Wednesday, March 10, 2010

SPRING !

Spring is about to spring!

The beginning of Daylight Savings Time is this Sunday,
Mar. 14th. An extra hour of sunlight when you get home.
(Condolences to those who have to get up an hour early.)

The Equinox is Mar. 20th. After this the days start get-
ting longer than the nights.

A PHILOSOPHER

A philosopher is one who asks the questions that no one
can answer.




Saturday, March 6, 2010

The Criteria of Emotional Maturity

Please don't use this list as an occasion for self-criticism.

It's an ideal whose truths are more relative than absolute.

But if you are on the path of psychological growth, this is
a good list to think on now and again.

The word 'maturity' in this case does not relate to Crit-
ical Parent 'shoulds', but to the process of 'ripening', i.e.
becoming more of what one fundamentally is.


THE CRITERIA OF EMOTIONAL MATURITY

* The ability to deal constructively with reality

* The capacity to adapt to change

* A relative freedom from symptoms that are produced
by tensions and anxieties

* The capacity to find more satisfaction in giving than
receiving

* The capacity to relate to other people in a consistent
manner with mutual satisfaction and helpfulness

* The capacity to sublimate, to direct one's instinctive
hostile energy into creative and constructive outlets

* The capacity to love

--William C. Menninger, MD 1899-1966

William Menninger, along with his brother Karl,
founded the internationally known and respected
Menninger (psychiatric) Clinic of Topeka, Kansas.
In their time they had a great influence on psychia-
try and the treatment of mentally ill people.