Individuals of the age 17-24 are at a time in their development when the general task of their Hero’s Journey turns on the challenge of charting a path into a future of freedom, purpose, and meaning. Through childhood they had lived under a regime of taller powers (parents, teachers, coaches) who guided their steps andContinue reading “The Two Centers”
Category Archives: Education
Words and Reality
Along the winding road of my career – first as a pastoral counselor, then as a community counselor, and now as a career counselor working with college students – I have developed a particular skill of deep listening that I call “listening in.” Of course, counselors of all types need to listen to their clients,Continue reading “Words and Reality”
A Storyline of Faith
It’s always presumptuous and frequently dangerous to assume that your experience, perspective, and path in life constitute a norm against which that of others might be meaningfully compared. Not long ago, thinking in terms of types and standards of normalcy was widely used as a method for understanding ourselves and each other. Nowadays, however, theContinue reading “A Storyline of Faith”
Under the Hat
According to the worldwide spiritual wisdom tradition known as the Perennial Philosophy or Sophia Perennis, the one thing each of us must realize is that we are not who we think we are. Who is a term attaching to a personal identity, which is all about playing a role on the social performance stage. TheContinue reading “Under the Hat”
Seeing the Truth
When you were just an infant, your experience was, in the words of William James, a “blooming, buzzing confusion.” You had no language and hence no discrete categories of thought to label, classify, and organize your perceptions. Everything just swirled around you, bombarding your senses from every side. It was fascinating – and frequently overwhelming.Continue reading “Seeing the Truth”
Working on Ourselves
When it comes to understanding ourselves, humans tend to be a fairly confused species. This is not to say that other species really understand themselves, either. It’s likely our evolved talent for self-conscious reflection and contemplation that makes understanding ourselves even possible, as well as what’s behind our confusion – and a lot of ourContinue reading “Working on Ourselves”
The Path Through College
It is common for college students to envision their career as something that’s ahead of them, as the anticipated next step after graduation. As they make progress on their degree plan, many are secretly hoping that their credential will open the door to a job that pays well and doesn’t suck. A significant number ofContinue reading “The Path Through College”
5 Floors
Ego is just your “I,” the center of self-conscious experience that locates and manages a personal identity in the middle of everything. It’s not what is wrong with you, or the “obstacle” on your path to liberation, enlightenment, and wellbeing. In fact, none of those long-sought goals of salvation would be possible without your ego.Continue reading “5 Floors”
A Family History of the Passions
We like to think that we act the way we do, believe what we believe, and curate a philosophy of life based on rational choices. We thought it all out and made a decision. Where we stand on things and how we feel about it is the product of careful consideration and common sense. Right.Continue reading “A Family History of the Passions”
The College of Unconditional Love
I don’t get it perfect every time, but with practice I’m getting better. Over the years working in higher education with students who are trying to find their path, I’ve come to understand what they are seeking as “vocational clarity” – not a major, not an occupation even, but a freely chosen path of purposeContinue reading “The College of Unconditional Love”
Tracts of Revolution 