Defining Moments
November 6th 2006 13:30
Every life has its’ defining moments. In terms of archetypes, this can be seen as the Night Sea Journey so eloquently depicted by Homer in The Odyssey. Odysseus, en route home, experiences many a defining moment in his twenty-year journey. The many ordeals at sea each had a sculpting and molding on his ever-maturing psyche.
These defining moments, often stressful, bring flavor and meaning to life. There is a pattern that occurs, possibly unrecognizable with anything but hindsight. We may be aware that we are in the midst of a ‘night-sea journey’, yet the luxury of reflection comes typically after-the-fact.
CALAMITY
This is when something disruptive occurs. Norms are violated and comfort zones are turned upside down.
My soul mate has died, for instance.
ORDEAL
This is the struggle, the adjustment, the bargaining, the feeling so overwhelmed that belief that resolution will occur seems questionable at best, and hopeless in the worst-case scenario.
This is being IN the stress and experiencing the ‘erosion’ process that reshapes, sculpts, and molds. While in it, disintegration is more the word that comes to mind. There is no sense of comfort zone here. Some call it hell. Others find ‘relief’ in mind-altering substance, thusly impacting in some fashion their own particular learning curve.
I grapple with the loss of my soul mate, quite possible white-water rafting through stages of grief as described by Kubler-Ross.
RETURN
While there may be no complete and comprehensive resolution, there is a return to some new (and improved?) version of the comfort zone. Consciousness has been expanded and emotional capacity has been stretched. In terms of stress, fight or flight toxins return to their baseline homeostatic state.
I accept the loss of my soul mate. I forge a new way of living, carrying the absence in always evolving ways.
And a defining moment has gone full circle.
WHAT ARE YOUR DEFINING MOMENTS
deorre
These defining moments, often stressful, bring flavor and meaning to life. There is a pattern that occurs, possibly unrecognizable with anything but hindsight. We may be aware that we are in the midst of a ‘night-sea journey’, yet the luxury of reflection comes typically after-the-fact.
CALAMITY
This is when something disruptive occurs. Norms are violated and comfort zones are turned upside down.
My soul mate has died, for instance.
ORDEAL
This is the struggle, the adjustment, the bargaining, the feeling so overwhelmed that belief that resolution will occur seems questionable at best, and hopeless in the worst-case scenario.
This is being IN the stress and experiencing the ‘erosion’ process that reshapes, sculpts, and molds. While in it, disintegration is more the word that comes to mind. There is no sense of comfort zone here. Some call it hell. Others find ‘relief’ in mind-altering substance, thusly impacting in some fashion their own particular learning curve.
I grapple with the loss of my soul mate, quite possible white-water rafting through stages of grief as described by Kubler-Ross.
RETURN
While there may be no complete and comprehensive resolution, there is a return to some new (and improved?) version of the comfort zone. Consciousness has been expanded and emotional capacity has been stretched. In terms of stress, fight or flight toxins return to their baseline homeostatic state.
I accept the loss of my soul mate. I forge a new way of living, carrying the absence in always evolving ways.
And a defining moment has gone full circle.
WHAT ARE YOUR DEFINING MOMENTS
deorre
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Comment by Deorre
Stress Alive
Man Lessons
Comment by The Voices in my Head
The Voices in my Head
I am American and would like to comment on your comment regarding voting...The political system and climate in America is a running, rediculous joke.
We are divided between two political parties because we are told, and therefore think, that one party is better than the other. The truth is that neither one is worth our vote. However, because they have managed to create for themselves this incredible fascade of competition between the two parties, and therefore the American public, we dedicated fools will rush out and cast our votes for one or the other to prevent the lesser of two evils from taking office.
As if either party is truly concerned with American citizens. One or the other party has been in office for how many years now? And how much better off are we now? We aren't and no one can truly disagree.
I no longer vote for Democrat or Republican politicians and never will again. Throw the lot of politicians for those two parties in a bag and pull one out. They are all the same. I am not apathetic. I do care enough that I will not be responsible for putting another rich politician in office to represent a country where the poor and middle class far outnumber the rich. Because of Republicans and Democrats, we will never again have an Abraham Lincoln in office...which would be the only salvation for the future of our country.
And yes, I live the life...much better now than when casting votes for either party because my conscience is clean.
Voices~
Comment by Deorre
Stress Alive
Man Lessons
Choices are clearly bleak. I am not registered with Dems or Repubs, yet did want to send a message this time.
I agree that when one makes a mindful decision not to vote, then they are not necessarily disallowing life to unfold for themselves.