Admire as much as you can. Most people don't admire enough.

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Pronoia Is the Antidote for Paranoia is available at Amazon and Powells.

CREATING A GOLDEN AGE

I suspect that none of us has the capacity to foretell the future of the human race. No one -- not psychics, not doomsayers, not intelligent optimists, indigenous shamans, no one.

There is a strong case to be made that this is the worst of times, and an equally strong case that this is the best of times; a strong case that everything will collapse into a miserable dystopia and a strong case that we are on the verge of a golden age. It's impossible to know in any "objective way" which is "truer."

Anyone who asserts they do know is just cherry-picking evidence that rationalizes their emotional bent. The variables are chaotic and abundant and beyond our ken.

In the meantime, I'm doing what I can to create a golden age.





SYNERGY

Hypothesis: There's no contradiction between being:

a highly individuated, creative person devoted to developing your own maximum potential and enjoying life to the fullest

AND

a spiritual freedom fighter dedicated to the liberation of other humans and to the transformation of civilization into a paradise that serves and exalts all creatures.

In fact, the two tasks can blend together quite well.





TAKE TIME TO STOP AND BE THE FLOWERS

"Take time to stop and smell the flowers," says an old homily. Albert Hoffman, the Swiss scientist who discovered LSD and lived to age 102, had a different approach. "Take the time to stop and be the flowers," he said.

That's a sweet invitation: Don't just set aside a few stolen moments to sniff the snapdragons, taste the rain, chase the wind, watch the hummingbirds, and listen to a friend.

Use your imagination to actually be the snapdragons and rain and wind and hummingbirds and friend. Don't just behold the Other; become the Other.





SECRET HEROISM

Jeff Brown says: Most of the greatest achievements on the planet are unknown to others ? private overcomings, silent attempts at belief, re-opening a shattered heart.

The real path of champions truly lies within ? the transforming of suffering into expansion, the clearing of horrifying debris, the building of a healthy self-concept without tools.

The greatest achievers have found a way to believe in something good despite being traumatized and fractured on life's battlefields. No matter what else they accomplish in their lives, they are already champions.

One day the world will realize that it is much harder to heal a shattered heart than excel at athletics. Go(l)d medals all around.

- Jeff Brown, excerpted from his book Love It Forward





BENEVOLENT CONSPIRACY ON YOUR BEHALF

Behind your back, your imaginary friend is plotting with your inner child to overthrow your guilty conscience.

Meanwhile, your future self has time-traveled into the past to enlist the spirits of your ancestors in a plot to unlock your sleeping genius.

There's more: The superhero you used to fantasize about being when you felt most helpless has been brought to life by the mad scientist in your psyche's basement.

There's no way you can prevent them all from giving you a big crazy dose of assistance.

P.S. Your hair is mysterious.





MANY GOOD REASONS TO CRY

It's life-affirming to cry when you're sad about your life.

There are many other good reasons to cry, too.

Have you ever burst into tears after having a sudden rush of insight into a nagging problem?

If you traveled to the Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam and stood in front of the artist's paintings, chances are you would sob in appreciation for the raw beauty.

I have a friend who regards her crying spells as surrogate orgasms. They bring a surging release of pent-up emotions, and leave her deeply relaxed and in love with life.

NASA's chief scientist for Mars exploration confessed what stirs his emotions up from the depths. "When I first gazed at the images of the Martian landscape from Surveyor's camera," said Jim Garvin, "I was moved to tears."

Myself, I experience my tears as a well-earned triumph, whether they're driven by loss or fullness and joy; they're the sign of the inner work I've done to feel things deeply.

I've found, too, that sadness is often at the root of my anger. When I feel rage at Trump's latest cruel and ignorant behavior, for example, it's because I'm profoundly sad about the dire consequences that his actions have and will have for human beings. I'm heartbroken about the suffering he perpetrates.

I'm not saying that sadness is "better" than anger. But I think it's important to understand that our anger often comes out of our sadness, and that we need to feel the sadness as much as the anger.





YOUR PRIMAL LONGING

Recently I wrote about the pleasures that can come from cultivating a robust relationship with one?s primal longing. "What is a 'primal longing' exactly?" a reader asked me.

I replied: Your primal longing is the deepest yearning you have; the essential desire that brought you here to earth; the reason why you're alive; the goal that's most important for you to strive for this lifetime; your core driving force.





WHAT CONSTITUTES INTEGRITY?

Characteristics of People Who Have True Integrity,
by Awareness Act

1. They value other people?s time.

2. They give credit where it is due.

3. They are authentic.

4. They are honest.

5. They don?t take advantage of others.

6. They talk through disagreements in a civil manner.

7. They give most people the benefit of the doubt.

8. They know when something is bothering someone.

9. They accept your word as truth until it is disproven.

10. If they have done something wrong they will come to you and apologize.

11. They are humble.

12. They do good when they can.

13. They are kind.

14. They follow through with whatever they said they would do. Keep commitments.

15. They do not manipulate others.

16. They are able to be vulnerable and can express it, and hold space for others to be vulnerable as well.


Do you have any characteristics to add?

READ THE ORIGINAL ARTICLE HERE





NO NEED TO KEEP ILLUSIONS AFLOAT

You're hereby relieved of any responsibility you think you have to keep everyone's illusions afloat (including your own).

See how much fun you can have by telling the lush, pulsating, up-to-the-minute truth with kindness and elegance.