top of page
Search

THE TURNING POINT

Updated: Mar 17

Season One | Post 1


 

WHAT STARTED IT ALL

Over the last eight years, I have noticed my mind being pulled in many different directions which has led to an experience of dis-integration. Have you ever felt this - that who you were was slowly evaporating and a new iteration of yourself was materializing? All humans go through seasons of change and evolution. But looking back, this change felt different and ... unhelpful.  


I woke up to what was happening when my intrinsic optimism and hope were at an all time low, having taken a back seat to cynicism and disillusionment. I remember the night I was jolted into an awareness of how much I’d changed with these two (cynicism & disillusionment) in the driver’s seat. I was watching a late night comedian, whose daily dose of snarky comments had been closing down my day for some time. He was deep in his typical rant when instead of bursting into laughter, tears exploded from me.


At that moment, I asked myself “Who have I become?”


I knew my spirit had shifted. 


I remember a time when I was laser focused on good and life giving things. Where my essence felt rich and deep and strong. A time when I interacted with others from a place of genuine curiosity, empathy, and care. A time when the tuning fork within me resonated with the frequencies of wisdom, goodness, and love. But in the darkness of that moment watching late night television, I realized I had become someone who was not only willing but eager to laugh at others. I was in a season of actively avoiding interaction with people. I was fueling shallow and unhelpful ways of thinking, feeling, and behaving. 


And it needed to stop.



THE PIVOT

Ironically, I had been teaching psychology based wellbeing courses at a university and I knew that I was allowing my own neural networks to be shaped by cultural norms. (If you end up following this blog and using this site, you’ll find me referencing introductory neuroscience on occasion). 


I knew that human thoughts, feelings, and behaviors stem from ingrained patterns of neurological messaging in our brains and bodies and these messages follow pathways that develop over time, through repetitive use.  I knew that I had allowed my mind to slowly be shaped by sources that were subtly influencing me to view issues and people in certain ways. And it was unlovely. 


I knew I needed alternative sources and practices to help me modify the now habitual ways of thinking, feeling, and behaving. So I began an intentional investment in rewiring my brain and body by returning to sources of wisdom and spiritual practices I had found helpful in my past. However, in the attempt to return to what was familiar, I hit a barrier, several actually. Again, if you follow this project for a while, I’m sure I will discuss those barriers. For now, I want to focus on one:


the barrier of limited online resources that could be easily accessed, hold my attention, and usefully shape my mind and will while still being aligned with the tradition I have come from.


Deeply aware of the influence of technology on spirituality today, I knew I needed online prayers, meditations, and exercises at my finger tips to help facilitate change.


So I started creating.




AN ADDED LAYER

I knew that whatever I created needed to be housed in an online environment that could adapt and evolve easily over time. Writing books (even with the assistance of AI) is too bulky of an endeavor. The human mind has grown accustomed to interacting with things in small bites. Often beyond our awareness, these quick interactions compound and significantly shape us cognitively, emotionally, behaviorally, and spiritually.  Technology feeds us things to focus on and when we are too tired or bored or apathetic, we can easily be swayed to follow a YouTube spiral into unhelpful oblivion. And our thoughtless choice teaches our tech it can feed us this drivel again. And again. And again.


Today, a spiritual journey that does not acknowledge the influence of technology is a journey that teeters on the edge of disintegrating. Technology is both subtle and aggressive in its attempts to draw us in and influence our choices. Therefore, we need - I need - to wake up and become aware of what is happening both to me and because of me (because of how I choose to engage technology).


I want to have a useful relationship with technology. A mindful relationship. An interconnection with technology that actually fuels wisdom, goodness, and love. In order to have this happen, I recognize it would be helpful to work with technology to hone what I focus on.


Thus, this project.


I’m creating this site to help me usefully navigate the intersection of psychology, spirituality, and technology and their influence on aim in life.



I am creating:


  • Short, guided meditations or prayers that can be accessed on phone or computer. They are focused attention exercises designed to train my mind to pay attention to what is good and useful and lovely. I want to think on these things.

  • A monthly challenge of sorts called 'Influence Reality' which helps me: live out a facet of wisdom, contribute tangibly to the common good, and embody love in intentional ways that month.

  • Finally, I am in process of creating a guided experience called 40 days. This will help me (and perhaps you) intentionally spend 40 DAYS focused on embedding this TELOS into everyday life.


In all of these experiences, I leverage the technology available to me to focus my thinking, shape my neural networks, and influence my lifestyle.



WRAPPING THIS UP

For those who prioritize knowing more about a person's background and thinking before following their work online, I think you're wise.


A key thing for you to know from the start is this: The ideals that make up the TELOS on this site are rooted in the faith tradition I come from. I see these ideals as invitations from the person of Jesus and I want to help myself move toward these ideals being evident in how I live, not just what I say. And I would like to use technology in a fruitful and productive way to help make this lifestyle a reality.


In addition to the snippets of my life found on the ABOUT page, here's what you might want or need to know:


  • As someone who taught at a liberal arts university for 23 years, I sometimes get wordy. However, I will always have a point. Hang in there, I'll land the plane.

  • I constantly explore how psychology, physiology, spirituality, and technology interact with one another and influence the essence of who we are.

  • Years ago, my doctoral work focused in particular on how the human spirit is shaped and transforms over a prolonged period of time.

  • My background as a Marriage and Family Therapist helps me know when to provide a 'Before you Begin' disclaimer. If I provide something like this, please pay attention. Those disclaimers are there for your wellbeing.

  • All the exercises and experiences provided on this site may or may not help you live wisdom, contribute to the common good, and embody love. Since I don't know the finer details of you, I make no claim that your life will change by engaging these resources. Consider this site more of an interactive book that may or may not be useful for your journey in life.

  • Unlike other blogs, I have turned off the commenting feature. For my own mental health and protection of time, I won't be interacting with others using that feature. I am more motivated to invest in an intentional community (online or possibly in person) and will wait to see if there is interest down the road.


Welcome to TELOS & today. I'm curious to see where this project goes.



Until next time...









bottom of page