Peeling The Onion

Breaking Through Barriers

"The human psyche is almost infinitely complex, made up of layers upon layers of thoughts, experiences, emotions, fears, loves, and goals. Those who seek to find the true essence of being or move past a fear find that there are many intermediate steps along the way. As we first look inward, we view ourselves whole when in fact we are only seeing the surface. Like an onion, if we move past the surface, we will find another layer, and beyond that we find another. These layers are barriers, and everyone has them. You may work past one fear, only to be confronted with a deeper underlying fear. Or you may fully assimilate a revelation, only to find other aspects of it that you had not discovered. How many layers you will confront before encountering a resolution is unknown. This is the JOURNEY--this is life. But the journey to the center of the onion--what is called sunyata in Sanskirt or mu in Chinese--can be an enlightening experience in and of itself. As you break through each barrier, you will gain a more profound understanding of your own mind and come to learn the unique facets that make up who you are. You will become intimately acquanited with your needs and wants, reactions, aversions, pleasures, and pains. You will discover qualities within yourself that have been buried by the years or by old hurts. This knowledge is cumulative. As you break through one barrier and confront the next--oftentimes more powerful--barrier, you will be equipped with the knowledge of self that you have gained in your searching. During the 'peeling of the onion', you may feel frustrated because it can seem as if progress is slow or nonexistent. But do not let the multitudes of layers bother you. Many of the qualities that make you who you are may be hidden at first. The process can continue indefinitely, for with self-discovery comes growth and thus further discovery. The more you learn, the more you will inevitably find as you travel deeper and deeper within your soul."
By: Madisyn Taylor

Step Forward

"He told us that in any given moment we have two options: We can step forward into growth or we can step back into safety. Become aware of your behavior. Become aware of the decisions you are making every moment of your life - the decision to speak authentically (step forward into growth) or to say what you think you should say(back into safety). Pay attention to your decision to either go out for the run you promised yourself or to make up an excuse as to why you just can't do it today. Become AWARE. Become conscious of who you are. Become conscious of the decisions you're making. Become conscious of how you're expressing yourself and what you're actually doing. Your destiny is shaped by your moment to moment decisions. Choose wisely. STEP FORWARD." Abraham Maslow