In today’s world, it is not uncommon to come across someone who has a victim mentality. And while it would be easy to believe that this is kind of mentality that someone has if they are not doing well in life, this is not always the case.
For example, plenty of people who go to university - somewhere where not everyone has the chance to go - have this outlook. The opportunity that they have been given to learn and to develop themselves is then not going to be recognised, as they will be too caught up in how ‘oppressed’ they are. Indoctrinated When someone is in this position, they are likely to see themselves as a victim due to what they have been told by their lectures. As a result of this, one can experience a sense of virtue by seeing themselves as someone who has no control over their life. Certain people, people who belong to a certain group, will be seen as the ones who have all the control. Someone like this is then going to see themselves as nothing more than an observer of their life. Another Scenario However, there are also going to be people who don’t go to university, who believe that their life is out of their control. This may mean that they have been in the past or they might plan to go in the future; then again, this might not interest them. Either way, they are not going to feel empowered, and it can then be normal for them to feel down and depressed. Yet, if they haven’t been to university and conditioned to see everything through lens of identity politics, they might not have a strong sense of being morally superior. One Benefit At the same time, if someone is used to being with people who are abusive, they could see themselves as ‘good’ and these people as ‘bad’. Their life can then be full of drama, and this can allow them to receive a lot of attention. Therefore, although they will believe that they have no effect on their reality, they will still be able to drawn people to them. It can then be as though they don’t feel comfortable receiving attention in a healthy manner, which is why they have to experience bad things in order for this to take place. A Number of Benefits In addition to the attention that they receive, there will be the approval that they are given by the same people. One can then end up being even more convinced that the world is against them. These people are likely to believe that they are helping this person, but in reality, they are likely to be doing more harm than good. Instead of encouraging this person to look into why their life is the way it is, they will telling them in one way or another that they are indeed victims. A Dysfunctional Dynamic Another way of looking at this would be to say that there is a reason why someone would go along with this, and that it is not because they want to help them. If they truly wanted to help them, they would encourage them to see how they are having an effect on their life and then to take responsibility for it. What this can show is that someone like this only experiences a sense of control when they are around people that don’t. Rescuing others is then not only going to be a way for them to feel empowered, it will be part of their identity. No Different Deep down, this person is also likely to feel powerless and this has then given them the need to come across as strong and capable. So, if they were to change their behaviour, they might soon have to face up to how they feel at a deeper level. Another way of looking at this would be to say the rescuer and the person who needs to be rescued are two sides of the same coin - two people who lack a strong sense of themselves. They are both going to be emotionally undeveloped and this is why they are unable to act like interdependent human beings. The Victim Additionally, when one believes that they have no control over their life, they are going to be oblivious to the impact that their thoughts, beliefs, feelings are having on their reality. Their behaviour is also going to be overlooked and not seen as something that affects their life. If this is the case, there is the chance that one is stuck in their head and out of touch with their body. Thus, through being out of touch with what is taking place within them, it is going to stop them from being able to see how their outer world often mirrors their inner world. Projection The people who they come into contact with are going to mirror back what they believe, but it will be as though they are just an observer; one is then not playing a part in how they experience life. Ultimately, one is going to be victimised by their own beliefs. If one is out of touch with their inner world and experiencing life in this way is what feels comfortable, it could mean that they have experienced trauma. Being in their body is then going to be too painful and, if this feels comfortable, being an empowered human being could be associated as something that would put their life at risk. Awareness This could be the result of what has happened in their adult life and/or it could go back to what happened when there were growing up. Perhaps this was time when they were abused and/or neglected. If one can relate to this, and they want to change their life, they might need to reach out for external support. This is something that can be provided by a therapist or a healer.
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Oliver JR Cooper http://www.oliverjrcooper.co.uk
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If someone was to walk down a dark alley way and heard people running towards them, it could be said that it would be normal for them to experience fear. For one thing, they won’t know why these people are running towards them, with this being the reason why their body is getting them ready to fight, to run away, or even to freeze.
