1/30/2013

How Peace, Love & Misunderstanding can Bring on Understanding

Here are more of my thoughts and review with regards to the movie: Peace, Love & Misunderstanding (2011)

My first blogpost regarding this movie can be accessed here:
http://tammymathieu.blogspot.ca/2013/01/choosing-to-judge-is-my-problem.html

This is a more in-dept follow-up.



I connected with the mother, in a sense – but for me it was the resentment piece.
She resented her mother for being who she was, carefree.
She didn’t want to understand her mother’s way (the grandmother’s way);
And so blocked her out.
…and then at the end when she goes to bail her out, and her mother explains (something like):
“Now that you have children and know that love, how would you feel if one of them rejected you for 20 years?”
Ah-man that hit me in the gut.

We create our own judgements and “interpretations” as to what’s ‘right (for us)’ – and then build our lives on this “belief”.
What really happens – is all in our heads – we ‘think’ everyone else should see and think the same way, and if they don’t; then there’s something wrong with “them”.

The whole movie’s “message” (for me) was about Judgement.
The daughter judging her mother, and the mother judging her mother (the grandmother);
And the daughter judging the butcher / boyfriend.
The husband judging the wife (at the end when he states something like, I didn’t know you all had “that” kind of fun).

And then the fun part of the “message” was about “letting go”, that’s the [Peace, Love and Misunderstandings].
We create judgement upon ourselves by not “letting go”; we’re blocking our own truths.

Sure in the movie they included drinking and drugs – and the whole “Hippy” lifestyle – but I think that “stuff” was just marketing for Hollywood sales.
It just make things easier to understand “quickly”, since the “Hippy” lifestyle is already a stereotype most people know about.
Had they marketed the movie about a Grandmother living a spiritual new-age lifestyle, would it have had the same effect (and sales)??

Maybe some people really do live that way, and maybe they don’t – again we’re not to judge, we’re just to choose to love & understand. …we don’t need to do the same – we just need to “get over our-self-made beliefs” and Let Go (of everything outside of us).

The carefree piece was a sight of beauty (for me). Maybe at times, for the movie’s sake – it went overboard (sex, drugs and …well extras!)
But the foundation for that Grandmother was there – this was HER story, HER choices.
How many of us can claim to live our choices, freely… really?
We don’t. And why? Because of exactly this – we judged her choices and made them wrong.
And why…? She’s not us… and so this IS the piece we need to Let Go.

This “meaning” is similar to what the boy says at the end about judgement (having someone want to change someone else): “that’s your problem” …and not hers. The Grandmother found her “peace” and is choosing to live it. She understood what her daughter was going through and knew she had some “releasing” to do, but ultimately she pretty much just let her do her own thing and just “welcomed” her back into her life with Love.
How many of us could do this, just welcome “lost” ones back into our lives with open arms – after the hurt and abandonment? And to choose not to judge “them”…

There were several underlining messages and I’m sure they spoke differently to each of us, and I’m sure the “messages” get received very differently at different times in our lives.

I enjoyed it overall, and am looking forward to hosting Feminine Full Moon Evenings! ;)








What's Your Style?

The more you learn and understand who you are, how you are - the better a-person you can be to yourself and to others. Understanding what motivates you; touches you; or even triggers fears or anxieties within can only make you a better person. Understanding and knowing your strengths and weaknesses is power.

I really can't recall where I got the following information, so if someone is to be sourced / referenced for the following please accept my apologies - and thank yous at the same time, great work!

To note when reading the following description, you might seem to connect with some or all of the following styles, however you'll probably note (deep-down inside) which of the following is pretty dominate in your life. Also, the primary style that is dominating you at this moment isn't necessarily going to be the style that sticks with you forever... some styles change with age, time, with situations, people... whatever the case maybe, what's important is to understand the 'role' that you take on during these encounters so that you can be aware of what your projecting. If you notice the 'style-mode' you're in and don't want to be in that 'mode' - awareness is key! You can't identify what's happening unless you know it's happening - and that's when you can make choices!

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WHAT'S YOUR STYLE?


AMIABLE (intuitor)

Likes: Appreciation, consistent, cooperative, credit, family, gradual change, harmony, loyalty, security, team player.

Fears: Loss of security.

DO:
Advise of changes well in advance.
Ask about family.
Assure them you appreciate their loyalty.
Stress teamwork.

ANALYTICAL (thinker)

Likes: Authority, caution, critical thinking, details, discipline, orderly, proof, research,serious, standard, precedures.

Fears: Criticism of work.

