Category Archives: The Examined Life

C.S. Lewis & Ken Wilber on My Truth, Your Truth, and Morality

Posted on September 3, 2013 by John

. “The moment you say that one set of moral ideas can be better, you are in fact, measuring them both by a standard, saying that one of them conforms to that standard more nearly than the other.  But the … Continue reading →

Posted in C.S. Lewis, Conscience, Critical Thinking, Ken Wilber, The Examined Life, Truth, Waking Up | Tagged , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Commentary on “The Success Indicator” by MaryEllen Tribby

Posted on August 30, 2013 by John

. “The Success Indicator” by MaryEllen Tribby http://www.huffingtonpost.com/maryellen-tribby/the-success-indicator_b_1874431.html http://maryellentribby.com/products/ http://maryellentribby.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/Infographic-Black-01.jpg . The chart above is a chart that I have recently seen reblogged on a couple of blogs I follow http://davidkanigan.com/2013/08/29/so-is-it-a-or-is-it-b/ http://thesnowballeffect.com/successful-people/ Part of Love–part of what distinguishes becoming a more … Continue reading →

Posted in "The Success Indicator", Critical Thinking, Criticism, Luke 6:32-35, MaryEllen Tribby, Matthew 5:43-48, Mental Health, The Examined Life, Truth, Waking Up, What is Love? | Tagged , , , , , , , | 6 Comments

How to Be Truly Happy In Life — And How & When to Start

Posted on August 20, 2013 by John

. We’ll worth the watch.  It’s how a real sense of community and brotherhood/sisterhood begins — by really sharing what’s affected us (affecting us) deeply. I often wonder when I’m interacting with some people, have they ever lost anyone?  How … Continue reading →

Posted in Authenticity, Bonding, Community, Death, Friendship, Intimacy, Kindness, Mental Health, Personal Growth, Perspective, The Examined Life, Truth, Vulnerability | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Is it?

Posted on August 20, 2013 by John

Posted in Perspective, Real Love, The Examined Life, What is Love? | Tagged , , | 2 Comments

Why Peace Is Difficult (If Not Impossible)

Posted on July 25, 2013 by John

Begin by drawing a circle. Outside of the circle, begin a list of everything you don’t like, that irks you, that spins you out or floods you emotionally; everything that is contrary to your tastes, preferences, temperament, beliefs, principles; everything … Continue reading →

Posted in B4Peace, Bloggers for Peace, Comfort Zone, Critical Thinking, Criticism, Discomfort Zone, Personal Growth, Perspective, R. D. Laing, The Examined Life, Thomas Merton, Truth, Waking Up | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 6 Comments

Self-Acceptance (& Which of Our Possible Selves to Accept)

Posted on July 5, 2013 by John

“Your god-self does not dwell alone in your being.  Much in you is still man, and much in you is not yet man, but a shapeless pygmy that walks asleep in the mist searching for its own awakening.” – Kahlil … Continue reading →

Posted in C.S. Lewis, Dag Hammarskjöld, Pema Chodron, Personal Growth, Self-Acceptance, Self-Love, Spiritual Growth, The Examined Life, Viktor Frankl, Waking Up | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

The Serenity Prayer, Self-Acceptance & Self-Care, and Discernment

Posted on July 2, 2013 by John

. DISCERNMENT.  (Noun.)  A core component of wisdom.  The ability to make fine yet profound/crucial distinctions; the ability to see (comprehend) more clearly what is unclear and obscure. The Serenity Prayer (as it applies to ourselves) God, grant me the … Continue reading →

Posted in Conscience, Courage, Critical Thinking, Czeslaw Milosz, Denial, Differentiation, Difficulty, Goethe, John Kenneth Galbraith, Love, Mental Health, Mindfulness, Personal Growth, Perspective, Self-Love, Spiritual Growth, The Examined Life, Waking Up, What is Love? | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

When It Comes to Love & Your Relationships Are You Committed or Just Interested?

Posted on March 13, 2013 by John

. . There’s a difference between being interested in something and being committed to something.  When you’re interested in doing something, you do it only when it’s convenient.  When you’re committed to something, you make the time to do it. … Continue reading →

Posted in Kenneth Blanchard, Love is a Commitment, Love is Not a Feeling, Mature Love, Mental Health, Personal Growth, Real Love, Spiritual Growth, The Examined Life, Truth, Waking Up, What is Love? | Tagged , , , , , , , | 13 Comments

Vase or Faces: Is Life Fundamentally Easy; Difficult; or Both?

Posted on February 26, 2013 by John

. How do you view life—as something that fundamentally is supposed to be easy (which means that difficulty and hardship are aberrations)?  Or is life something that is essentially / fundamentally difficult and painful, a struggle (“life is suffering” said … Continue reading →

Posted in Buddha, Critical Thinking, Difficulty, Jose Ortega y Gasset, M. Scott Peck, Pema Chodron, Personal Growth, Perspective, The Examined Life, The Road Less Traveled, Truth, Waking Up | Tagged , , , , , , , | 7 Comments

Martin Luther King on Love (and Loving the Enemy)

Posted on February 23, 2013 by John

The meaning of love is not to be confused with some sentimental outpouring. Love is much deeper than emotional bosh. Jesus said, “Love your enemies.” We should be happy that he did not say, “Like your enemies.” It is almost … Continue reading →

Posted in Agape, Difficulty, Martin Luther King Jr., Real Love, Spiritual Growth, The Examined Life, Truth, Waking Up, What is Love? | Tagged , , , | 6 Comments