A Big Factor But while this can be seen as a normal way to behave, what would have played a part here was the conclusion that their mind came to. They would have heard something and their mind would have done the rest. If they were to hear the same thing during the day, they might act in a completely different manner. The reason for this is that they would be able to see who was running towards them, and if they were to do this, they might see that it is just a load of school children, for instance, and realise that they have nothing to worry about. The Sensible Approach It would then be easy to say that it would be far better for someone to stay calm if they hear something like this at night, as it could just their mind playing tricks. Even so, there will be way for them to know for certain, so it will be better for them to be prepared. Not only this, but there is probably a greater chance that something bad will happen at this time of the day. Ultimately, experiencing fear during a time like this is not going to be something for them to worry about; it’s unlikely to be a sign that they have a problem with their mind. A Way of Life Now, if someone was to always be in a state of fear, it would show that something isn’t right. They are either going to be in an environment that is extremely dangerous, or they will be on edge for no apparent reason. When it relates to the former, it is going to be vital for them to do everything they can to change their environment. This could be a sign that one is in an abusive relationship or they could live in a country that is not safe. The Reality If one has an abusive partner, they might have been hit on a number of occasions. It is then going to be a challenge for them to relax and to be in their body; they will feel the need to be alert at all times. On the other hand, if one lives in a war zone, they might have seen plenty of people being killed. It could be far worse though, as they might have had friends and family who were attacked and even killed. Out of Touch When it relates to the latter, they will need to look into what is taking place within them and to find out why they are so full of fear. Once they have found out about what is going on, they will be able to look into what they can do to change their life. This is not to say that this is something that will happen overnight, though, as it could take a little while. One could find out that they are carrying trauma as well as faulty beliefs, which is why they spend so much time being in fear mode. In The Middle Yet, it is not always going to be this black and white, as someone can experience fear from time to time as a result of what they believe. What they project onto the external world will be the reason why they experience fear, as opposed to what is actually taking place externally. This is naturally going to be what happens when one is carrying trauma and faulty beliefs, but here one is not going to have a body that is full of trauma. Looking into what they believe and changing these beliefs is going to be the key. Another Experience However, although someone can become aware of what is taking place if they have the tendency to be on edge or feel this way from time to time due to having faulty beliefs, they could also continue to experience life in the same way. Therefore, if one has the tendency to be on edge, it might not matter how safe their environment is as they won’t be able to feel at peace. On the inside, they will be in a bad way, and this is going to stop them from being able to be in the present moment. One can then live in an area that is relatively peaceful, but it can be as though they live in a warzone. The Reason What this could show is that one has experienced trauma in their adult life and/or it could go back to what happened when they were younger. Perhaps they were physically abused as a child, for instance. During this time, they would have felt as though they had no control over their life, and this is going to be how they experience life as an adult. The years will have passed but what is taking place within them will be the same. Conditioning When one has faulty beliefs, and these beliefs will cause them to experience fear at certain times in their life, it could be the result of what they have been told as an adult and what happened when they were younger. Again, one won’t be able to be in the present moment; they will be caught up in what it taking place within them. If they are with a friend when this happens and their friend doesn’t have the same belief/s as they do, they will both have a very different experience. One will feel uncomfortable, yet their friend will feel at ease. Awareness This shows how much of an effect one’s inner world has on how they experience the outer world. External support may be needed when it comes to dealing with trauma and/or faulty beliefs, and this support can be provided by a therapist or a healer.
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Oliver JR Cooper http://www.oliverjrcooper.co.uk
A little while ago, I wrote about when my father worked with a healer called, Errol Campbell, and after I wrote this article, I ended up sharing it with him. Yet, before I wrote this article, I wasn’t sure if I would have enough content within me to write an article about this moment.
Just Do It! This doubt was coming from my mind, while my body was telling me to go for it. After I had written about this moment, I thought it would be a good idea to send it to Errol. I wasn’t sure if I would hear anything back from him, but to my surprise, he replied and asked me if I was free to speak over the internet sometime. I thought that this would be great, so we soon arranged a time to speak. One Area During the call, we touched upon the time when he assisted my father, as well as other things. One of the things that we spoke about is how futile it is to expect one person to fulfil all of our needs. This was something that I had been aware of for a little while, I had even written a few articles about it. But even though I was aware of this, what Errol said about this made a mark. Going Deeper He didn’t just say that it wasn’t a good idea to expect one person to fulfil all of our needs and then speak about how this isn’t possible, he went into why we usually look towards one person to fulfil our needs in the first place. His way of looking at this was that it was our ‘mother or father wound’ that causes us to behave in this way. Therefore, what we didn’t receive during our early years is what we look towards another person to give us. And the reason we would look towards one person is because we would have looked towards one parent when we were growing up. One Difference So, although we will look different, part of us will see another person in the same way as we used to see our parent/s. The part of us that is defining how we see another person is likely to be our inner child. We might no longer be aware of this part of us, but it will still be having a big effect on our life. The person we see in the mirror will look very different to the person that we are carrying within us - the child who is running our life. Another Approach An alternative to trying to get these needs met by another person is to get in touch with our inner child and to face how we feel. Through working through this pain, we will gradually begin to need less and this will make it easier for us to have relationships that are fulfilling. Additionally, Errol spoke about how we can be nurtured in other ways and that we don’t need to rely solely on others. One of the ways he said that this can take place is through being in nature and connecting to the love that nature provides. Final Thoughts This was a very interesting and powerful conversation; I had no idea that writing an article would lead to this. If you would like to find out more about Errol, and the services that he offers, please go to - http://sourceawakening.com/
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Oliver JR Cooper http://www.oliverjrcooper.co.uk
It seems as though it is not uncommon for a speaker to be interrupted when they give a talk at a university. When this happens, it might have a small effect on what they have set out to achieve, or it could be far worse.
