can come up when us versus them mentality or an outsider is present. The African proverb provides a pulled-back perspective and shows us how we can be better.

In Sunday Supplement #10, I highlight David Foster Wallace’s “This Is Water” commencement speech. Wallace talks about how our certainties and judgments can be and often are totally wrong. At one point, he gives an example of someone cutting you off in traffic and our choice of how we respond. Most of the time, we don’t choose, and we just react. What if that person’s son or daughter is hurt, and the driver is just trying to help them as soon as possible? It might not be the case, but we have the option of how we view the situation.

These are reminders of how I can make my thoughts more conscious and what can happen if I choose not to practice that discipline.

Be aware of the music around you, choose how you dance, and have a blessed week ahead!

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Joyce Meyer, The Chronicles of Prydain, Good Will Hunting, Hugh Jackman, and a Zen Proverb

Joyce Meyer, The Chronicles of Prydain, Good Will Hunting, Hugh Jackman, and a Zen Proverb

Published by Drew Alexander Ross on October 17, 2021

Sunday Supplement #23 (October 17th, 2021)

Below is another Sunday Supplement with a quote worth sharing, a book worth reading, a movie worth watching, brainfood worth consuming, and a spiritual passage worth pondering.

I hope you take something away from these recommendations that enriches your week ahead!

Quote of the Week:

“Don’t wait for everything to be perfect before you decide to enjoy your life.”

– Joyce Meyer

Book of the Week:

The Chronicles of Prydain – Lloyd Alexander

I usually recommend a single book for this portion of the Sunday Supplement, but I’m recommending a Young Adult series this week. The Chronicles of Prydain consists of five books set in Prydain, a fictional country ruled by a High King who oversees several smaller kingdoms. Lloyd Alexander wrote the novels, and in the introductions of the books, he tells how he was inspired by Welsh folklore he became immersed in while receiving army combat intelligence training in World War II.

The first book, The Book of Three, follows Taran, an “assistant pig-keeper,” as he loses charge of caring for Hen Wen, a magical pig, and follows it into the forest, beginning his hero’s journey. On his adventure, he meets Prince Gwydion, son of the High King of Prydain, who is in pursuit of Hen Wen to consult the pig’s prophetic visions. The two team up, and after befriending a creature called Gorge, Taran gets captured by the “Cauldron-Born,” the undead warriors of the Horned King. While imprisoned, Taran befriends a princess held hostage, Eilonwy, and they escape captivity. They find the legendary sword Dyrnwyn in their retreat and later meet up with the rest of Taran’s group. Ffleeddur Fflam, a kind by birth who chooses to be a bard, joins their troop, and together with the companions (later joined by the dwarf Doli), determines to stop the plans of the Horned King and his maser Arwan.

The subsequent four novels follow Taran and each of the main characters established in the first book. Taran starts as a disgruntled young teenager who slowly learns to challenge and reframe his perceptions and thoughts about the world as he grows in each book. Each character has their own journey and contributes to each other’s growth in unique ways.

While this series is found in the Y/A or children’s sections of most libraries and stores, there is much to learn and enjoy from these books. I’ve read it in the last year, and it is one of my favorite ventures away from my usual reading patterns. I can’t recommend it more highly.

Movie of the Week:

Good Will Hunting

Good Will Hunting tells the story of Will Hunting, a 20-year-old South Boston janitor and unknown maths genius who becomes the patient of a therapist and student of a renowned advanced mathematics professor as a part of a deferred prosecution agreement after he assaults a police officer. The movie delves into his relationships with the therapist, the professor, his girlfriend, and his friends and how he starts to face the task of confronting his past and thinking about his future for the first time in his life.

This film is a brilliant story that shook up Hollywood at the script stage. Matt Damon (Will Hunting) and Ben Affleck (Will’s friend Chuckle) wrote the screenplay early on in their acting pursuits, and it was this movie that launched their careers. At first, it was hard for the young actors to get the film made because they were adamant they would be playing a couple of the lead roles in the movie. Finally, the script got into the hands of Robin Williams (Dr. Sean Maguire), and he signed on, which gave them the star power to get the green light for production.

