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MY SUNDAY JOURNAL
By Dalton Roberts
An IPSFeature
6-9-02
FIRST, A CLEAR DECLARATION
In my journal of 1988 I was struck by the idea that the Declaration of
Independence preceded the Constitution. It came to me that any positive
change in our lives first requires a clear declaration.
Our founding fathers dug in their heels and firmly declared that America
was going to be free of foreign domination. When we need to be free of
domination, we also need to make those courageous and sometimes
dangerous declarations.
Some say when we are trying to break a habit like smoking, we need to
declare our intention to others. I am not sure of that. I am sure we
must declare it to our own selves.
Whether it's a habit like smoking we are trying to change, or some
deeply ingrained way of being that is torpedoing our relationships at
home or in the office, after the declaration we must lay our personal
plan – our constitution – to live life in a different way. Ben
Franklin and the boys almost came to blows at times in debating the
contents of the Constitution. Parts of our own personalities will come
to blows as we really go to work to follow up on our declaration of
change.
Change is so demanding we should never declare we are going to do it
unless we have come to the place of feeling firm and final about it.
Whether we're changing a country or correcting a personal flaw, it
merits our full attention and effort.
CONTACT PEOPLE IN THE HEART
A man who works with the terminally ill occupied the pages of my journal
in ‘90. Speaking of people with Alzheimer's, he said to not try to
contact them in the mind. "Contact them in the heart," he
advised.
He is convinced they understand if there's love in the room. He says
almost all close relatives of Alzheimer patients become angry with
themselves for their failures with their loved ones. He says, "Have
mercy on yourself. Instead of hating yourself and feeling you are a
terrible person, recognize you are going through one of the most
difficult and demanding situations a human being can ever face."
This is good advice for all of us as we deal with life's worst blows. We
cannot care for those we love unless we make sure there is love in our
own room – the room of our consciousness – for ourselves.
No, it's not a complete solution in all situations. But it is an
essential ingredient to success.
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