During this time, someone like this could wonder what is going on and they might even start to think about if their life is under threat. They will have come to a university, and it might even be prestigious one, yet it could be as though they have gone to a war zone. Out of Control There can be people who are making noises while they are trying to speak, as well as those who are chucking things around. They might even lose the ability to speak to the whole audience; that’s if the equipment that they are using is destroyed. It could be said that this is the kind of behaviour that often takes place in a school playground, but that doesn’t mean that it is acceptable. These people are going to be at university; a place where people go to expand their mind. Times Have Changed Or to be more precise, there was a point in time when this was the reason why people would go somewhere like this. Nowadays, it is as though as lot of universities – or a lot of courses - serve a completely different purpose. Instead of someone being able to expand their mind and to grow and develop, they will simply have their mind filled with propaganda. Whether they learn something or not will be defined by whether to not it fits a certain ideology. Intellectual Abuse Someone like this is then going to be paying money to be told what to think and not how to think. It is not going to be dissimilar to someone who pays a religious leader to indoctrinate them. While this is less likely to happen, at least they would know what is going on; whereas the same can’t be said when someone is at university. The people are supposed to give them the tools that they need to thrive, are going to be doing everything they can to make sure that they think like they do. One Factor The fact that far more people go to university could be seen as one of the reasons why certain universities are out of control. Not only this, but people are learning things there that they wouldn’t have learnt about in the past. Said another way, it is far easier for someone to get into somewhere like this, and it is then to be expected that this will create a different environment. There is also another reason that is put forward as to why this kind of behaviour occurs. Black and White A lot of these institutions are left-leaning and this can mean that certain views will be seen as acceptable and certain views wont. And, as certain views will be seen as the right views, there is going to be no reason for opposing points of view to be expressed. Therefore, if a student has been ‘educated’ to see the world through a certain lens, and they were to come into contact with someone who talks about things that go against what they now believe; it will be normal for them to see this person as the enemy. Someone like this can talk about how important it is to be tolerant, when in reality; they won’t know the meaning of the word. External Support They are then not going to have an open mind and the desire to have their views challenged; they will be more concerned with silencing people who see the world differently. It will then be as though they don’t have the ability to use their brain to prove someone is wrong, which is why they need to resort to violence. Either someone like this won’t have received the guidance they need to debate, or they are too emotionally unstable to be able to think rationally. If they are in a bad place emotionally, perhaps it would better for them to put their education to one side and to get the kind of support that they desperately need. Taking Responsibility Through taking this approach, it will stop them from having a negative effect on the people who actually want to learn. If they don’t, they will be abusing other people, and this is no different to parent who abuses their children out of their own inability to deal with their own pain. Nevertheless, if a speaker has views that are seen as controversial, and this can just mean that what they say is backed up by evidence, it can be seen as perfectly normal for someone to be negatively affected by what they hear. Someone can even feel uncomfortable as soon as they are aware of the fact that a certain speaker will be speaking at their university. One Solution So, if someone has been affected by what they have heard, regardless of if they lost control of themselves during the event, they can be offered counselling. It can then be as if a certain speaker’s views have had a negative effect on their mental and emotional health. This can go one step further though, and it can be seen as a sign that certain views, views that they don’t agree with, are bad for student’s mental and emotional health. Based on this, there will be no reason to look into why a student has responded in a certain way; no, the only thing that will need to happen is to make sure that certain views are not expressed on campus. One Big Cover Up It can then seem as though they care about a student’s mental and emotional health, yet this is not going to be the complete truth. It might be more accurate to say that they are using these students as a means to an end. Through having students that respond in this manner, they can silence people while looking virtuous in the process. This is then similar to how a government will suddenly become cornered with how people are being treated in another country, as it gives them a reason to go in there and drop a load of bombs, thereby allowing them to asset strip the country. Conclusion If a lecturer, for instance, truly cared about a student’s mental and emotional health, they wouldn’t support the view that these speakers are having a negative effect on their wellbeing. What they would do is suggest that someone like this gets the right support, the support that will allow them to handle different viewpoints. As if someone ends up in a bad way after hearing a different point of view, they are going to need a lot more than counselling. Due to how mentally and emotionally unstable they are, they are likely to be carrying trauma, and this going to mean that they will require the assistance of therapist or a healer. Ultimately, a university is somewhere where different views are shared and questioned; so if someone can’t handle different points of view and having their views questioned, should they really be there to begin with? What is clear is that these kinds of people are not pawns to be used in a political game; they are people who need the right mental and emotional assistance.
