Balancing Act

<body topmargin=0 leftmargin=0 marginheight=0 marginwidth=0><script type="text/javascript" src="http://hb.lycos.com/hb.js"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="http://ratings.lycos.com/ratings/lycosRating.js.php"></script> <script type="text/javascript"><![CDATA[//><!]]></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="http://scripts.lycos.com/catman/init.js"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="http://members.tripod.com/adm/ad/code-start.js"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="http://members.tripod.com/adm/ad/code-middle.js"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="http://members.tripod.com/adm/ad/code-end.js"></script> <noscript> <img src="http://members.tripod.com/adm/img/common/ot_noscript.gif?rand=285053" alt="" width="1" height="1" />  <iframe frameborder="0" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" scrolling="no" width="728" height="90" src="http://ad.yieldmanager.com/st?ad_type=iframe&ad_size=728x90&section=209094"></iframe>  </noscript> <table cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 border=0 height="100%"><tr> <td valign="top" width=200 BGCOLOR="#003333" TEXT="#F7F7FF" background="041d4c00dduajq.gif"> <div> <TABLE BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="2" CELLSPACING="0" WIDTH="95" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="BOX" RULES="ALL" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 46 WIDTH="91"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="46" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="91" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <bR> <div> copyright held by</div> <div> Susan Holm</div> <div> 2001- 2005</div> <div> internet copyright law</div> <div> prohibits use of this</div> <div> written material without</div> <div> the express written </div> <div> permission of the author.</div> </td> <td valign="top" BGCOLOR="#FFFFFF" TEXT="#080000"> <div> <FONT SIZE="5" COLOR="#003333" FACE="Arial" ><B>Galens World</b></FONT>     |     <A HREF="index.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Galens World"><U>home</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id17.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="About Galen"><U>About Galen</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id18.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Contacting Me"><U>Contacting Me</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id19.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Readings, Classes, Scheduling Informatio"><U>Readings, Classes, Scheduling Information</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id36.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="THE BOOK SHOPPE And Links To Other Site"><U>THE BOOK SHOPPE  And Links To Other Sites</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id52.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Facing Fibromyalgia "><U>Facing Fibromyalgia </U></A>   |   <A HREF="id23.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Honor"><U>Honor</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id27.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Spiritual Workout"><U>Spiritual Workout</U></A>   |   <B>Balancing Act</b>   |   <A HREF="id21.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Risk....."><U>Risk.....</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id35.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Workbook..."><U>Workbook...</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id29.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Road To Happiness"><U>Road To Happiness</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id32.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Yeah.... but......"><U>Yeah.... but......</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id50.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Whats CHANGE Got To Do With It?"><U>What's CHANGE Got To Do With It?</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id33.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Whats RIGHT With The New Age?"><U>What's RIGHT With The "New Age"?</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id31.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Whats Wrong With The New Age?"><U>What's Wrong With The "New Age"?</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id34.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="PSYCHICS do I need to hire one?"><U>PSYCHICS do I need to hire one?</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id51.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="The Great Ego Debate"><U>The Great Ego Debate</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id26.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="_"><U>--Type Title Here--</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id25.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Guest Book"><U>Guest Book</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id28.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Message Board Forum"><U>Message Board Forum</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id22.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="England Journey"><U>England Journey</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id37.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Basics In Astrology"><U>Basics In Astrology</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id53.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Why War, Daddy?"><U>Why War, Daddy?</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id54.