by Ross Bishop Progressives and conservatives have been engaged in political conflict since forever, and although we have learned empirically to deal with each other, it has been only recently that we have begun to understand the origins of our respective differences. Although there are many factors that contribute to a person’s political perspective, researchers have begun to pinpoint theRead more
anxiety
Emotions
I used to have a sign pinned up on my wall that read: “Only to the extent that we expose ourselves over and over to annihilation can that which is indestructible be found in us. . . It was all about letting go of everything.” Pema Chödrön Feelings and emotions are similar, but they serve very different purposes. A feelingRead more
The Muse
For thousands of years creative people have acknowledged the inspiration and guidance of the Muse. These claims have been pooh-poohed by rationalists, yet, belief in divine influence persists. It is easy to blow off divine influence as superstition or delusion, but it is impossible to stand before the Pieta, view the Parthenon or read about David or Abraham and notRead more
Life is Unfair
It can be difficult to make sense of life. People get cancer, have accidents, and die unexpectedly. No matter what you do, just getting by is often an uphill struggle. You do the best you can and you still end up in the soup. It’s not fair, is it? Sure, you sometimes make bad decisions, and although that certainly complicatesRead more
Your Private Hell
By Ross Bishop You know the place I am talking about. It is where you keep your sins. It is where you hold the self condemnation for your failures, your mistakes, your errors of judgment. It’s where you keep the pain from the people you’ve hurt and the lies you’ve told. It’s a dark, smelly, unpleasant place. I want youRead more