After the long wait for the movie to get made, the outcome was Oscar glory for Matt Damon and Ben Affleck. They both won the Academy Award for Best Writing – Screenplay Written Directly for the Screen. The film was nominated for seven additional Oscars, including Best Picture, and won one other category, Best Actor in a Supporting Role (Robin Williams.)

In an interview with Graham Norton, Damon talked about the experience of winning the Oscar at 27 years old and how he had the grateful realization that he didn’t screw over anyone to get the award. He explained how much he appreciated that he didn’t pursue the award his whole life trying to fill a hole. It’s an interesting perspective given that resonates with a message in the film about intimacy. I encourage you to watch the movie and find the link. It’s a brilliant story and sits high on many top film lists for a reason.

Brainfood of the Week:

Hugh Jackman Interview on The Tim Ferriss Show

I’ve featured an interview from The Tim Ferriss Show in four other Sunday Supplements (#1, #5, #9, and #12.) Each interview is worth checking out, and this will be another brilliant one from the massive catalog of interviews conducted by Tim Ferriss. While the guests are the highlights from the podcast, Tim is a superb conductor for creating a fantastic flow and excellent dialogue with his guests.

In Sunday Supplement #1, I cover a brief background on Tim, so I’ll focus on Hugh Jackman and his interview for this post.

Hugh Jackman is an Academy Award-nominated actor, Golden Globe and Tony Award-winning performer, and philanthropist. He is often touted as one of the kindest people in Hollywood and makes an impression as much off-screen as he does on-screen.

In this episode of The Tim Ferriss Show, Tim asks questions about Jackman’s past and how he got into acting, his morning routine with his wife, and his faith and meditation practices. The interview takes a journey that paints a wonderful picture of Jackman’s life and how he got to the point where he is today. There are so many brilliant nuggets of wisdom to pick up from the interview, and it is also highly entertaining.

Check it out. It certainly won’t be a waste of your time.

Closing Spiritual Passage:

“Be master of mind rather than mastered by mind.”

– Zen Proverb

This quote reminds me of how the mind can be one of the most powerful tools in our arsenal if appropriately utilized. At our best, our minds can guide us and help us along the journeys we set for ourselves and the paths we want to explore. The experiences we encounter can be scary or exciting entirely depending on how we view the situation. Our thoughts and beliefs can all be our conscious decision if we learn to choose that way.

On the opposite side is an uncontrolled mind that directs our thoughts without our conscious input. I’ve noticed these reins most when I’ve come out of a funk or a binge and realized I had been in a hole for a certain amount of time without realizing I was there. Micheal Singer, who I highlighted in Sunday Supplement #12, discusses how we are like moviegoers at movie theaters in his book The Untethered Soul. We can get caught up in an emotional scene and get lost in the narrative, but if we pull back, we realize that we are conscious beings in control of how we view the picture.

This control is something I’ve worked on over the past few years of my life. It’s an interesting habit to build and one that has brought some amazing experiences. The Zen proverb above reminds me of the two relationships you can have with your mind. I believe the former is the experience we are meant to have.

Choose something next and exciting to do, and have a blessed week ahead!

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Wayne Dyer, The Courage to Be Happy, Forrest Gump, Be the Punchline, and Surah Ar-Ra’d 13:11

Wayne Dyer, The Courage to Be Happy, Forrest Gump, Be the Punchline, and Surah Ar-Ra’d 13:11

Published by Drew Alexander Ross on October 10, 2021

Sunday Supplement #22 (October 10th, 2021)

Below is another Sunday Supplement with a quote worth sharing, a book worth reading, a movie worth watching, brainfood worth consuming, and a spiritual passage worth pondering.

I hope you take something away from these recommendations that enriches your week ahead!

Quote of the Week:

“If you change the way you look at things, the things you look at change.”

– Wayne Dyer

Book of the Week:

The Courage to Be Happy – Ichiro Kishimi & Fumitake Koga

In Sunday Supplement #7, I discussed Kishimi and Koga’s first collaboration, The Courage to Be Disliked. The first book explores the psychology of Alfred Adler using the Socratic method of dialogue between a philosopher and a youth. I remember reading it and feeling delighted by the ideas explored in the text.

The second book takes place a few years later after the youth went out into the world to teach the ideas he learned. The youth returns, angered at the philosopher because the concepts of Adler did not have real-world application. They sit down once more and go over everything but with the viewpoint of how each idea fits in everyday situations.

