The Shape of Our Future

Who will shape our future?  Who will dream a wild thought that will transform all of our lives?  Who will lead our next revolutions?  To better answer these questions, we must explore our innermost selves – that place where each and every one of us has an ability to imagine, create, and contribute.  That place is where dreams are born and reality emerges in the form of inspiration!

True inspiration ignites passions that are unstoppable.  Every one of us possesses the capacity to transform lives or processes in a manner that can be considered profound ─ whether on a grand scale or to a single process or life of an individual ─ and as a result, alter the very purpose of our own life in doing so. 

            So, roll up your sleeves and take an honest assessment of the things you can do to make an impact.  What are your gifts?  What do you have in terms of natural ability that you can “lend” to the process?  Your action will put forces into play that’ll ultimately inspire others, even if it’s just one person.  Your action will have an impact!           

            The universal law of nature rewards the spirit of giving.  So give judiciously - not just when it’s convenient, but especially when it’s most needed.  Those on the receiving end of our generosity are affected in ways more broadly than any of us can imagine.  I’ve seen it, experienced it, and lived it from both sides.  The rewards are rich and life-changing.

            So how do we make an impact?  It’s often as simple as finding a need and filling it.  Are you artistic?  Then seek to share your talent and open the eyes of others through the medium of paint or music.  Do you write?  Then write passionately with inspiring words of encouragement to those who need it.  Do you have time to spare?  Volunteer.  Are you successful?  Then share your story with others on how they too can follow the principles of success.  Mentor a student.  All of these and so many more examples can be the catalyst that serves as the critical pivot point and makes the difference in someone’s life that leads to profound changes.  The changes can save a life, a community, or even the world – it’s not unrealistic to envision if you open the aperture of your mind and admit to the plausibility.  In the absence of immediate ideas, simply offer a compliment or a gesture of encouragement to someone.  Make it anonymous if you can – a note or a small gift can make a profound difference and lead to positive change for someone in need. 

            What an honor it is to be part of the process that ignites the dream of another.  You don’t have to be a psychologist or counselor.  You don’t even have to have the right words.  You just have to be sincere.  Your sincerity will convey - even without words.

            So, open your eyes and watch for the opportunities to reveal themselves.  Then step forward and witness the change in two lives – theirs…and yours!

Until next time!

- G -

 “The greatest discovery of my generation is that man can alter his life simply by altering his attitude of mind.”            - William James –

 

 

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Dreams...

Dreams…

Grab your favorite beverage and pull up a chair, because we’re gonna chat about something that’s as elusive a topic as it gets ─ even more so than, say, politics or whether or not alien life really exists.  Note: It’s no accident that I mention politics and alien life in the same sentence, but that’s a totally different topic altogether…unless, of course, the elements of your latest dream had something to do with both ─ which is completely plausible in this day and age.

Okay, take a moment to think about the last dream you had.  If you’re like most, that may be a daunting task.  While we’re typically able to recall remnants of our dreams, rarely are we able to fully recall enough of a dream to “put the pieces back together,” so to speak.  Depending on the encounter, we may recall random glimpses of what occurred during a dream that we quickly discount as “weird or bizarre.” 

Human thought exists on several layers or aspect planes.  Loosely defined, our minds operate in three dimensions: the conscious, the subconscious, and the alter-conscious.  It is the alter-conscious plane where dreams principally occur, and the one aspect that is the most elusive and difficult dimension to define.  All three dimensions freely interact with one another and have some level of affect or influence on each other.

A great deal of focus has been given to the study and science (both psychological and physiological) of our dreams.  Because of our cognitive limitations, we're not yet able to fully understand how to control and/or manipulate our dreams.  Therefore, like the early pioneers of our existence, we do the best we can by assigning meaning and interpretation through symbology and conjecture.   

An understanding of dream symbology requires a delicate approach and an admission that this too is not an all-inclusive or absolute method of clearly defining that which still eludes us.  With every attempt to increase the wisdom of our understanding through symbolic reference, we must be open to the likely possibility that we are simply wrong.  After all, symbolism is not an all-encompassing approach that is universally applicable to a population of those who dream of common symbols.  That said, this “uncharted territory,” is a rich forum for unbridled opinions, insights, theories, and interpretations ─ all of which lend themselves, albeit in an eclectic manner, to the advancement of our understanding of a fascinating aspect of the human psyche.

One of the methods used to understand dream symbology is a practice called amplification.  Amplification is a process of focusing on the remnant elements of a dream that we’re readily able to recall.  Those elements are analyzed as symbols that are associated with similar elements and circumstances we have come to know through the knowledge, wisdom, and interactivity of life.  In other words, we associate the alter-conscious with the conscious…the unknown with the known…in much the same way we do with virtually any science or process of discovery. 

It has always intrigued me to listen to someone describe a dream they have had.  From a listener’s perspective, we associate only our own symbolic visual, emotional, and psychological references while listening.  We can never truly enjoy a first-hand account of another person’s dream…unless of course, we’re paired with them in the same dream.  Yes, that has been known to happen.  See?  I told you this could go in virtually any direction. We’ll save that for another time however. 

Suffice it to say, our dreams, as elusive as they may appear to be, have a purpose.  That purpose is, in large part, a deeply personal process that I believe offers infinite possibilities of insight and introspection ─ both of which can increase knowledge, wisdom and spiritual acuity.

What are your dreams telling you?  Are they a mere reflection of your conscious life?  If so, do they offer insight on the state of your life…opportunity, warning, assurance?  Carefully analyzed, do they reveal a hidden nature previously unknown and plausibly possible, yet to be discovered? 

Drop me a line and share the experience of your dreams.  And don’t be concerned about how bizarre it may sound.  We’re principally looking for signs and symbols.  In fairness, I’ll be the first to disclose one of mine.  For some reason, the major themes of my dreams seem to be most closely associated with maneuver, conflict, weapons, driving, and water.

Walking down a dusty street, minding my own business, I was approached by a man.  He had a sinister sense and directed me to sit at a table at the edge of the road.  I sat, curious as to what he wanted.  He placed a hammer on the table.  I took it as a threat.  He confirmed the threat and told me I was to go with him to be interrogated.  I looked around to assess the situation and saw that there were other men behind me.  Several thoughts ran through my mind…what information would I divulge?  What were my escape and evade options?  The dream “warped” (dreams tend to move quickly sometimes, going from one scene/experience to the next) and I was with an unknown ally.  We were hiding from a pursuer and were forced to make a decision to jump off a rooftop into a body of water... 

The dream elements became sketchy after that, as they often do.  But there were the typical elements of maneuver, conflict, weapons, water, and even some kind of vehicle in the end.  Chew on that and let me know what YOU think!

Embrace the experience of your dreams! 

 

Until next time!

- G -

"Dreams are made of the elements that are an intrinsic part of who we are, the guide of our souls, and the possibilities of our existence."
─ G. Westfal

If you'd like to receive a notification anytime I publish a new blog (currently about every two weeks), visit my Facebook page: G. Gary Westfal, Writer, Artist Educator 

Once there, click on "Get Update via RSS" on the bottom of the left column. You'll be subscribed and will receive notification whenever I publish a new blog or provide updates to my novel Dream State. And help me by recommending this blog to others and "liking" my FB page.

Please visit my All American Warriors! bog at: http://allamericanwarriors.blogspot.com/

Please visit my website: www.gwestfal.com

If you enjoyed this article, you can help by recommending it on Google by pressing the "g+1" button below...