March 9, 2016
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Shedding Self
March 9, 2016, Prescott- I have finished reading a few books this year, most notably "Keep Moving", by Dick Van Dyke, "The Witches", by Stacy Schiff, "Terra Incognita", by William Barnes and "Extreme Ownership", by Jocko Willink and Leif Babin.
Current reads are "The Dinosaur Heresies", by Robert Bakker, "Sphere", by Michael Crichton and "Breaking the Habit of Being Yourself", by Dr. Joe Dispenza.
This last was loaned to me by a friend, so I am making finishing it a priority, out of courtesy, since she is also making reading it a priority. There is a wealth of food for thought and for self-transformation, in this fascinating book.
As many of you know, I am investing in self-healing, through careful use of Certified, Therapeutic-Grade Essential Oils and, by and large, avoiding fast food and beverages laced with processed sugar. Regular exercise, in the forms of hiking, and hitting the treadmill three times a week, has also been beneficial.
Dr. Dispenza advocates these practices, but goes a step further. The "self" he wants people to leave behind is the self that regards attachments to limiting physical and mental habits as unavoidable. I will be incorporating his recommendations into my own meditation practices, as my reading of this book progresses, and will post on my findings.
One change in my behaviour that is already in place is that I will refrain from making grandiose schedules of travel and visiting, well ahead of time, overextending myself and then changing things up. My journeys will still happen, when I am off work for the summer, or on breaks during the year. They will, however, tend to be more spontaneous, and "out of the box", in terms of where and when.
I am also finding myself being more sensible in managing resources. This, oddly, derives from being more detached from needing those resources. Thus, I can step back, look at a given situation, and make the correct choice, for me, whether it be frugal or generous.
Being more relaxed and engaged with people is another bonus I have taken from this book. The notion of totally letting go of past hurts, minor slights and misunderstandings is something that could benefit all of us. It will actually result in better sleep, more energy during the day and faster metabolism. I am looking forward to further learning what he has to say about personal resurgence.
Comments (6)
Sounds like you are already on that track - his book is merely reinforcing what you have already been doing!
Quite true. I just need to fine tune, as does everyone.
Can you give us a brief overview of each of the books, something you perhaps learned from the non-fiction ones, and state whether you enjoyed the fictional ones or not. Thanks. There are so many books out there, it's sometimes overwhelming in a bookstore. I love it, but I know I'll never get to read even a decent sized fraction of all that I would if I had endless time.
Best wishes on your self improvement process. May you become all that you want to be, all that is good.
Myself, I have lost ten pounds since the year began. I am not yet as fit as I would like; I'm not comfortable wearing a bathing suit in public, or ready to run a 10K, but I am happy with the progress so far. I still have some internal issues to contend with, but I think that is an ongoing process for all of us.
@Crystalinne: Yes, be happy with your progress. You will make further headway, according to your own timetable.
I am fasting during the day, until March 19, so the synopses you request will be done later this evening.
Now, in "Keep Moving", Dick Van Dyke offers a review of his life, through anecdotes, and urges the reader to not let age be the arbiter of how he or she approaches life. His key to a full seniorhood is mindset, backed by a healthy lifestyle.
In "The Witches", Stacy Schiff examines the year 1692, in Essex County, Massachusetts, with regard to the witch mania that devastated the county. She compares it to similar episodes in England and in Sweden. Her study is apropos to the rising tide of mob-based anger in some parts of our country today.
In "Terra In Cognita", William Barnes discusses the interplay between the spiritual and material natures of Man, and introduces the Teachings of the Baha'i Faith, in this regard. He points out that our spirituality must underpin all of our interactions in the material frame, lest those end up empty acts.
In "Extreme Ownership", Willink and Babin present the Navy Seals leadership model, offer examples of extreme combat situations in which it was used, and apply the model to seemingly intractable situations in the world of business.
In "Sphere", which I just finished, Michael Crichton weaves a tale of three very different scientists, on a special mission for the U.S. Navy, to investigate a mysterious device on the ocean floor. The device, and its effect on each of them, makes for a compelling, often jarring read.
Thanks for the synopsis.
Dick Van Dyke is right; Mentality and health are more important that chronological age.