by Michael on October 7th, 2010
In 1972 the Club of Rome issued the controversial report, “Limits to Growth”. The study applied a computer model of socioeconomic trends, and determined that no matter how optimistically one tweaked this, that, or all variables, the future outcome of the trends was social and economic collapse – more or less delayed. Why? Because of the values underlying the social order.
Back then, the Stanford Research Institute also explored 40 possible alternative futures, and determined that a very few avoided a major world crisis before the year 2050. Willis Harman, director of the Institute concluded, “The macroproblem which the world faces,and which is rapidly and ineluctably becoming more serious, is at root a problem of value and basic premises – in short, a moral problem.”
Continue reading The Politics of Working on Oneself
by Michael on September 28th, 2010
All of us are swimming within the mystery of existence which is littered with the flotsam of differing opinions about the nature and purpose of life. To which do you cling to for solace, support, or guidance? Why?
The opinions are diverse and contradictory. Some teachers affirm that there’s eternal life after death. Others instruct to live this life with gusto, for it’s the only one you have. Others warn you’ll be reborn maybe as a cockroach, if you don’t watch your step. Some thump holy books, pointing to this or that verse for the authority of their venom. Some assert there’s a deeper nature. Laughing out loud, others reply, “Are you kidding!? The person with the most toys wins.”
Continue reading The Authority of Your Own Personal Experience
by Michael on September 20th, 2010
For far too many spiritual seekers, their spiritual aspiration is like an iron maiden of virtue whose inner critic spikes ceaselessly stab our all-too-human souls. We envision becoming “spiritual” as transcending our humanity rather than becoming more fully human.
Modeling their behavior according to ideas of spirituality that they have read in books, many seekers I meet are genuinely upset with their humanity. They want to be generous, not stingy; admiring, not envious; loving, not hateful; calm, not upset; joyous, not sad; accepting, not angry; holy, not human. When these seekers experience such human ‘blemishes” to their spirituality, they become fearful of their spiritual prospects.
Continue reading Is spirituality a matter of becoming less or more human?
by Michael on August 19th, 2010
 In my work, I get to see the underbelly of our social order: the patterns of unhappiness and hardship which we suffer alone, but which are shared by others in epidemic proportions. These are the disorders of society which breed widespread personal unhappiness.
James Hillman, Jungian analyst, alludes to just such a societal disorder when he comments that one of the hardest things which he has to treat is his clients’ schedules. Hillman notes that their schedules are their defenses against change. Said another way, your personal organizer is your defense. Your to-do list is your personal tyrant. Your busyness is your soul’s captor. We haven’t the time to allow into our lives the changes that would be a salve to our souls.
Continue reading Creating a Structure of Living that Supports an Inner Life
by Michael on July 23rd, 2010
Here is a fable I wrote which was published in the East-West Journal in 1975. I feel it appropriate to again publish it through this authenticity blog, given that the tale addresses the seemingly misdirected spiritual striving which still is rampant. We don’t need more “ascended masters”. We need descended masters! Enjoy…..
Continue reading The Angel and the Seekers
|
On Authenticity:I must be myself. I cannot break myself any longer for you, or you. If you can love me for what I am, we shall be the happier. If you cannot, I will still seek to deserve that you should. I will not hide my tastes or aversions. I will so trust that what is deep is holy, that I will do strongly before the sun and moon whatever inly rejoices me, and the heart appoints. — Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803-1882), in “Self Reliance”
About …The Personal Authenticity Project is a blog authored by Michael Nagel MA. The Project explores the practice of personal authenticity. Your comments help to clarify the meaning, practice, and relevance of personal authenticity.
This Week's Popular Posts
|
To Receive Email Notifications of New Posts Please enter below your email address:
Subscribe by Reader (RSS)  Subscribe by Reader: Let’s Connect!Follow me and join the conversation with us in these Social Networks:
Follow on Facebook NetworkedBlogs
Recent Tweets Hover below for my recent tweets...
Twitter
|