DO:
Give great amounts of Information.
Give brichures and fact sheets.
Give time to make decisions.

DRIVER (sensor)

Likes: Authority, boldness, challenge, risk, change, direct answers, dominating, difficult assignments, efficient, new and varied activities, power.

Fears: Being taken advantage of.

DO:
Give Bottom line quickly.
Keep informed.
Less chit-chat.
Schedule definite appointments.

EXPRESSIVE (feeler)

Likes: To verbalize, freedom from control and details, popularity people and opinions, status, motivation, recognition, enthusiasm.

Fears: Loss of social acceptance.

DO:
Appeal to status.
Invite to social functions.
Take time to chit chat.
Inform about what is new and improved.

KNOWING YOUR OWN STYLE ALLOWS YOU TO...
PROVIDE THE MOST EFFECTIVE CUSTOMER SERVICE

Keirsey Temperament Quiz

Ever wonder why people don't think the same way you do?
And why wouldn't they... especially if we come from the same environment, same background, same everything...

Our minds are "programmed" differently and hence why we have such a creative world filled with beautiful things! ...otherwise, if we actually did think, be and do everything alike; the world would simply be a Sames Ville.

Let's take another quiz together, this time - let's explore the Keirsey Temperament Sorter experience:

"Established in 1996 by Dr. David M. Keirsey, Keirsey.com emerged onto the world wide web to provide access for individuals to take the Keirsey Temperament Sorter (KTS-II), and gain a better understanding of themselves and others. Keirsey Temperament Theory™ was first written about in the international best seller, Please Understand Me®, (1978) and was followed by its successor, Please Understand Me II, (1998)."


http://www.keirsey.com/

We can learn a little more about the Keirsey Temperament Sorter (KTS-II) here:

http://www.keirsey.com/aboutkts2.aspx
And so after completing my Keirsey Temperament quiz, it states that I fall into the IDEALIST category.

Upon completing my quiz, I also was presented with a brief description of my IDEALIST type and was also offered to purchase various more in-dept interpretation of my temperament and type - reports:
- Classic Temperament Report
- Career Temperament Report
- Learning Styles Temperament Report
- Temperament Discovery Report

1/29/2013

Choosing To Judge is My Problem

I watched a movie on Netflix last night, and was moved by several blocks stories within it.

Peace, Love, & Misunderstanding



















Watch Trailer here:



There were several things going on in the movie that I seemed to connect with. Now I'm not going to go into all the details since, well - you should just watch the movie! :)

Grace (the Grandmother) is a 'hippy-free-spirit' who receives her daughter and two young-adult children in to her home after not seeing them for 20 years. The daughter, Diane,  is an uptight-lawyer who's husband just announced that he wants a divorce.

During the family's adventure with Grandma, they all learn about themselves... in a safe, welcoming, and 'open' environment.

I caught myself between wanting to be like Grace and fighting off the "Diane" front I've built for myself. Like "Diane" we get so caught-up in wanting to do what we're 'supposed' to do, and to do the right thing. But what the "Grace" of the world present back to us is... what is right, really? Early on in the movie, Grace says: "Exclusion is an necessary violence, don't you think?"

There are so many quotes and learning moments  within the movie, that for me - I could go on forever.

But one in particular that stuckout for me was towards the end, when Zoe and Cole 'confront' eachother with the truth:

Zoe: Do you, uh, think I'm violent with you? Closed off? Defensive?

Cole: Sometimes.
Zoe: But you're here.
Cole: Yeah, I am. I am here.
Zoe: And I judge you for what you do.
Cole: That's not my problem.
Zoe: Well, it kind of is.
Cole: No, no, actually, it's - that's your problem.

What that triggered for me was the 'truth' Cole was able to share about judgement.
When we 'choose' to judge, when we 'choose' to blame, when we 'choose' to want to make someone else change - we're not accepting and so we're kind-of rejecting... love. Whether it be love for someone, for us, or just love in general, blocking ourselves, of this love, because of judgement is a choice.

Here's another quote that spoke to me, in just Letting Go:

Diane: You want me to just let go of 40 years of irresponsibility, embarrassment, and her total refusal to grow up?

Jude: Yes, exactly.
Diane: [incredulous] Like a balloon that'll just float away.
Jude: It's not a balloon, Diane. It's a sandbag you've got to drop for the balloon to get off the ground.

Quotes made available via: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1649780/quotes


My lesson learn via the movie.


Just a simple reminder that – we can’t change anyone (but ourselves) and so when we ‘chose to judge’ we’re actually part of the problem.
We must be the ones to let go of our judgement to see beyond ‘the belief’.
 