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Oliver JR Cooper http://www.oliverjrcooper.co.uk
In recent years, a lot has been said about how important it is for men to open up about how they feel and to embrace their inherent vulnerability. It could be said that it is a good thing that this has been taking place.
However, although a lot of men have been exposed to this message, it doesn’t mean that all of these men now feel comfortable enough to express how they feel. For some, this is likely to have been something that has changed their life, and they might no longer have the need to hold back anymore. A New Beginning Still, this is not to say that a man like this will express how he feels in each moment of their life. What it can mean is that he will take the time to talk about what is going on for him with close friends and family, for instance. When he first started to behave in this manner, he may have found that not everyone in his life was willing to accept this side of him. This would then have meant that certain friendships came to an end and new ones were formed. The Mask Came Off Their need to reveal their true-self would then have been far stronger than their need to receive approval. This would have allowed them to keep going during the moments when they felt unconformable. If they were in a relationship at this time, it may have had a positive effect, or it might have brought it to an end. Either way, it would have had a positive effect on their life and stopped them from having to play a role. A Whole Human Being A man like this will then be in touch with his harder side, his masculine nature, and he will be in touch with his softer side, his feminine nature. And through being comfortable with both sides, he will realise that it takes strength to be vulnerable. Before this, he wouldn’t have felt strong enough to open up; this would have been too much for him to handle. Coming across as strong and invulnerable would then have been a way for him to compensate for how weak he felt on the inside. The Perfect Man It would be easy to believe that this is the type of man that most women want to share their life with. After all, it is not uncommon for a woman to say that she wants a man who is ‘in touch with his emotions’. There are going to be women out there who are with men who are like this, as well as those who want to be with a man who is like this. Nevertheless, just because a woman says that she wants to be with a man who is like this; it doesn’t mean that this is the complete truth. Two Parts Women, as well as men, can say one thing and then do another, and it can be hard to understand what is going on when this takes place. What a woman can mean when says that she wants man who is ‘in touch with his emotions’, is that she wants a man who is in touch with her emotions. This could mean that she will be happy to find a guy who is also in touch with his own, but then again, it might not be this black and white. If a woman like this was to actually end up with a guy who expresses how he feels, she might end up feeling uncomfortable. The Beginning of the End This might be a time when she will show how she feels, or she might cover it up, but it could still have a big effect on their relationship. It is then going to be similar to what can happen to someone after their partner cheats on them; there will be no way back. The women might lose all respect for the man and this can cause her to emotionally detach from him. Either consciously or unconsciously, the man will realise what has taken place. Back To Reality It is as though the woman needed the man to play a certain role and now that he is no longing willing to play this role; her view of him will have changed. Therefore, it wasn’t that she was actually interested in who he was, she was only interested in the idea of him that she had formed in her mind. What this is likely to show is that she doesn’t feel strong within herself; so when he expressed his vulnerable side, it triggered her own fears. She will need to be with a man who is more like a father figure than her equal. Avoidance Being with a man who doesn’t show how he feels and acts as though nothing ever bothers him will make it easier for her to handle her own emotions, meaning that she is not going to be interested in truly connecting to a man and experiencing intimacy. Ultimately, she wants a man to provide her with the stability that she lacks within herself. The trouble with this is that being with man who is like this is going to stop her from developing into a while human being. A man who goes along with this is also going to inhibit his own growth. Way Back Perhaps this women didn’t receive the kind of care that she needed when she was younger, thereby stopping her from being able to develop in the right way. What she didn’t receive as a child is then going to be what she looks for as an adult. Her unmet childhood needs will be defining her behaviour, but that doesn’t mean that she is aware of this. This could have been a time in her life when she was neglected, and her father may have been emotionally or physically absent. Awareness If a woman can relate to this, and she wants to change her life, it might be a good idea for her to reach out for external support. This is something that can be provided by a therapist or a healer.
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Oliver JR Cooper http://www.oliverjrcooper.co.uk
The other night I was at a friend’s house and, while we were looking for something to watch, the film ‘Due Date’ caught my eye. I thought that it looked similar to the ‘Hangover’ films, so I thought that it would be a good idea to watch it.