The Courage to Be Happy is a brilliant follow-up to the first novel. Much like the youth, I was not in the best mindset in the first stages of the book. It was interesting for me to go along the journey with the youth and rediscover some of the ideas I forgot and how they can be used in day-to-day processes.

The biggest realization for me came from their discussion around the triangle of responses many people have to setbacks. The first side is “woe is me—I can’t catch a break.” The second is “these people or this institution is setting me back.” The third side is one people often forget, and it’s a question—“What should I do now?”

I picked up many lessons from reading this book and highly encourage anyone interested to look at Kishimi and Koga’s work.

Movie of the Week:

Forrest Gump

Forrest Gump is an iconic American film that won six Oscars, including Best Picture, Best Actor in a Leading Role (Tom Hanks), Best Director, and Best Writing – Screenplay Based on Material Previously Produced or Published.

The movie covers significant periods of American history, from post-World War II to the post-Watergate, through the eyes of an Alabama man with an IQ of 75, whose only desire is to be reunited with his childhood sweetheart.

There are many things to appreciate about this film, but the characters are the best part for me. Forrest’s single-minded focus on whatever task is at hand without getting bored is uplifting and inspirational. Jenny’s intelligence and perception are evident throughout the movie, and it’s interesting to see her journey of running away from her past to settling down. Bubba’s determination and ambition for his shrimping boat is admirable and motivational but ultimately heartbreaking when it’s taken away. My favorite character, Lieutenant Dan, has an idea of how his life is supposed to be and finds it taken away from him, only to finally accept and be grateful for the life he’s given.

Forrest Gump is one of my favorite movies. It’s a go-to film I watch when I’m depressed and always reminds me of how acceptance, gratitude, and a positive attitude can drastically change how you experience life.

Brainfood of the Week:

Be The Punchline – Michael Jr.

Comedian Michael Jr. does more than just make people laugh. He brings joy through an interesting perspective to peoples’ lives. In addition to being a comedian, Michael Jr. is an author, podcaster, and actor. A significant portion of his career focuses on bringing laughter to uncommon places like prisons and homeless shelters. The purpose of his mission is captured in the quick video above.

I remember coming across this video years ago and coming away with the realization that a simple reframe can drastically change the energy behind an action. In the video, Michael Jr. discusses his “big break” in his career. It wasn’t an appearance on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno but a change in mindset he had before performing at a club.

The simple reframe is explained in the video and is profound in its impact. Michael Jr. goes on to explain how that new mindset affected his life and career. It’s a three-minute clip and packs a tremendous impact. Check it out!

Closing Spiritual Passage:

“Indeed, Allah will not change the condition of a people until they change what is in themselves.”

– Surah Ar-Ra’d 13:11

For me, this passage from the Quran follows up and expands on the Wayne Dyer quote from the beginning of the supplement. The Surah Ar-Ra’d verse delves deeper into the spiritual side of change. Dyer’s quote often reminds me of when you stand on top of a chair in a room you know well and how different can appear. Likewise, if you change how you view an event or a person, you can get a different perspective.

The passage above reminds me of how changing your internal point of view over time can make you a different person. When I’ve gone through a period of depression in the past, it felt like everything I saw was sad. Everything filtered through a negative perspective and stemmed from the disheartened place inside me. However, building positive habits and healing past traumas helped me change for the better.

Passages like these remind me that we have control over our actions and how we view the world. It is a power we should never relinquish.

Think of a past event that was negative, reframe it, and have a blessed week ahead!

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Steve Maraboli, Frankenstein, Sweeney Todd, Kati Morton, and Proverbs 17:9

Steve Maraboli, Frankenstein, Sweeney Todd, Kati Morton, and Proverbs 17:9

Published by Drew Alexander Ross on October 3, 2021

Sunday Supplement #21 (October 3rd, 2021)

Below is another Sunday Supplement with a quote worth sharing, a book worth reading, a movie worth watching, brainfood worth consuming, and a spiritual passage worth pondering.

I hope you take something away from these recommendations that enriches your week ahead!

Quote of the Week:

“The truth is unless you let go, unless you forgive yourself, unless you forgive the situation, unless you realize the situation is over, you cannot move forward.”

