Hello everyone!
Today is my Birthday and I am old enough to to hide my age... My Inner 'Mischievous child', is telling both my 'Inner Critic' and 'Perfectionist', that as my 'Birthday gift';they decided to be 'Silent' for a change X My Two Diaries I would like to share now; a few stories about my "Advancing Age" and make you smile (maybe even laugh) as I did, when I was watching the History channel and suddenly realized, that Hitler is beaming younger and younger, with each birthday I celebrate...
The main subject in this 'Birthday Post', is our two Opposite Poles: What could be more far apart, then Optimist and Pessimist? You probably know the Definition of these two: "The Pessimist's Cup is always half Empty, while the Optimist's, is Half Full..." Since my early childhood, my cup was not only half full it was Overflowing with Optimism... During my last trip to Israel, I asked my cousin Rachel, who was sixteen years older then me, what kind of a child I used to be... Her answer was: “You were the happiest and most caring child I knew! Full of life and love, always singing, dancing and laughing or making up stories and games... I remember wishing that when I have kids, they would be just like you..."
Years ago, when I was ready to begin my studies in Psychology, the students were required to have a Psychiatric evaluation first... I was sitting at the psychiatrist office, facing him and was a bit nervous, when he put down his reading glasses, lifted up his head, looked at me and said: "Well, acording to the test you took, it seems that you are a classic case of 'Pollyanna'!" (The girl in the book and movie, who sees everything through 'Rose Colored' Glasses...) The way the 'Good doctor' said it; did not sound as if he was 'Complementing me'...I was confused and asked:"May I know what's wrong with being an Optimist? Isn't it better to be happy, then be a miserable Pessimist? "Sure!" The doctor replied, "Except that it is not a true picture of Life... When "Pollyanna" (The Eternal Optimist) finally removes her rose colored glasses, Reality, may be shocking and even potentially harmful..." I completely disagreed with his answer and wanted to argue with him, but didn't want to take a chance, that I wouldn't be accepted into his program; so I kept silent, which was not at all like me...X "Be patient and argue with him later, After you get in to the program!"x I told myself
At one point, I discovered, that there was actually a term, which describes Overoptimism: it was called 'Pollyanism'... By now, after working in the field of psychology for so many years; my “Optimism glass" still remains (most of the time) full up to the brim! However, I have learned that in order to balance our poles, we need to go through the Ups and Downs of the "Seesaw Ride of Life"; Until we learn how to get this balance... Does it mean that if my cup is overflowing with Optimism, Love, Joy, Laughter, Excitement and Fearlessness; Would I have to go through the extremes of Negativity, as well in order to Balance? Am I suppose to experience emotions of Pessimism, Hatred, Anger, Depression, Judgment, Jealousy and Fear before I reach such a Balance? " Don't worry!" I am told "This 'Up and Down' emotional Seesaw Rides will be only temporary... This is not much of a comfort, nor compensation, for the pain we excperience during this 'Crazy Ride', we are going through ...
The feeling that "Something New and Exciting, is about to take place in my life!" Is familiar... For some time, I have been noticing, changes in the way I feel, think and react,as well as becoming more 'Mature' and 'Serious'; after each new birthday... My 'Natural bubbly Joy of life', seems to become a bit subdued at times, as unfamiliar 'Dark seriousness', is trying to penetrate my Bright optimism...(Maybe in order to create more balance...) At times, it seems as if most of my life, I have been using Warm Colors Red, Pink Yellow and Orange, with a bit of light Purple, like Rainbows... Lately, I began to add to the canvas of my life, Cool shades: Dark Green, Blue, Brown, Grey and even a splash of Black from time to time... Does it mean that I finally begin to balance? Could it also be, that I am getting 'Bored' with the way things are and need some kind of change in my life?
 |
| Peter Pan |
This newly found 'Grey Sadness', feels as if I am discovering and adding a new kind of unfamiliar 'Emotional Colors', to the canvas of my life; by mixing Sadness with Joy, Tears with Laughter, Desperation with Hope and Doubt with Certainty; Creating a beautiful new tapestry, to decorate the walls of my life...Could this mixture bring a new kind of balance? balance? It feels as if my Overoptimistic"Peter Pen", is finally calming down a bit, but I can not tell if I feel happy or sad about it... Perhaps a mixture of bouth!
At times, when my newly found 'Gray Sadness', feels too heavy, as if it is 'Tipping the 'Scale of my Joy' to the other extreme... I try to lighten up, by going back to some of my Happy Memories; when my dreams and desires become a Reality! After all, what could be more exciting and empowering, then creating a thought, an idea, a wish or a fantasy and Manifesting it?! I have always known, I have some kind of a creative power... The first time was in High School; when I was able to accomplished my desire to go beyond the borders of our tiny country and discover the world! (or at list a small part of it...) I shared with our teacher Mr Seel, my idea taking an 'Educational class trip', to the near by small island, Cyprus (even smaller then Israel...) To my amazement, he liked the idea! The second time, was after I completed my Military service and boarded a ship to Europe, before taking another one, to the the U.S.A...
 | |
| On my way to Europe |
 |
| Haifa Port |
My excitement, over these accomplishments of turning my dreams into reality; gave me a feeling of pure Joy, which had nothing to do with my Ego...I knew that I was going through unusual experiences of discovering, as well as embracing my newly found "Power of Creation''! It would take me several years, before I received my PhD in 'Psychology and Human Behavior'; an accomplishment which helped me derived an amazing satisfaction, from the fact, that I am able to help people heal, from verity of Emotional disorders and get over lingering Traumas and Pain...
The Bible tells us how God, who created of the Universe in Seven days, looked at his accomplishment at the end of each day and was expressing his approval:" And God saw that it was good".... At the end of the six days, when the world was finally completed, X the Bible tells us:x"And God saw everything he has done and it was good, it was very good!" Since we are told, that God created "Men" in 'His Image'; we asume, that God gave us the ability to use the combination of our Imagination, Thoughts,Wards and Action; to change our own world..... Don't hesitate to use it !
With Love and Light,
Shira
No comments:
Post a Comment