Over all, I would say that it was an entertaining film; there were moments when we both laughed and found it hard to believe what was going on. However, there was a part in the film that made me step back and reflect. After The Car Accident Peter (Robert Downey Jr.) and Ethan (Zach Galifianakis) are left without a car, and this was due to the fact that Ethan fell asleep at the wheel and ended up crashing the car. Soon enough, Peter’s friend, Darryl (Jamie Foxx), arrives to pick him up. At this point, Peter is more than happy to leave Ethan behind; he has had more than enough of him. Yet, Darryl says that this would lead to bad karma and says that he should go and get him. The Right Thing to Do Peter soon comes to the conclusion that Darryl is right and ends up telling Ethan that he can join them. Ultimately, Peter believes that something bad will happen to him if he turns his back on Ethan. It could be said that they both believe that it is their action that have the biggest effect on their life. Therefore, if they do ‘good’ things, it will stop them from having to experience ‘bad’ things’. A Common Outlook This way of looking at karma can sound fairly accurate, with our actions being the only thing that have an effect on our reality. The key is then going to be for someone to make sure they do ‘good’ things and to make sure they don’t do anything ‘bad’. What this doesn’t take into consideration, though, is that it is not just what we do that influences our life; there is also the effect that our thoughts, feelings and beliefs have. Additionally, if Pieter is only doing something to avoid bad karma, he is clearly coming from a place of fear. What You Resist Persists Another way of looking at this would be to say that it is what is taking place in our body, as opposed our mind that defines our life. Someone can then do something and say to themselves that this will be bring them good karma, but at a deeper level, they can be sending out another message – a message that is fear-based. And what will have the strongest affect on what actually happens won’t be what they do; it will be what is taking place in their body. It is then as though one is trying to deceive themselves and the universe, but while they will be able to deceive themselves, they won’t be able to deceive the universe. It’s Always On Ultimately, it is their feelings that have the biggest effect on their reality and not their thoughts. So, if one is only doing something to avoid something else, it would be for better for them to stop what they are doing and to take a different approach. What this comes down to is that one’s being is constantly communicating with the universe; this is not something that can be stopped. When someone doesn’t understand this and they do ‘good’ things, it can be hard for them to understand why ‘bad’ things would happen to them. A Closer Look Going over this reminds of the conversations I have had over the years with a friend of mine called, Wain Gordon. This is someone who is curious about his own motives and the motives of others. He has spoken at length about how important it is to look into the reason/s why we want to do something. The reason for this is that if we don’t do this, it can cause us to not only attract what which we are trying to avoid, it can send us down the wrong path and to expect things that can’t be provided. Final Thoughts This is just a film and, if these actors were asked to share their thoughts on karma, they might have something completely different to say. Even so, it can be easy to accept something just because it was in a film. So, regardless of whether we watch a film or read a book, for instance, it is vital to question what we are told. And if you would like to find out more about Wain, and the serves that he offers, please to go - https://www.timetorelax.space/.
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Oliver JR Cooper http://www.oliverjrcooper.co.uk
While some people take the time to be there for themselves and to be there for others, there are others who don’t. If someone can relate to the former, they are not going to have the tendency to neglect themselves; whereas if they can relate to the latter, this will be the norm.
Two Options The trouble is that when someone is focused on other people’s needs, they can believe that there are only have two options. Either they focus on themselves or they focus on others, and focusing on themselves is going to be seen as being selfish. Focusing on others, on the other hand, is likely to be seen as being selfless. So, as they believe that they only have two choices, it is not surprising that they behave in this manner. An Unconscious Choice At the same time, this doesn’t mean that this is something that they will think about all the time. In fact, one might not even reflect on how they are behaving; this will then be something that just happens. Being there for others is going to be who they are and there is a strong chance that this kind of behaviour will allow them to receive a lot of positive feedback. Through receiving this feedback, it can make it easier for them to keep their true feelings at bay. Now and Then At the end of the day, no matter how much positive feedback they receive, it is not going to change the fact that they are ignore themselves. Due to this, there can be moments when one will feel frustrated and angry, and they might even feel depressed from time to time. The ‘negative’ emotions that they experience through not fulfilling their own needs will have been internalised, with this being the reason why they will feel down or flat, for instance. But, unless they take a deeper look and change their behaviour, they are not going to be able to do anything about this. Business as Usual But while this would be the ideal, they are more like to carry on as normal. There will soon find someone else who needs to be saved or rescued, thereby allowing them to run away from how they feel. What is also going to make it harder for them to change is that this kind of behaviour is so common in today’s world. A lot of relationships, for instance, are made up of someone who needs to be saved and someone who is there to save them. Part of Life It can then seem as though some people on this planet are empowered, while others are not. This would be an accurate assessment, yet the people who are truly empowered are not going to be rescuing others. What this comes down is that people are empowered through being given the guidance that they need to stand on their own two feet, not through having someone else do everything for them. The only thing that this will do is stop them from being able to go from a dependent to an interdependent human being. A Dysfunctional Dynamic Therefore, whether one is in a relationship with someone who needs to be rescued and/or they are trying to rescue other people, they are likely to be doing more harm than good. Taking this into account, it can be hard to understand why they would continue to behave in this way if they are stopping these people from being able to take control of their own life. If one was to take step back and to look into why they behave in this manner, they may find that this is a way for them to indirectly fulfil their own needs. One is then going to feel ashamed of their own needs, with this being the reason why they can’t fulfil them directly. The Defining Moment Having needs is just part of being human; it is not something that anyone on this planet should be ashamed of. Ergo, if someone does feel uncomfortable with their own needs, it is likely to show that there was a time in their life when they were not allowed to have needs. Perhaps they were brought up by a caregiver who used them to