What's Your Chakra Level of Understanding? - Quiz -

Quiz originates from the site: ChakraEnergy.com

I encourage you to take the quiz on the site http://www.chakraenergy.com/


Once you answer a series of questions broken down into seven different sections - you'll be presented with a "Test Results" summary:

How You Use the Test Results

Each section above pertains to a different chakra intelligence. If you answered 4 Yeses in one section it means that you are connected to that chakra center. If you answered 3 Yeses it means you have a good understanding of that chakra power. If you only answered only 2 Yeses it means that you have the possibility to use that center but you do not completely understand its function. If you answered one or zero Yeses than it shows that you have little understanding of that chakra’s full potential.

Remember there is no right or wrong–it just is. This Chakra Test was only for you to see that you use different “thoughts of energy” and by understanding your own energy will only help you to achieve your maximum potential.

___ Part One: Red Chakra


___ Part Two: Orange Chakra


___ Part Three: Yellow Chakra


___ Part Four: Green Chakra


___ Part Five: Blue Chakra


___ Part Six: Indigo Chakra


___ Part Seven: Violet Chakra


From my interaction with the site's quiz, I ended-up scoring:

_2_ Part One: Red Chakra


_3_ Part Two: Orange Chakra

_3_ Part Three: Yellow Chakra

_0_ Part Four: Green Chakra

_1_ Part Five: Blue Chakra

_3_ Part Six: Indigo Chakra

_3_ Part Seven: Violet Chakra

** This score was dated November 15, 2012.

And so with that, this gave me a simplistic view of where to start... I have some knowledge of some particular Chakras, however there are other Chakras that I need to gain more awareness on inorder to work with them at a more in-dept level.

And for yourself, did you take the quiz? Any surprises?

1/28/2013

What is Your Archetype? - Quiz

In reading the book

Hero Within - Rev. & Expanded Ed.: Six Archetypes We Live By, by Carol Pearson
http://books.google.ca/books/about/Hero_Within_Rev_Expanded_Ed.html?id=dQAeXCHjU-4C&redir_esc=y

Via this link you can get a sense of the book:
http://archive.org/stream/herowithin002330mbp/herowithin002330mbp_djvu.txt

I started to wonder - what is my archetype? I can relate to several of the archetypes listed in the book's descriptions however I wanted to discover what my prominant archetype was; and so I looked for a "quiz" / "test" online...

This link will prompt you to OPEN or SAVE --> it's a Microsoft Word document:

http://www.google.ca/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&frm=1&source=web&cd=3&ved=0CFAQFjAC&url=http%3A%2F%2Fimages.babycathy07.multiply.multiplycontent.com%2Fattachment%2F0%2FRvZDLQoKCtcAAEkf-001%2Farchetypes%2520test-1.doc%3Fnmid%3D59045841&ei=AqQGUZXLGYzDyQG4y4HIBA&usg=AFQjCNFjqwRw9eB79jNpRs2nfAk17cOBrQ&sig2=Cq-wKzn8BJaCkZGWEzDQDg&bvm=bv.41524429,d.aWc&cad=rja

Below is a Copy/Paste from the above link:

---------------------------------------------------------

SELF-TEST (adapted from “Hero Within: 6 Archetypes We Live By” by Carol Pearson)


Discover the dominant archetypes in your life!

Score: 0-never; 1-seldom; 2-sometimes; 3-frequently; 4-always. Total your scores in each category and know which archetype is very active in your life.

1._____It is very important to be careful. Other people will cheat you when they can.

2._____I find that when I change my attitudes my environment changes.

3._____Most important to me right now are identity issues. I’m not sure who I am.

4._____I push hard to prove myself and to succeed.

5._____The world is good and I am safe and cared for.

6._____I feel alone, but it gives me satisfaction to see that I can make it on my own.

7._____The most important thing is loving.

8._____I often feel disappointed in or betrayed by other people.

9._____All seeming problems really are illusions. I can assert God’s love/the perfection of the universe and once again see that all is well.

10.____I am very competitive and really enjoying winning.

11.____Times have been rough, but I’ve learned to cope.

12.____I find out about my own shadow self by what upsets me in others.

13.____I use drugs/alcohol to get high and feel better. (or I use shopping, work, or frantic activity to divert myself from problems).

14.____I expect people I meet to be trustworthy.

15.____When challenged, I stand up for myself and, if necessary, fight to defend myself.

16.____I’m in a new job/doing my job differently/undertaking a new course of study.

17.____I expect to be loved and cared for.

