Week 3 Peer Comment #2: Melissa Lodhi

Melissa Lodhi says, "

During the last few days, I have spent a substantial amount of time asking myself, “Are you taking yourself too seriously?”  In most cases, the answer is yes.  When things don’t go the way they should or the way I think that they should, my normal reaction is frustration.  This is usually a result of being driven by the calculating self instead of the central self.  This weeks reading has sharpened my awareness of internal motivation.

In many ways the reading from The Art of Possibility mirrors concepts delivered in Eckhart Tolle’s A New Earth.  Instead of calculating self, Eckhart uses the term ego.  Realizing when this aspect of personality is at work is a major step in redirecting thought patterns.  The calculating self, or ego, is really just a survival mechanism that loses its purpose in adulthood and serves to hinder relationships.

These steps are not easy but reading them again has helped me to refocus on awareness and presence.  Breaking habits in behavior and in thought is a challenging endeavor but is the only way for me to evolve as an individual.

(Picture from http://www.morguefile.com/archive/display/228019)
My Comments.

I too am one who gets frustrated when things don't run smoothly or go the way that I want them to. In the back of my mind I know that people (little people to be specific) are watching my every move, how I react or how I deal with situations. One thing that helps me, is that I am flexible and I do error on the side of caution yet as I am constantly reminded even the perfect laid plans do not always pan out.  You are right, as we read this book, we are re-gaining our focus. In my opinion, this book came at the perfect as all the year end stress with work, exams, and then finishing up our master's degree we all need a refresher. This book has certainly fulfilled that purpose for me.