fulfil their own needs, instead of giving them what they needed in order to grow and develop. One would then have had to take on the role of the parent and to give up their role as the child. Out of Balance Through taking on this role, it would have meant that their purpose was to give and not to receive. Having this role may also have caused them to believe that they need to look strong, to be in control and to believe that their value is based on what they do. The role that they had to play during this time in their life to survive will be the role that they now play in their adult life. Their true-self will have been covered up and in its place will be a false-self. Letting Go If their mask was to drop, one might end up getting in touch with a lot of pain, and this pain can come from the wounded child that is within them. This part of them will tell them everything they need to know about what happened to them as a child. Even though the years will have passed since that time in their life, it can be as if it only happened yesterday. This is because this pain won’t have disappeared; it will be waiting to be acknowledged. Awareness If one can relate to this, and they want to change their life, it might be a good idea for them to reach out for external support. This is something that can be provided by a therapist or a healer.
If you feel this has been of value, please leave a comment, like or get in touch. And feel free to share this article, as many others have.
Oliver JR Cooper http://www.oliverjrcooper.co.uk
If someone stays up to date with the news, they may have heard about the kinds of things that have been taking place at universities around the world. One could read news papers, watch TV, and use social media to stay up to date with what goes on at these institutions.
A Closer Look For one thing, one may have heard about how students are now being given ‘safe spaces’, with this being a way to protect them from ‘offensive’ words or ‘hate speech’, for instance. Additionally, they may have read about certain speakers who have been banned from speaking there. Also, perhaps one has heard about the instance where a student completely lost all self-control because she was wasn’t protected from Halloween costumes. While something like this can sound a bit extreme, it is far from the exception. The Purpose Hearing about these kinds of things can make one wonder what the purpose of a university is, as it can seem as though some of these institutions serve a different purpose. Regardless of what someone studies there, it could be said that they should be open to being challenged, be curious, and want to learn about different things. Ultimately, this is not somewhere where someone should be if they don’t want to have their views and beliefs challenged. If they only want to spend time with people who agree with them, they shouldn’t have gone there in the first place. A Big Difference It is then going to be vital for one to be able to handle different views and opinions, without feeling as though their life is under threat. This will allow them to question the validity of their own beliefs and to find to out why another person would believe what they believe. Yet, even though they will be challenging the other person’s views, they can still treat them with respect. Each person will be challenging what the other believes, as opposed to trying to end their life. Impersonal There can be times when this will be challenging, and it can even feel threatening, but one can focus on the fact that they are more than what they believe. What is going on it their mind will change over time; this is just part of life. The challenge is when one ends up getting too attached to what they believe, and finds it hard to let go and to embrace another way of seeing something. When this happens, their minds need to be right can be more important than anything else. The Only Thing That Matters So, unless one is able to step back and to observe their minds need to be right, they are going to be nothing more than a slave. One is then not using their mind, their mind is using them. Now, if one is at university and they are completely attached to what their mind believes, they are going to stop themselves from being able to truly embrace this experience. They will have gone in with a closed mind and they will leave with a closed mind. A Waste of Time A few years of their life will end up being wasted, and they might even be in a lot of debt afterwards. One will have been given a great opportunity to expand their mind and to grow, but they won’t have taken it with both hands. And if someone like this sees themselves as oppressed and not as ‘privileged’ as others, they are not going to realise how ‘privileged’ they are to be able to go to university. In addition to the negative effect this will have on their own life, they can make it a lot harder for the people who do want to learn. The Cause However, while it would be easy to focus on how certain students behave; this is only going to be part of the problem. What needs to be looked into is why these universities put up with this kind of behaviour. But, if students are seen as ‘consumers’ as Joanna Williams has pointed out, there is going to be no reason for them challenge students in any way. The priority for the people who run these institutions will be to do whatever they can to please the people who are paying them money. A Different Purpose Thus, instead of providing somewhere where people will be able to grow and develop, they will be providing a completely different environment; an environment that is more like a day care centre than a place of learning. Making students feel comfortable is going to be the priority, meaning that anything that might challenge them will be off limits. One way of looking at this would be to say that a university like this is more feminine than masculine. The masculine energy is made up of many traits, and the need to challenge ideas and others is one of them; whereas a big part of the feminine energy is about affirmation, and this is a very different approach. A Deeper Look It would be easy to focus purely on what that certain universities are doing, but this wouldn’t take into account why someone would be in a position where they desperately need to be affirmed and are unable to handle anything that challenges them. Physically, someone like this can look like an adult, but emotionally, they can feel like a needy child. Maybe, someone like this didn’t receive the kind of care that they needed during the beginning of their life, with this being the reason why they expect a university to give them special treatment. The special treatment that they needed as a child wouldn’t have been provided. Unmet Childhood Needs There would have been the needs that were not met during this time in their life and they probably would have experienced trauma in the process. This would have stopped them from being able to develop the ability to regulate their own emotions. The trauma within them can be triggered whenever they hear something that they don’t agree with, thereby causing them to feel as though their life is under threat. Their need to control and silence others is then a way for them to try to stop themselves from being overwhelmed by their own emotions. Conclusion One way to find out what someone’s early years were like is to pay attention to how they behave as an adult. There is a lot more to it than this and this time in someone’s life can be irrelevant, but it is a starting point. If someone finds it hard to experience self-control, and they want to settle themselves down, they might need to reach out for external support. This can be provided by a therapist or a healer.