– Steve Maraboli

Book of the Week:

Frankenstein – Mary Shelley

Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein is a classic tale that has been retold many times over the years. None of the adaptations of her work that I’ve seen or read comes close to the original.

Frankenstein tells the story of a young scientist, Victor Frankenstein, and his experiment to create a sapient creature. He is horrified by the result and must come to terms with what he made. The novel is written in epistolary format and has points of view from both Frankenstein and the Monster.

Shelley came up with the idea for Frankenstein while on holiday with her future husband. She and Percy Shelley were in Switzerland with the poet Lord Byron and writer John Polidori and had a competition of who could come up with the best horror story. History proved that Mary Shelley won that competition.

The novel first came out in 1818, anonymously published, but was later attributed to Mary Shelley in the second addition in 1821. I first read this book in high school and wasn’t expecting a book from the 1800s to be readable or enjoyable. It turned out to be both. The prose flowed easily, and the themes of creation, injustice, and alienation stuck were striking.

I’m clearly not the only one who finds Frankenstein a masterpiece. If you haven’t decided to read it yet, I highly recommend putting it on your to-read list.

Movie of the Week:

Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street

Sweeney Todd has a rich history. He first appeared as a villain in the penny dreadful series The String of Pearls in 1846. The tale of Sweeney Todd has been told and expanded upon over the years. Before the 2007 Tim Burton film, the most famous rendition was the Tony award-winning Broadway musical written by Stephen Sondheim and Hugh Wheeler, adapted from Christopher Bond’s play Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street.

Tim Burton’s film tells the story of Benjamin Barker (played by Johnny Depp) as he returns to London fifteen years after Judge Turpin falsely convicted him. The judge, played by Alan Rickman, lusted after Barker’s wife and exiled the barber so he could have her. Barker returns to Fleet Street as Sweeney Todd and plots his revenge. He teams up with baker Mrs. Lovett (played by Helena Bonham Carter), creating a sinister partnership.

Sweeney Todd is a pretty grisly film. The horror genre is not one I’m particularly fond of, as I explained in Sunday Supplement #4, but if a story is well-done, I’ll give it a chance. The acting is superb, and the music is wonderfully crafted. Screenwriter John Logan adapted the musical for the screen, and the result is a dark but brilliantly crafted tale brought to life by Tim Burton.

Brainfood of the Week:

Kati Morton – Why is it So Hard to Forgive Ourselves?

Kati Morton is a licensed therapist, author, and podcaster who makes mental health videos on YouTube. Her following is over one million people, and she specializes in family and marriage therapy.

In this video, Morton goes over some of the reasons behind why we continue to replay incidents in our heads and how we can move past them.

One of the causes of getting thought in a negative feedback loop is a form of self-punishment or a way to self-sabotage. We can go over an incident, again and again, to give ourselves justification for current feelings, which, left unchecked, can become a harmful habit.

The key to moving on is forgiving ourselves or others and breaking that habit. A method that Morton goes over that has been helpful to me is “thought-stopping.” I first came across this concept from Michael A. Singer, who I highlighted in Sunday Supplement #12. The idea is to start to catch yourself when you have negative thoughts and make thinking a conscious choice. The more you catch yourself, the more it becomes a habit. Make sure to be kind when practicing thought-stopping, and choose how you want to move forward.

It can be tough to forgive yourself or others, but this is a great short video to pick up some valuable habits.

Closing Spiritual Passage:

“Love prospers when a fault is forgiven, but dwelling on it separates close friends.”

– Proverbs 17:9

This passage reminds me of the times when I struggle to let things go. Those could be events in the past or behaviors of others (or myself) that hurt me. When I dwell on those times with negative thoughts, I feel cold.

Different lessons hit me in different ways at times. I think I’ve figured something out from my past, only for it to come up in another way that shows me I need to do more healing. I’ve learned to approach this with love, though.

In previous Sunday Supplements, I’ve discussed the need to be kind to ourselves, but this passage from Proverbs reminds me that the faults of others need to be forgiven as well. Mark Twain’s quote sums it up best— “Anger is an acid that can do more harm to the vessel in which it’s stored than to anything on which it’s poured.”

Forgive yourself or someone else, and have a blessed week ahead!

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