Journey to Wholeness Reflections for Transforming Your Life

By Jean Farish, PhD

Journey To Wholeness Reflections for Transforming Your Life is an inspirational book designed to inspire conscious living and serve as a catalyst for transformation. It reflects on the human condition and our yearning for inner harmony and fulfillment as we struggle to return to our innate state of wholeness.
Wholeness is a natural and innate state of being. It is ultimate fulfillment. It is a conscious connection to our core being. Life circumstances and experiences often fracture aspects of ourselves and shift us into a different state of reality as we struggle against who we really are. Thus, we find ourselves lost in illusions and false beliefs and must find our way back to our center of wholeness. The challenge is becoming more congruent and connected with the mental, physical, emotional, intellectual and spiritual aspect of ourselves; living well, and ultimately loving ourselves into wholeness...ultimate fulfillment.
The book offers a unique and fundamental approach for insightful introspection on topics relevant to our daily existence with reflective thoughts for us to ponder in moments of happiness and those of quiet desperation. Eastern and western principles, practices and creative inspirations from great thinkers of our time on being whole and living well provides a variety of perspectives for personal growth and self-renewal on our journey to wholeness. As we become more knowledgeable of ourselves and aware in our daily lives, and sustain a mindset of conscious living with the realization that each moment presents a fresh opportunity to begin again. The author shares personal perspectives that are meaningful and insightful in the struggle for wholeness. Our labyrinth journey of life takes us out and back home to the place of wholeness wherein lies ultimate fulfillment.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris US
• Release date: Apr 20, 2016
• ISBN: 9781514484487

Jean Farish, PhD

Jean Farish, Ph.D., is a transformational author and award winner of the global Transformational Author Writing Contest. She been featured in PUBLISHED! Magazine, BookMad Magazine, and as a “Success Story” on Christine Kloser’s Transformational Author social media network. She uses her literary gifts to inspire readers to make a difference in themselves and humanity. Dr. Farish holds a Doctor of Philosophy in Rehabilitation, Southern Illinois University at Carbondale; Master of Science in Rehabilitation Counseling, Jackson State University; and Bachelor of Arts in Psychology, Tougaloo College. She served as Honorary Consultant in the Division of Industry and Community Network at Universiti Sains Malaysia in Penang, Malaysia; and 28 years at Jackson State University as professor in rehabilitation counselor education and Department Chair in the Department of School, Community and Rehabilitation Counseling. She has conducted workshops in the United States and abroad on wellness, multiculturalism, community engagement, and volunteerism. She is involved in writing workshops and global humanitarian projects.

Book preview

CONTENTS

INTRODUCTION

CHAPTER

1. WHOLENESS: ULTIMATE FULFILLMENT

2. THE LABYRINTH SOUL JOURNEY OF LIFE

3. WHAT AM I DOING, AND WHERE AM I GOING?

4. WHO AM I THIS MOMENT?

5. HOW CAN I BECOME MORE SELF-AWARE?

6. WHAT IS LIFE TEACHING ME?

7. NATURE SPEAKS

8. HOW CAN I LIVE A MEANINGFUL LIFE?

9. TRUSTING MY INNER VOICE

10. THE ART OF ACCEPTANCE

11. OVERCOMING FEAR: THE GREAT WALL WITHIN

12. WHAT IS LOVE—REALLY?

13. HOW CAN I EMBODY LOVE?

14. HOW CAN I LIVE WELL?

15. THE INCESSANT SPIRIT OF GRATITUDE

16. THE SIMPLICITY OF LIFE

17. WHAT IS SUCCESS—REALLY?

18. REAL HAPPINESS: WHERE CAN I FIND IT?

THE WAY FORWARD: NOTE TO THE READER

REFLECTIONS FOR TRANSFORMING YOUR LIFE

REFERENCES

ABOUT THE COVER

The Flower of Life is a magnificent and radiant sacred symbol. According to Ancient Symbols and World Mysteries, it is a mystical symbol and can be found in almost all major religions in the entire world. The Flower of Life is said to be over six thousand years old and is composed of several concentric, equal, overlapping circles. It is said to contain vital information on the secrets of the universe and all living things. It contains the patterns of creation as they emerged from the Great Void. Everything is made from the Creator’s thought. The Temple of Osiris at Abydos, Egypt, contains the oldest example to date. It is carved in granite and may possibly represent the Eye of Ra, a symbol of the authority of the pharaoh. Other examples can be found in Phoenician, Assyrian, Indian, Asian, Middle Eastern, and medieval art. It is one of the strongest sacred geometric shapes. It is said to have healing qualities and helps in connecting to the higher self.

world-mysteries.com

This book is

dedicated to all the great thinkers and wayshowers who are beacons of light to guide us on our journey to wholeness and those who seek transformation.