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Oliver JR Cooper http://www.oliverjrcooper.co.uk
It can be easy for someone to believe that they wouldn’t know anything if it wasn’t for their time in the education system. The information that they were fed during this time in their life would then have played a big part in who they are today.
Taking this into account, it would have been as though one was a blank slate and the information that was poured into them was part of what enabled them to function. This is likely to have been a time when one wasn’t encouraged to bring forth what was within them. A Waste of Time Nevertheless, if one was just a blank slate, then there would have been no reason for this to take place. These authority figures around them at the time would have known what was right for them. Additionally, their caregivers may have acted as though they knew what was best for them when they were not at school. Therefore, after they had received guidance from these people, they would have been able to live their own live. No Different This is then going to be a very similar approach to what would happen if one wanted to drive a car or to use a piece of machinery, for instance. They won’t know anything, so they will need someone else to show them what to do. It could then be said that their mind is the only part of them that will know anything, and this part of them will have been programmed by what has taken place externally. One is then nothing more than a machine. The Wisdom Body This can sound accurate, but what it would overlook is that one’s mind is not the only part of them that knows anything. In addition to their mind, there is what is taking place in their body. The information that is found here also relates to who they really are, as opposed to who they have been conditioned to be. Here, one can feel connected to all that is, and being in touch with their body can allow them to just know things. The First Step When someone has a strong connection to their body, they will be aware of what their true needs and feelings are. From here, they will be able to reach out for the information that they need to move forward. For example, one could have a strong need to assist others and this could mean that they will want to become a nurse. What is within them will have caused then to take this step and this is why they will want to go to university, for instance. Backwards On the other hand, if one isn’t in touch with their body and their mind is where their attention resides, they can end up wanting to do something for the wrong reason. Through being in their mind, they can be more cornered with pleasing others. One can then end up doing something for the wrong reason, and this can cause them to engage in the wrong type of training. Pleasing others might make them feel good in the short-term, but it won’t do a lot for them in the long-term. A Time and A Place Information from the outside world is going to play a part, yet this information is not supposed to replace the information that is within them. In the same way as a supplement is not supposed to replace a real meal. However, if someone has been brought up in a culture that is all about adding information and not bringing information out of people, it is going to be normal for this to take place. In many ways, this is like stopping a plant from being able to produce its own flowers and adding false ones instead. Completely Misguided One’s time in the education system would have primarily been about getting them to think like everyone else. Thus, not only would they have the same uniform as everyone else; they would also have developed the same views. This kind of education is about control, meaning that it is fear-based, and it gets people ready to join a rotten system. Still, although the kind of conditioning that someone receives is going to play a big part in whether or not they are in touch with their body’s wisdom, there is something else that can play a part. A Big Impact If someone has experienced trauma, it can cause them to disconnect from their body and to lose touch with their inner guidance in the process. So, if one was brought up in an environment that was abusive, it could have caused them to leave their body. Living it their mind will be what feels safe, and this would have taken place without them needing to think about it. The downside to this is that while this will be what feels safe, it will stop them from being able to tune into their inner guidance. Out of Balance Consequently, one can live a life that is not very fulfilling; they might even believe that their life has no meaning. Being this way will make them look outside for guidance – it could seem as though the answers they need are ‘out there’. One could then look towards some kind of guru or someone with a well-developed intellect to give them the answers that they desperately need. If they were to ask someone who has their feet firmly on the ground, they might be encouraged to look within themselves. Awareness If one can relate to this, and they want to develop a strong connection with their body, it might be a good idea for them to reach out for external support. This is something that can be provided by a therapist or a healer.
