264 LIGHT SABERS BRIGHTEN DARK DAYS

Lots of lightsabers, yesterday
The more the merrier when sadness dims the spirit

Riddles:

How is the truth like a rubber band?
When stretched too far, the truth snaps back with a sting.

How are truth and denial alike?
When stretched too far, both snap back with a sting.

If the truth hurts and denial does too, which combination of inner strengths soothes pain—all around?
Courage
Humility
Compassion
Clarity
Patience
Mutual respect

Which orator scared his peers so much they condemned this sage to death?
Socrates

What truth did Socrates' peers fear?
Know thyself

Why do we fear knowing ourselves?
It's far from easy to live up to our own principles.
And our egos don't want to know when we don't.

What's one to do when a straightforward approach stings your listener's heart?

When straightforwardness stings, make good use of creativity and hope for the best.

When straightforwardness and creative thinking fail to produce positive results
The mission may fail but that does not mean the speaker failed, as well.

If you and I have yet to meet then what makes me believe you're in need of rescuing, too?

I believe we're all in need of rescue from misperceptions.

As misperceptions layer up, our minds fill with false belief systems

False beliefs imprint into our minds as facts

False beliefs, which imprint into our minds as facts, mess with clarity

False beliefs narrow our scope, concerning our traits

False beliefs narrow our scope, concerning the traits of others

False beliefs—based in fear—deny common sense:

Witches, tied into a body bag filled with rocks, will drown.
Innocence will rise to the surface?

Really?

False beliefs are often based in whatever we need to hear in hopes of relieving fear:

How many virgins await suicide bombers in heaven?

Seriously!

False beliefs direct us (and all who follow) ever more deeply into emotional fires
Why do intelligent, well educated people follow leaders, who manipulate the truth?

False beliefs burn intelligence, clarity, common sense and compassion to a crisp
Love is like that
And so is fear

If the only person you can change is yourself and if you believe you're doing everything possible to reach a seemingly unreachable goal then which part of your belief might be in need of change?

         What if you believe in close friendships but have no clue that you fear the truth?

         What if you believe in love but have no clue of your fear of intimacy?

         What if you believe in speaking up but have no clue that you're afraid to break the peace?

         What if you believe yourself to be matter of fact
         But can't swallow a bite because anger is eating you up deep insie?

         What if you believe yourself to be honest and positively focused
         While behind defensive walls, your ego can sense the truth closing in?

         What if you believe others are 100% to blame for chronic conflicts
         Because you couldn't possibly be, at all?

From what do we need rescue?

From mixed messages, imprinted into our minds as indelibly as tattoos

From times when the opposite of what we believe is true
From belief systems that mess injure our relationships

Which relationships?

Deeply valued relationships
Which felt warm and cozy
Until denial's defensive walls locked intimacy out

Often times
We're in need of rescue
From the relationship
That each continues to develop
With—oneself

   
If there's a reason for everything then:
Common sense suggests tunneling till surprising insecurities emerge

Why uproot that stuff?
Stuff we stuff impinges on our well being in covert ways
Tunneling leads toward AHA! moments
Which release us from subconscious pain
AHA! moments reveal insecurities
Which cause us to unwittingly repeat self-defeating mistakes.

How do I know all of the above is true?

I did not say this what I know

I said this is what I believe
And as you know,  I'd love to know what you believe, too ...