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Political Links: "><U>Political Links: </U></A></div> <div> Balancing Act</div> <div> <IMG SRC="08d96640.jpg" border=0 width="150" height="100" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <div> In most spiritual discussions, there appears to be a drive to dissolve the "EGO". I have heard that ego is supposed to stand for "edging god out". This is a curious phrase to me, since as I understand our Creator, Ego was created as a part of the entire package, not added later by the "lesser being" that is human.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> As I understand humanity, I feel that each human being is born with the considerable task of finding balance in their lives, a daily endeavor, perhaps even moment to moment, that is part of the spirituality of the experience of living. To remove any part of the key ingredients would be like trying to change a cookie dough recipe; if it calls for flour, can you substitute baby powder and have it taste the same? I think not.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> The question I would like to ask of other spiritual seekers is simply this: What is to be feared from the ego? </div> <bR> <bR> <div> Ego is not the same thing as being "egotistical", to continue with my cookie dough recipe thinking here, ego is the sifted flour whereas egocentricity could be likened to a recipe that is all flour, without additional flavors blended. A diet of just flour would certainly be unhealthy in the long run. But well-sifted flour can be mixed with a multitude of ingredients that is both nutritious and delicious. (for those who are wheat allergic, you can use rice flour in the same way) <G></div> <bR> <bR> <div> From Merriam Webster Dictionary, the definition of ego is simply:</div> <div> ego (noun), plural egos</div> <bR> <bR> <div> First appeared 1789</div> <bR> <bR> <div> 1 : the self esp. as contrasted with another self or the world</div> <bR> <bR> <div> 2 a : EGOTISM 2</div> <bR> <bR> <div> b : SELF-ESTEEM 1**</div> <bR> <bR> <div> 3 : the one of the three divisions of the psyche in psychoanalytic theory that serves as the organized conscious mediator between the person and reality esp. by functioning both in the perception of and adaptation to reality -- compare ID, SUPEREGO</div> <bR> <bR> <div> **my comment here: regarding self-esteem:</div> <div> in any abusive relationship, there is a loss of self-esteem that leads to future abuse. With the current state of humanity, it's easy to see how the loss of self-esteem allows for much unhappiness and loss not only to the individual but to society as a whole. For it is in the contributions of the INDIVIDUAL that society florishes.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> Being spiritual then, does not require becoming "one with all", but One Within All.</div> <div> In any healthy relationship, it is NOT being absorbed by the "other" (or the group) but it is walking along side another that allows all the people involved in the relationship to grow and celebrate their uniqueness.... together!</div> <bR> <bR> <div> It is in creating healthy boundaries and celebrating the Self that we are finally capable of relating to any other soul.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> In any cult, the first thing that is to be removed from incoming "members" is the sense of self.... the best way to do this is to create GUILT or SHAME over having a sense of self! The Self is most assuredly tied in with the ego, so preaching to a fragile mind that any ego is "bad" is going to go a long way towards removing the sense of individuality and creating a needfulness of belonging to the "group mind".</div> <bR> <bR> <div> Thus, a cult is born, with only one ego allowed: that of the leader; all others will be punished in order to control that group mentality.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> (for more information regarding Cults, I suggest reading: </div> <div> CULTS IN OUR MIDST by Margaret Thaler Singer, </div> <div> Ms. Singer is one of the foremost authorities on the topic)</div> <bR> <bR> <div> Cults are really nothing "new" in our world, they have a long history, of trying to keep people in a specific mindset that forces people to give up any life beyond the root chakra (where tribal mind exists) empowering the leader(s) while disempowering the followers.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> I mention this in relationship to this article because one cannot find balance, if they are travelling in a huddle with others. Think of a row boat; if everybody is leaning to the left or right.... the boat isn't in balance and might tip over. At times of societal pressure, one might need to "lean" with the others, but only temporarily, not permenently.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> As I understand the human condition, we are made of 5 basic "ingredients".</div> <div> body, mind, ego, soul, spirit.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> If any of those are ignored for too long, or one is in control over the others, life takes on an unbalanced, uneven quality.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> Body issues that can overwhelm would be:</div> <bR> <bR> <div> physical health, sexuality, addictive behavior, (including eating disorders)to name but a few. When the body is in control of the "total", ones life may take on a feeling of suffering, victimization, needfulness. It is extremely difficult to be "spiritual" if one is suffering from chronic illness, or is seeking fulfillment in the course of the life thru sexual encounters, over intimacy. If one is seeking to find control through say, an eating disorder, obviously the rest of the life is being ignored in a need to control the body. Drugs, alcohol and even spirituality can become the "drug of choice" whereas a person "can't feel good" unless they have had their rush du jour...