18.____I struggle hard for the causes/ideas/values I believe in and against those that are wrong and harmful.

19.____I frequently give people more than I get back.

20.____What I really want is someone to take care of me, but there is no one who will/can really care for me.

21.____When I am betrayed or unjustly treated, it reminds me to take pains to be fair to others.

22.____I love to travel/study/experiment because I find I learn about myself and the world when I do.

23.____I see no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil.

24.____I feel most myself when I’m creating something new.

25.____I want my life to make a difference, to make a mark on my world.

26.____When I stay calm and centered, others seem quieted too.

27.____If others could just see the light, they could have as wonderful life as I do.

28.____Since I’ve changed, my world has changed radically. Years ago, I would not have imagined things would turn out so well.

29.____I think I’m justified in feeling superior to other people: I’m smarter, or better educated, or stronger, or more disciplined, or hardworking, or have better values, or because of my sex, my racial or ethnic heritage, my class, my accomplishments, my belief.

30.____Tragedies (accidents/illnesses) often happen to me and to those around me.

31.____I work hard but do not expect to be rewarded or appreciated adequately for what I do.

32.____If I could only win the jackpot, all the problems will be solved.

33.____I feel good about myself and grateful for my life.

34.____I would like to be more appreciated by others.

35.____I’ll do whatever life requires of me. I want to make whatever contribution I can.

36.____I sometimes avoid or sabotage intimacy with others in rder to maintain freedom.


Innocent        Orphan         Wanderer          Warrior

#5___             #1___               #3___                 #4___

9___                 8___                6___                  10___

14___               13___             11___               15___

17___               20___              16___                18___

23___               30___               22___              25___

27___               32___               36___               29___

total___            total___              total___           total___


Martyr            Magician

#7___               #2___

19___                12___

21___                 24___

31___                 26___

34___                 28___

35___                 33___

total___              total___

6 Hero Archetypes


*The Innocent is not included on the chart because it is not heroic archetype. When we live in paradise, there is no need for goals, fears, tasks, works, etc. The innocent is both pre and post-heroic.


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And so after taking the above quiz, according to this author - my score was:

22 - Innocent
12 - Orphan
18 - Wanderer
18 - Warrior
14 - Martyr
23 - Magician

What were your scores and do you tend to agree with the Archetype outcomes associated to you?

The Invitation - by Oriah Mountain Dreamer

Beautiful Poetry provided by Oriah Mountain Dreamer:

The Invitation  

It doesn’t interest me
what you do for a living.
I want to know
what you ache for
and if you dare to dream
of meeting your heart’s longing.

It doesn’t interest me
how old you are.
I want to know
if you will risk
looking like a fool
for love
for your dream
for the adventure of being alive.

It doesn’t interest me
what planets are
squaring your moon...
I want to know
if you have touched
the centre of your own sorrow
if you have been opened
by life’s betrayals
or have become shrivelled and closed
from fear of further pain.

I want to know
if you can sit with pain
mine or your own
without moving to hide it
or fade it
or fix it.

I want to know
if you can be with joy
mine or your own
if you can dance with wildness
and let the ecstasy fill you
to the tips of your fingers and toes
without cautioning us
to be careful
to be realistic
to remember the limitations
of being human.

It doesn’t interest me
if the story you are telling me
is true.
I want to know if you can
disappoint another
to be true to yourself.
If you can bear
the accusation of betrayal
and not betray your own soul.
If you can be faithless
and therefore trustworthy.

I want to know if you can see Beauty
even when it is not pretty
every day.
And if you can source your own life
from its presence.

I want to know
if you can live with failure
yours and mine
and still stand at the edge of the lake
and shout to the silver of the full moon,
“Yes.”

It doesn’t interest me
to know where you live
or how much money you have.
I want to know if you can get up
after the night of grief and despair
weary and bruised to the bone
and do what needs to be done
to feed the children.

It doesn’t interest me
who you know
or how you came to be here.
I want to know if you will stand
in the centre of the fire
with me
and not shrink back.

It doesn’t interest me
where or what or with whom
you have studied.
I want to know
what sustains you
from the inside
when all else falls away.

I want to know
if you can be alone
with yourself
and if you truly like
the company you keep
in the empty moments.


By Oriah © Mountain Dreaming,
from the book The Invitation
published by HarperONE, San Francisco,
1999 All rights reserved

http://www.oriahmountaindreamer.com/index.php

Tips for Hanging Picture Frames and Framed Art

To See Visual Examples and Explore more options, visit my one of my Pinterest boards:  http://pinterest.com/tammymathieu   General Hang...