More of Marcus and Me on Changes

Me - As we said before, our emotions, the energy from our hearts, are integral to helping ourselves change. But what of the soul? How do our beliefs and core traits affect changing? Let's take two people who have diametrically opposite reactions to criticism. One is hypersensitive and the other is completely desensitized to the opinion of others.

The hypersensitive person is constantly on the alert for 'threats' to his/her self-esteem which promotes fight or flight response to even the potential for criticism. Picture a sparrow hopping in search of food with its head jerking around twenty-five times a minute. A staccato of focus and refocus from task to threat to task to threat to task.

Very different from the seeming nonchalance of the largest of the flightless birds, the ostrich. It saunters around impervious to threats. It has over-confidence in its size and speed defying any and all threats.

These are core traits, soulful in nature to these creatures. These traits are constants. All of each species share these aspects.

But we are human and far, far, more varied in our core traits - even within the same person, given different circumstances. We can suffer spiritual conflicts. We can amend and addend our core traits. We can change our spirituality. Or, perhaps, allow one core principle to shine brighter in our behavior over some other trait that allowed us to create our current habits.

Reflecting on the components of our behaviors to identify which core traits are contributing to the habit gives an insight into where we might focus amending efforts to bring about changes. And if we haven't the trait already in our soul we can seek guidance from others to help.

Marcus - Do not act as if thou wert going to live ten thousand years. Death hangs over thee. Whilst thou livest, while it is in thy power, Be Good.

(Note: The Meditations from Marcus Aurelius are in sequence. The last few being from Part IV, numbers 14 through 17.)