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Is Your Sense of Self Constricted or Expanded?

posted by Deepak Chopra Jan 15, 2009 5:16 am
Is Your Sense of Self Constricted or Expanded?
14 comments

Your inner and outer worlds are both part of a continuum, a single, unified field of activity. The outer world is a mirror of who you are at any particular point in space-time. Many have expressed this idea in various ways. Spiritual teachers tell us if you want to know the state of your personal consciousness, just look around and see what is happening to you. If you want to know the state of the collective consciousness, just look around at what is happening in the world. At any given point in your time your personal reality is synchronistically, coincidentally orchestrated by your sense of self.

If your sense of self is constricted, then it expresses itself as a tight and constricted body, a fearful outlook, and an insecure environment. On the other hand, if your sense of self is expanded, it experiences a relaxed body and a friendly, open environment where your intentions synchronistically fulfill themselves.

Your expanded self always feels a sense of worth, feels at peace, feels free and unbounded, feels in flow, and feels a sense of awe at the mystery of existence. Sense of self also determines attitude. Greed, arrogance, aggression, and a demanding, disgruntled, and unhappy disposition all arise from a constricted sense of self.

In the broader sense of self, a critical mass of people in societies, communities, and institutions also determines the attitude of these larger bodies. If a critical mass of people were to express their expanded selves, not only would they spontaneously fulfill their personal desires, they would change the very way culture articulates itself.

In such a transformed culture the emphasis would be on service rather than on greed, cooperation instead of competition, open hearts instead of only markets. Cultural hallmarks would be non-violent conflict resolution, compassion, humility, peace, and social and economic justice.

Adapted from The Spontaneous Fulfillment of Desire, by Deepak Chopra (Three Rivers Press).

More on Deepak Chopra's Tips (519 articles available)
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14 comments

14 comments

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14 comments add your comment
Joy L.
  • Joy L. says
  • Apr 3, 2009 8:14 PM

Feel much better now. Enlightened. Yes!

Joy L.
  • Joy L. says
  • Apr 3, 2009 8:10 PM

I AM A LONELY WOMAN. WELL-ACQUAINTED WITH GRIEF. Too many sorrows do I have. I have a place to lay my head, but do not wish to do so, for fear. Fear of what may happen while I sleep. Dreams, nightmares.

When I wake up, what will be? Darkness? Bright morning light? Full of dread or hopeful promise? Equally scary. Please God, deliver me. For I am undone. Undone by myself. My own goofy self and others’ jealousies, lies and depictions of me as a crazy old fool, a stupid idiot who causes trouble. Lord, you know that I am none of those things. You alone know my heart.

You, alone know the things that I long for. You alone can give them to me. I wait and listen for thy voice. Wake up. Wake up. Stay awake. “…and see the beauty of the night.” as Rumi wrote so many hundreds of years ago.

Tears fall down my face unstopped. They fall so quickly – like quicksilver. Nothing can stop them. If I listened to the voices I’d be convinced that I’m a terrible person or worse. Like David of the Bible, I feel unloved and unappreciated. I tried to help this forsaken little town. It wants not my help, nor my talents.

I shall wait upon thee, oh Lord, my God. Please deliver me unto my salvation. Unto the land of thy choosing

Joy L.
  • Joy L. says
  • Apr 2, 2009 10:37 PM

I very much reading Karl Jung's "Aeon" and his further works in which he studied the inner workings of the subconscious. I found his writing the most elegant of many of his colleagues, especially that of Freud. He was much the better 'spiritual' psychiatrist than his great teacher.

I also enjoy Deepak Chopra. His writing inspires me to think greater thoughts as does Jesus' and Muhammed's.

Enjoy your comments, 'dancing' Augustina!

AUGUSTA  S C N.

THANK YOU FOR THIS TEXT!
CONSTRICTED NOW...TOO MUCH LIMITS AND DUTIES.THE PART OF... UNHAPPY ALL ARRISE...
AND THE WORD DESIRE PUT ALL IN A EXPANDED WAY..........LOVED!BACK THE SELF?
( C.G.JUNG?)

WELL COMPETITION I DO NOT LIKE BUT THE COOPERATION IS SO FAR....
HUGS FOR ALL

Joyanddave Lackey

Expanded, baby. Way expanded. I'm a free spirit, praise the powers that be.

Dwight B.

DEFINING THE INNATE FEARS FOUND IN OUR LACKS OF SERVITUDE
OWED TO OUR CREATOR
AND OUR OWN MORTAL DEMISE

In simplicity how does OUR GOD THE LORD JESUS CHRIST SEE MANKIND TODAY?

First: Those folks who do right things according to their good and moral conscience they have the rights to life in the world to come in lieu of being JUDGED by HIM in the future. They do not defy their mortal demise. They die as just a mortal human or soul and that is that. They do not come back again until in the mind of GOD they are recalled or resurrected from the dead.
The JEWISH RABBIS called those folks GOOD NOAHCIDES. JESUS called those folks HIS sheep that was lost and needed the real gospel of HIS BAPTIZIM TO COME TO THEM. So that they could be a part of HIM BUILDING HIS KINGDOM now and not having to die a physical death but live on with HIM.

Second: There are those that have sought out to be just one more ANTI-CHRIST to seek to accomplish the creeds to satisfy their need for greed that has no end to the lust of the flesh to commit all kinds of horrors on their fellow man. And for those you can read HIS words in Matthew Chapter 25.

Dwight B.

DEFINING THE INNATE FEARS FOUND IN OUR LACKS OF SERVITUDE OWED TO OUR CREATOR AND OUR OWN MORTAL DEMISE #2

Third: For the many that have followed HIM into becoming a SECOND ADAM after HIS likeness that HE proved in his life-seemed mortal death, burial and resurrection then for us that has forsaken all the religions created by man and the many tenets or laws required to follow that are out of bounds with our LORDS words, will and ways ----- HE has a plan for each one of us --that is needed in building HIS KINGDOM on this HIS EARTH for all of mankind HIS SHEEP. Then when it is time for our seemed mortal demise ----HE IS THERE to welcome us as we are man woman boy or girl to go with HIM and work some more in HIS GLORIOUS place I call Heaven.

So folks those are the choices we must choose from and that is just that no more. JESUS CHRIST SAID--- Choose this day who you will serve.

Now some reading might say Dwight you got weird ideas and ways ---- OK I might have to you but my words are the truth with facts galore and in this forum of thought I am led by HIM to do and obey HIS words----- IF ANY MAN DENY ME BEFORE MANKIND I WILL ALIKE DENY HIM BEFORE MY FATHER.











Helen S.

this goes along with Margaret Mead's comment about never doubing that the actions of a committed few being able to change the world. The years this country and the world have endured were brought about by a committed few. Now a new era of peace and openess can occur through the actions of a committed few, if we are willing so to act.

John Brensinger

Mirror, Mirror on the wall. who's the fairest of us all ? Bad question. It makes you think about those things that you can't accept. The mirror is a reflection of your true self. Is the mirror your friend or your enemy ? Your reality is how you accept your life and how you react to it. I like Mirror, Mirror of the wall, I can ????? ?????????

Laura Roberts

I'm not as peaceful as I once thought myself to be. I'm starting with the being in the mirror. I am the only one I can really change and I see it spreading as a result. Simple, basic, and true. What I do for me helps others. I had it backwards most of my life. We are the ones that we have been waiting for. We are the ones that will change the world. Awareness is spreading.

Namaste!
Laura

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