I am the abandoned child who screams for attention. I am the adolescent struggling to fit in. I am the people pleaser who yearns to be accepted. I am the rejected partner who sacrifices everything for the sake of the relationship. I am the boss who manipulates employees to meet my own egotistical needs. I am the bully who uses threat tactics to feel important. I am the employee who lost my passion and now in search of a higher purpose. I am the aging adult who no longer feels useful. You are the fragmented pieces of me that call out in the dark of the night or during moments of celebration to remind me that I am not good enough or worthy. When I feel down in my spirit, I know you are present. I must search for the part of myself that yearns for attention. I will no longer soothe you and anesthetize you with distractions and addictions. I will no longer entertain you but listen to your voice of quiet desperation and lovingly reaffirm your presence within me. I am grateful that you have all brought me to the place where I am now on my own transformational soul journey.

Here you may find fragmented pieces of yourself yearning for healing and integration into a new self—one that is healed, whole, and a true reflection of who you really are as a divine being. So gently and courageously collect the fragmented pieces of yourself to nurture and love each aspect into wholeness.

INTRODUCTION

We are standing on the shoulders of giants, the great thinkers and wayshowers who spent the whole of their lives searching for truth. Their teachings are portals for the creation of new beginnings. This book includes an index of inquiries and reflective thoughts for conscious introspection in our search for fulfillment in our daily lives. It offers a blend of timeless Eastern and Western philosophical principles, creative inspirations, and practices to create a lifestyle of harmony that will empower us on our journey to wholeness. We experience peak moments of happiness as well as those moments of quiet desperation as we struggle in human form to fulfill our dreams and ultimately become better human beings. What we are really seeking for is wholeness, the ultimate state of fulfillment. After emerging from this state of being, we will become the best versions of ourselves, thus contributing to the betterment of humanity. We will love better and use our creative talents to make a difference in the world.

CHAPTER 1

WHOLENESS: ULTIMATE FULFILLMENT

Just as light brightens darkness, discovering inner fulfillment can eliminate any disorder or discomfort. This is truly the key to creating balance and harmony in everything you do.

—Deepak Chopra

If you were given one week, six months, or a year to live, what would you do? What would you like your epitaph to be on your tombstone? How would you like to be remembered? Throughout my years in higher education as a counselor educator, in my psychosocial class, I would pose questions of this nature to the graduate students to stimulate their thinking on a deeper level. It was a predictable response for many, who initially would be stunned and quite reluctant to answer these questions. Death seemed to be such an unspeakable, finite concept, particularly during the phase of their lives where they were embarking on future career aspirations. I could hear them whisper to themselves, Perhaps this discussion would be more appropriate twenty or thirty years later. I was relentless in my desire to stimulate meaningful dialogue. After thoughtful deliberation, they would eventually open up for profound discussions. Some took the hedonistic route when asked what they would do if they had a limited time to live. Others chose to be more introspective and make amends to achieve a more quality life during the time remaining. They all had a desire to leave a memorable legacy. These questions were asked to stimulate their thinking on a more conscious level with the reality that our time spent in this lifetime is limited. In my alcohol and substance-abuse class, I required students to complete an assignment where they had to give up a habit or addiction to something they felt was needed and had to keep a daily log of their thoughts, feelings, and behaviors to share in class. Again they complained with great fervor yet with a bit a humor, anticipating how this simple assignment would impact their lives. They chose to give up coffee, comfort foods, and various forms of entertainment. Some of them came to class looking like they had just awakened from a nightmare. Many years later, one of the students, who became a professor, acknowledged how meaningful the assignment was and how it impacted his life. The academic purpose of the assignment was meant for them to become more empathic so they could work with persons who were alcohol or substance abusers. However, the ultimate purpose was to awaken them to the