Posts by Pat:
Are You Creatively Maladjusted?
This week we celebrated Martin Luther King Jr. Day for many good reasons, but one thing that stands out for me is his coining of a new phrase: creatively maladjusted.
And in a sermon on this topic Martin Luther King Jr explicitly said:
Everybody passionately seeks to be well-adjusted…but there are some things in our world to which men of good will must be maladjusted…Human salvation lies in the hands of the creatively maladjusted.
Psychiatrists and psychologists call adjusted the intention of fitting in, being accepted, functioning well.
The average teenager is obsessed with being accepted, but so are we adults, more than we care to admit. In our society we are
rewarded for being well-adjusted.
From earliest childhood, parents and other well-meaning adults have instructed us on how to behave, what to do and say, how to avoid problems with others, cultivate good manners and relationships. All of this is supposed to help us navigate through life without emotional pain.
King realized that to solve the problems of human life, especially the deepest problems-like racism, poverty, and war-we have to become, in a sense, abnormal.
We have to stop going along; we have to stop accepting what everyone else believes. We have to become maladjusted if we are at all to become creative problem solvers in our world.
A great life is not one that only makes us comfortable. It’s one that stretches us and forces us to confront the world as it is. It requires us to ask ourselves questions like,
- “Why is this normal?” and
- “What am I really accomplishing by believing and acting this way?”
We need to be creatively maladjusted.
What does this mean?
It means we entertain “new ways of being in the world”. The creatively maladjusted person will look for and allow for new creative solutions to old issues, see problems from all angles, regardless of seeming impossibilities and past failures.
As my sisters and I have matured (aged?) we decided that w
e were going to be “The Three Weird Sisters.” It became okay to be different. It was easier than trying to fit in. In fact, we take pride in being unique! So, this is us..>
Is there something in life that calls you to be “creatively maladjusted?
Is something “bugging” you that needs you to take action?
Is there a place that you need to step out of line and take your own path?
Have you discovered the pitfalls of “conforming” to someone else’s standards?
You can share your comments below and give all of us a little more hope!
The Upside of Irritation
Admit it! At times, we all can be a bit like The Princess and the Pea. Life can offer us so much goodness, but all we sometimes do is get irritated by the few small things that don’t go smoothly. We’ve all been there. We find ourselves so bothered by some experience in our day: […]
Ants and Bees, a Metaphor
Life lessons are everywhere! Let’s look at Ants and Bees as metaphors for our lives. We can learn a lot from watching ants and bees living in community and working for the greater good. More than any other species, ants and bees function as parts of a whole. They cannot and do not survive as individuals; […]
Persistent Starting
Have you ever felt overwhelmed while trying to achieve a goal? I have, and I would guess you have too. That’s why it’s important that you have a good strategy! And one good strategy I have found is “persistent starting.” As Neil Fiore in his book The Now Habit states: “…essentially, all large tasks are […]
Wrapping it up?
What a year it has been! One full of change as well as full of opportunities! Here’s some samples of what I’ve experienced and I’d love to hear what it’s been like for you! For example: We moved from our 3 bedroom home on 1/3 acre into an attractive but small 2 bedroom apartment. That was quite […]
the longest night of the year
Today’s the winter solstice for our northern hemisphere: the shortest day of the year and longest night of the year! The darkness of the winter solstice is a great time to go within and reflect on who we are becoming, our essence, and our trajectory. We are reminded to let go of beliefs, images, expectations, and assumptions so that we […]
Are you focused on G.I.F.T.S ?
The holiday season provides us with the all important reminder to reflect on all that is truly important in our lives. To get the most out of this holiday season, we can turn our attention towards G.I.F.T.S. G for Giving: We may all have hit the shopping sales to purchase gifts. However, the “gift” […]
What do YOU want for Christmas?
You can take a deep breath, lower your shoulders away from your ears, and relax for a few minutes!
The brief quiz I found online is below and can help you decide what you really want-it helped me!
So take a few minutes to:
- read the following ten statements,
- cross off those unimportance to you,
- and add any important ones not included.*
*See P.S. for what I added and subtracted!
Decide which of these values is most important to you with a “1” beside that sentence. Then assign each of the other statements a different number in your personal order of priority.
Once you have identified which values are most important to you, it will be easier to choose activities that allow you to celebrate the rest of the holidays in a more joyful, loving, and meaningful way.
QUIZ SENTENCES
Christmas is a time to:
- ____Be a peacemaker.
- ____Enjoy being with my immediate family.
- ____Create a beautiful home environment.
- ____Celebrate the birth of Christ.
- ____Exchange gifts with my family and friends.
- ____Attend parties, entertain, and visit friends.
- ____Help those who are less fortunate.
- ____Strengthen bonds with my relatives.
- ____Strengthen my spiritual community.
- ____Have a good time.
Most of us know that the values we hold dear are sometimes lost in the confusion and busyness of the season.
And we regret it once we realize it. But sometimes it’s difficult to become aware!
So do you have any “triggers” that will aid you in remembering?
(such as just before eating, getting into the car, washing your hands, etc.)
How many times a day do you think you might want to remind yourself?
Is there value for you in unplugging your Christmas machine?
Have you identified which values resonate the most strongly with you?
By reminding ourselves of what matters most to us, we will find it easier to put our thoughts, feelings, and actions into alignment with those values.
And I believe that is what we really want-thoughts, feelings, and actions that mirror the best of us.
What value resonated the most with you for this season?
P.S. I added “experiencing gratitude for all that I have and am.” And I subtracted “attend parties, entertain, and visit friends.”
P.P.S. Last week I said I’d post each week in December, my success(+/-) at keeping my 5 daily 20-minute-timeout sessions to slow down and let go of “doing” for the week. See www.WisdomEnough.com/can-we-use-these-next-4-weeks/
Starting on this last Sunday, I did 6 sessions! (So glad I didn’t say every day!)
Can we use these next 4 weeks?
December is a somewhat crazy month! A month of highs and lows, stress and relaxation, endings and beginnings. And, we can make it even crazier and do something life-changing. So here’s an idea that we can wrap up as a gift certificate to give ourselves an early Christmas present! “You have hereby received, from […]
Are you grateful?
It’s always fun to choose new quotes to share each month. And I always enjoy the ones you share with me! Here are my November choices, with a focus on gratitude and thankfulness! Maybe one of them would be good for your screensaver? And, it can be both the big and the small things that matter! […]