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Oliver JR Cooper http://www.oliverjrcooper.co.uk Critical Thinking: Does Identity Politics Stop People From Having To Think For Themselves?22/2/2018
For a little while now, there has been something called ‘identity politics,’ and one way of looking at this would be to say that this is a way of viewing the world. Everyone is seen as belonging to a particular gender, race, religion or sexual orientation.
What this means is that it is not important what would benefit people in general; what matters is looking after a particular group. Therefore, people are not seen as individuals; they are seen as being part of a group that is either oppressed or part of a group that oppresses others. Two Options Once someone believes that they belong to a certain group, it can cause them to go one of two ways. Either they will believe that they are being held back, or they will believe that they are holding other people back. The former can then feel angry and full of rage, and the latter can end up feeling guilty and ashamed. One person will see themselves as a victim and the other will see themselves as a perpetrator. Divide and Conquer Instead of bringing people together, so that they can make the world a better place; this is something that just divides people. The energy that could be used to transform the planet is being wasted. As a result of this, identity politics can be seen as a great way to distract people and to make them believe that they have very little in common. Yet, if someone is told to focus on what they don’t have in common with people who belong to another group, this is to be expected. An Ulterior Motive It could be said that there are certain people in this planet who want people to fight amongst themselves. What this does is allow these people to maintain control and to stop their fellow humans being from experiencing heaven on earth. However, while it would be easy to believe that these kinds of people have all the power that would overlook the part that people play in keeping their power structure alive. With that said, why would someone buy into identity politics? One Thing It has been said that human beings have an in-group preference, and this causes people to identify with people who look like them or who have a similar approach to life. This can be seen as something that relates to a human beings primal nature - something that happens without the need for someone to use their brain. There are likely to be plenty of people who gravitate towards a group because of this, and this could show that they have an aversion to thinking. What is going on for someone at an emotional level is also going to play a part here. The Oppressed If someone was to identity with a group that is said to be ‘oppressed’ by another group, there is the chance that they are not an empowered human being. Their early years may have been a time when they were victimised by others, and this could relate to what their parent/s did. Being told that they are victims is then going to match up with how they see themselves already. And through seeing themselves in this way, they could have a sense of entitlement, which will make them believe that they deserve to be given special treatment and resources. The Oppressor On the other hand, if someone was to identify with a group that is said to ‘oppress’ others, they could also be a disempowered human being. The beginning of their life might have also been a time when they were treated badly. Thus, as they already feel guilty and ashamed of who they are, there will be no reason for them to push back against the people who abuse them for belonging to a particular group. This will be what feels comfortable, and the abuse that they receive from others can be no different to how they treat themselves. An Escape What someone like this can then do is end up abusing people who are said to belong to a group that oppresses others, with this being a way for then to feel better about themselves. They can believe that they are paying back the debt that they owe to the groups that they are oppressing. Someone like this is going to lack a strong sense of self and they will also be a self-hating human being. One can make out that they are virtuous for doing this, even though they are only behaving in this manner to manage their own pain. A Lack of Empathy Yet, regardless of whether one sees themselves as belonging to a group that is oppressed or oppresses others, they are going to find it hard to connect to truly others. When they see someone, they will either be put into one box or they will be out into another. This is going to stop them from being able to see that they are an individual; an individual that has their own needs and feelings. Not only this, the reality is that this person is going to have had moments in their life that were good and moments that were not – the group that they supposedly belong to is going to be irrelevant. Mental Laziness Being this way has a lot in common with someone who has disconnected from their own issues, so they end up seeing their issues in other people – they are going to be projecting their reality onto everyone else. Ultimately, identity politics stops someone from living in the present moment and causes them to be stuck in their head. After someone’s mind has been infiltrated by this way of viewing the world - and this is something that can probably happen in a few days or less - they won’t need to engage their brain. They will have a ready-made way of looking at the world and an answer as to why the world is the way it is. Conclusion This is then similar to how someone can do a weekend course in something and then see themselves as an expert. What can be different is that someone can see themselves as being morally superior when they have given their mind over to identity politics. It has been said that thinking is one of the hardest things to do, with this being the reason why it is often avoided. The trouble is that if one blindly adheres to a certain viewpoint, they can end up doing more harm than good.
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Oliver JR Cooper http://www.oliverjrcooper.co.uk |
Oliver JR CooperAuthor of 26 books, Transformational Writer, Teacher & Consultant. Introductory Consultation
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Disclaimer
That which is contained within these articles is based on my own empirical understanding and is true for me at the time they were written. However, as I continue to grow, what I perceive as the truth will inevitably change and as a result of this - parts of these articles may not reflect my current outlook.
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