Spiritual Growth
This category contains creative writing about personal growth and spiritual practices, in articles, essays, fiction and poetry.
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Yearning and Lust as Examples of Dualistic Thinking
The problem of dualistic thinking is illustrated by exploring the difference between yearning and lusting as if it were an either/or question.
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How You Can Live A Fulfilled Life at Any Age
What does it mean to live a fulfilled life? When asked what it means to live a fulfilled life, Dr. Joos Meyer, a medical doctor…
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What is the Purpose of Living?
"What is the purpose of living" is a question that arises several times across the lifespan and sometimes the answer is quite simple as illustratedd in the life…
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Manifesto – TheReflectivePen – Part three, More goals
This is the third and final part of the Manifesto of TheReflectivePen - Goals numbered 6-11 with a summary of all eleven goals for writing this blog at…
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A Manifesto – TheReflectivePen – Part Two
Part two of a three-part Manifesto of TheReflectivePen is the first half of a list of goals that guide the writing on this blog.
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A Manifesto of TheReflectivePen Part One
Genesis The genesis of TheReflectivePen is a tale of collective failures and successful adventures in both writing and technology in a search for meaning and…
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How to Forgive Yourself When You Make Mistakes
How do I forgive myself? ‘Going down the wrong road’ is a common expression for having made a poor choice. This happens. To forgive yourself is the challenge.…
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How Do You Return to Normal After a Huge Loss
Is it ever Possible to Return to Normal? What is normal when life has delivered a significant blow - divorce, death, pandemic, or job loss?
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Five Ways You Can Find the Sacred in the Ordinary
This summary of five ways to find the sacred in the ordinary is offered as examples of an infinite resource for anyone thirsty for wisdom and insight. Holding…
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How To Begin Again When You Fail
"Always we begin again.” These are grounding words of St Benedict. Words that speak a gentle truth when we find ourselves up against a brick wall of failure.
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Five Ways to Stay Calm Without Losing Patience
Five ways to not lose your patience - 1. Slow down...2. Breathe...3. Make waiting a spiritual practice...4. Smile...5. go for a walk
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Learning to Sit Alone With Feelings
Learning to sit is a common Buddhist practice but for this author, the road to sitting was marked by an illness accompanied by cognitive loss that did not…
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Dekker, The Service Dog, Shares His Wisdom
Many people have asked me how Dekker ‘writes,’ sharing his wisdom every month in this blog. The only words that may seem legitimate from a dog are “Woof,…
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One Thing to Know if You Want to be Compassionate
Until I learn to be comfortable with my fear and pain, I will not hear the fear and pain behind another's defensive statements or responses, let alone respond…
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WHAT IS GOOD ABOUT FEELING VULNERABLE?
Vulnerability helps us open the door to new connections. If only for a moment, we let our guard down and engage with people on another level.
