Our conversation ended with the observation that there is a difference between the Concept of the Middle Way, and the Process of the Middle Way. He suggested this topic for the Blog. The Concept of the Middle Way or the Middle Path is basically to avoid the extremes in everything. The Process of the Middle Way is about being sensitive and responsive the signals and signs that indicate when you are approaching an extreme. If you reviewed the earlier Post then we can go on from there and say that there are shifts in your energy signature that signal to you if and when you are going off your path (moving outside of your Bollinger Bands). And of course, one of the reasons for you to strive to stay in Peaceful Space is so that you are always alert to those subtle signals that often whisper to you or appear fleetingly. Lets see if our stock market analogy can hold up when we apply it more deeply to the human experience. We will probably have to do this in parts. Hope you will tag along and add your comment! We'll discuss the extremes first, the things that happen around the boundaries of your path. Lets talk first about sudden upward movement (sudden success). If we are going to have sustainable success then we have to set a strong foundation to support the measure of our success. Sudden upward movement occurs with and without the necessary foundation. As you strive for success in whatever way that you define it, it is helpful to remember that life is process and everything in the universe is subject to the Law of Vibration - everything experiences its ebb and flow; its waxing and waning, that includes your life journey and process.
When the price of a stock moves or jumps outside of its upper band (positive change in price), one of two things can happen. The upper band may move upward to embrace the new (higher) price, or the jump may be too big (or too fast) for the mood of the market and the price will move or fall back down, inside the band (sometimes very dramatically). Sudden upward movement is not uncommon in the human experience. She was going nowhere, moving fast enough to be going backwards. She had a past with no observable benefits and her path was more narrow than that navigated by a colony of ants. Her future was a dark abyss beyond the reach of light. She breathed only in those moments when she could sit at her makeshift art table and draw. And then one day, someone saw her art, her talent, her soul and suddenly her life changed. Sudden upward movement! Many people have experienced sudden upward movement because of their natural talents in the arts, music, athletics, dance, mechanical or technical skills, intellectual rigor, or a sincere heart and gentle spirit coming to the attention of others. Then there are those who experience sudden upward movement based on a less substantial foundation, winning the lottery for example. An individual who has no real plans for how they would manage and use their good fortune is like a stock price move that has jumped way outside of its upper band and there is no support for that higher price in the market. Both the price of the stock and the individual’s good fortune are likely to crash.
If in those moments when she could breath our young lady also imagined a bright future in spite of the darkness, if she read magazines and books about being an artist and learned all that she could, if even in the midst of hopelessness she formed a vision of what she would do and how she would do it if ever… – dare she hope, then when that moment of sudden upward movement occurs, her path may open and the upper and lower boundaries of her path will rise to embrace the change in her life. But, if she could not see through the darkness, if she failed to prepare and imagine, then with all her artistic talent she will nonetheless feel outside of her element, she will unwittingly activate her Fight-or-Flight Response in her social interactions, and will likely have negative energy experiences even while experiencing temporary or modest success. If she knows that she is unprepared for the change, the sudden upward movement, then she should also be prepared for some setbacks and negative experiences to come through that crack.
Lets assume that our young lady was prepared and achieved success. What shifts in her energy signature would be signals to her (or to you) that she is heading for a fall? Remember, as Dr. M. points out in the Handbook, everything about every individual is present in their energy signature and your energy signature is always transmitting, affecting the universe. Success can change your energy signature in both positive and negative ways. If the shift is positive, no problem! You Create Peaceful Space as you move ahead. But what are the signals of a negative shift in energy signature emanating from sudden success or an inability to handle or manage the level of success that one achieves? What are the signals or cracks that are predictive of a retraction or fall in the life of the individual? The signals will show up as expressions of the Fight-or-Flight Response manifesting in the attitudes and behaviors of the individual. The signals will also manifest in the body-mind because of the biochemistry of our basic instincts and emotions as outlined in the Handbook. They will also emanate from the individuals energy signature and feel evident to anyone who is sensitive to the quantum experience of life. Can you guess some of the signals?
To be continued:
Living in alignment with the Prime Directive
is a choice to which everyone should be invited!
You have been invited!
You have been invited!
Create Peaceful Space!
Trust Your Process!
Peace, Love, and Health!
2 comments:
Thank you for such a timely posting! As a college student, family member, and crisis intervention specialist in the community in which I live, the Concept of the Middle Way or the Middle Path of avoiding the extremes in everything is SO VERY vital to my well being. Just examining my life as a student is cumbersome. Class exams loom, papers hang over my head, and nagging deadlines (and the stress that comes with it) can dictate my plans for the day or sleep patterns.
Guidelines (G) that support the Concept of the Middle Way include studying in the Gift of NOW. If I wait, procrastination can perpetuate feelings of powerlessness, overwhelming physical stress and the inability to succeed at a higher level of being. The same holds true for writing papers. I begin as early as I can. The second G is avoiding the desire to cram. Repeated exposure to my course material over several sessions allows me to time to understand and retain challenging reading material. The third G is to list and prioritize (rating the overall importance) all the tasks to be completed. The fourths G is sleep. At times when my studies necessitate an “overnighter”, I find time to catch up sometime during the day so can function at a level of my mental capacity. Last, but NOT least, I follow a daily PSP recipe of: 1) positive energy-producing activities (i.e., A-Z gratitude list), 2) breath-orientated prayerful meditations, 3) disciplined-plan of healthy eating, and 4) habitually-balanced (cardio and strength)manner of exercising. I find that, put together; the recipe creates a holistic Peaceful Space I totally enjoy! Really. As evidence, from a biologically point of view, I sense a definite decrease in elevated levels of stress hormones (that keep me wound up), a loosening of tightened muscles that are ‘a pain in the neck’ (no pun intended), a return back to my fun-loving nature, and a needed euphoric release of pent-up energy.
Regarding the Process of the Middle Way, that is, being sensitive and responsive to the signals and signs of approaching an extreme, I believe this occurs when I Choose to divert my energies towards the Flight Response of “least-prioritizing activities” including: television watching, compulsive eating, chatting with others for extended lengths of time, and oversleeping. This typically results in a crack in my energy signature such as: mood swings, depression, and a lack of resourceful positive energy to assist in meeting life’s demand.
Thank you for bringing attention towards the Concept and the Process of the Middle Way as well as the illustration, once again, of the concepts of the Bollinger Bands and the Moving Average. By being Aware of the signals of a negative shift in my energy signature that can emerge either from “sudden success or the inability to handle the level of my success” I can prevent the inevitable results of cracks predictive in the extreme retraction of Bollinger Bands.
Peace Sandra! Thank you for your comments. Given your reflections on this Post I'm sure you will be able to relate to Part II of this topic. Looking forward to your comments.
Create Peaceful Space!
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