</div> <bR> <bR> <div> When the mind is in total control of the life, there is plenty of logical and very little emotional balance.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> When the mind overwhelms, one can't 'shut down' even for a moment of rest, there is no ability to believe in what can't be proven, faith is gone. The mind has incredible power but without faith, life can seem very empty and meaningless. </div> <bR> <bR> <div> Mental racing creates barriers to the rest of the package here. The mind won't listen to the body, can't accept the soul or spirit, and may consider the ego to be the weakest link in the entire entity!</div> <bR> <bR> <div> When the ego is the center of this Life, we witness egocentricity. This is the most isolating of the imbalances here. </div> <bR> <bR> <div> To refuse to acknowledge that others are involved in our lives, our choices, and our destinies is the ultimate in egocentricity. It's entirely possible that our lives could not function without others in their various capacities holding up mirrors to our true selves. The ego, while containing the sense of Selfhood, cannot deny that others also have a sense of Selfhood that is to be celebrated and cherished on face value alone.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> The soul, is our part that is linked to the Other. That which some call God, our Creator, our Universal Awareness. </div> <bR> <bR> <div> Yet, does someone who has no faith "lose" this part? of course not, it's simply hidden behind the imbalance; it is said there are no atheists in foxholes... that in times of the greatest stress in life, everyone finds something that is a higher power in which to believe. That is where the soul finds its footing; it is our stress reducer, our ability to see the unseen, and take it on faith alone. Perhaps in some, the only time the SOUL is in "control" is at birth and again at death. When the soul is allowed to take a more balanced role with the mind, body, ego and spirit, however, there appears to be a reduction in stress and a true healing is possible.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> The Spirit, to me, is the individual celebration of Being. </div> <bR> <bR> <div> Within the spirit, lies the personality, the learning, the awarenesses and the knowledge. Yet, if we are In Spirit, we are lacking the body... which is capable of doing things that in spirit we simply cannot do! </div> <bR> <bR> <div> The body allows for human contact: the hug, the kiss, the holding a newborn child, or stroking a puppy or kitten, and tasting something wonderful to the palate. It allows us to hear beautiful music, to feel a cooling breeze and to contain talents that allow others to experience joy through us.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> The mind is capable of healing the body, of teaching others, and of learning from others. The mind is capable of entertaining, enlightening, encouraging and growing.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> The ego allows us to celebrate selfhood, to acknowledge our own individual contributions to the Whole.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> The soul keeps us linked to something that is indefinable, infinite, and holy.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> The Spirit gathers together to stamp these qualities on the one person who truly is living them.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> You!</div> <bR> <bR> <div> If you lose any part of this balancing act, if you are forced thru choice or circumstance to allow one to rule over your life, Life isn't joyful anymore, it's simply a struggle, and a deep sense of failure and a longing to have ......... something........ "else", usually indefinable and often unobtainable.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> At any time in our lives, one area may be "on top" over the others; illness can cause us to focus solely on the body, worry can cause the mind to race and be unable to allow the soul to do any of the work; yet, not unlike having 5 people carry a single heavy load, when these 5 ingredients are allowed to each SHARE a part of the load.... the others aren't as strained or put at risk.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> Finding balance is a daily exercise, one that doesn't become "automatic" as time passes; There is no quick meditation or "trick" in finding this balance or maintaining it! Perhaps the first step would be simply to acknowledge all the "ingredients" as potentially truthful, and examining them as they relate to your life.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> If failed relationships are the main "issue" in your life, work on where you lost your footing and allowed body issues to take control.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> If you are alone and unable to grow anymore, do an "ego check" and see what has shifted your self-esteem into the negative aspects of Self.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> If you keep thinking and thinking, but can't find what it is you are looking for, perhaps your mind has been working overtime, and it's time to experience FEELING instead.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> It IS entirely possible to create a healthy energy flow in your life simply by beginning anew, celebrating the many parts that make up YOU. And new energy flow creates newness in all of your life. </div> <bR> <bR> <div> Abundance comes from sharing that balance with our Universe.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> Blessings and much love to you, always</div> <div> Galen - 07/05/01</div> </td> </tr></table></body>