Happy Wednesday to our TSJ Friends!
It is that time of the week when we seek just a little bit of wisdom, like Winne-The-Pooh 
sets out each day to find a little taste of honey. And as you know, along the way his search leads to all kinds of adventures and mishaps.
So our own team of experts have been busily discussing what to share. Those experts are familiar to most of you but I need to remind new readers that our “team of experts” are Sigmund, (named after Freud) our resident psychologist, SJ (Solomon Junior) who constantly questions things from the ridiculous to the sublime, and wizened old Solomon himself who is amused, bemused and thoughtful about nearly everything.
Now we have that out of the way let’s ponder together.
You see, the team knows me very well. They are always listening and anxious to “help Ms. Margie figure things out that she … well, that she ponders.” SJ of course starts with basic questions such as, “Solomon, what does ponder mean?”
Now, I don’t know about you. . . but I am one of those people who is always glad when someone else asks a clarifying question, because I am too self conscious to allow others to know just how lost I am at times. I need help with the basics too. So I am moved by SJ’s security. He trusts Solomon to be gentle with his ignorance because Solomon maintains there is no wrong in not knowing.
In fact, Solomon has been trying hard to teach Ms. Margie that “not knowing” is a very good space to be in. It is the gate to learning. It is the key to freedom of thought and exploring. It is like presenting an empty cup waiting to be filled. Sometimes we come to people with such strongly held fears and defenses or preconceived notions that we ask for water but present a full cup of ideas instead.
Again, Winnie-the Pooh comes to mind. For him, even the looking is an adventure. For us as peeps, the search for truth or understanding or basic factual knowledge is an adventure if we allow it to be so. It is part of our journey toward wholeness. Even holiness.
By not always knowing, we are open to learning and discovery. Our sense of well being largely rests on freedom of expression and the pursuit of happiness.
When we lose courage and curiosity and the sense of wonder SJ has shown us we imprison ourselves in a mindset of fear, like a footprint gets engrained in fresh concrete.
So SJ wants to know what it means to ponder.
Solomon explained it usually means to “think about something carefully before reaching a conclusion.” He looked it up for SJ in the dictionary which said in Latin it carries the idea of “to weigh or reflect on.”
Solomon added that he sees a lot of TSJ peeps have thoughts that weigh them down, but as they reflect on them with their life coach their spirits get lifted. This happens best when they ask questions and open their minds to new ways to reflect on old problems.
Solomon turned to Sigmund and said, “Right, Sigmund?” And Sigmund gladly shared what he knows about being stuck in beliefs from one’s past and helped Solomon understand how the brain works in ways that sometimes work against itself. Not that the brain means to. It is designed to protect us from embarrassment or rejection or anything that threatens our sense of safety.
Solomon conceded, “My point exactly. It is the weight of their thoughts that immobilizes them. And ponder is a verb, so it implies peeps are actively seeking a solution.”
Then as usual, Solomon turned to SJ and gently complimented him for his questions and thanked him for keeping us all alert to new ideas.
Finally, Solomon turned to me and asked, “So what are you pondering today, Ms. Margie?”
Well…hm…. today I have been pondering about things I seem to overreact to such as cleaning out the basement. I feel irritable when I come across another box to sort. I am excited about getting the end result, but uptight about the process. It does not feel like a Winnie-the-Pooh type of adventurous attitude. The honey jar feels out of reach.
So today’s thoughts are centering around the difference between being “obsessed and possessed” vs “focused and free.”
Sigmund reminded me that “obsessing means filling the mind continually with intrusive and troubling thoughts or constantly worrying about something.” I sure do know this happens to me (and many of you).
And he added, “When this happens – to some degree you also become possessed, meaning your fearful spirit or thoughts are dominating your mind and have an overpowering influence on you.” At such times, you are not free to listen to the music of your own soul.
Finally, it is most helpful to practice “focusing (concentrating or being interested in) whatever you are doing without worry or fear. Freedom results. And to be free is to pursue interests and activities without being possessed by old beliefs. This means you are no longer imprisoned by yourself.
Well, SJ said as he looked up to Solomon. “I do not understand all of that, but I do know what ponder looks like now. And what people mean when they see the difference between being under the influence of bad thoughts and happily pursuing interests and adventure. I think Winne-the- Pooh attitude is the one I like best.
I agree. Don’t you? Let’s move from fear to freedom one small step at a time.
Margie and Solomon
