by Aren Henry | March, 2021 | Clarity is . . ., Grit/Grace/Gratitude, Karen Henry, Light Life, Noetic Nomad, Uncategorized
Every morning, if we are lucky, the sun will rise. We are but one in seven and a half billion people who live that shared experience. This, and death are the only two things that we, as humans, share entirely and in certainty. For 200,000 years, humans who looked most like us have been on earth. The formal science of psychology? Approximately, 150 years. Very Well Mind stated that, “… the study of psychology has a very long past but a very short history.” One sub-field says ‘seek meaning’, while another says to find self-actualization and another still says, what are our peak experiences. There are times when these sub-fields collide. Do we study happiness or not? Why or why not? Does our belief system count? In my opinion, how can it not? Who are we to believe? We can count on the sun to rise Today, we have approximately, 4200 religions actively participating in a belief system. What we believe to be true, is true for each human being. How we go about understanding our species, that is also diverse. Have you tried having a conversation with someone who doesn’t believe what you believe lately? Who is to say that one is right and the others are all wrong? We can’t. To believe in something is part of the human experience. To believe that there is nothing to believe is active believing and that is something too. The sun rises in the east, but for each of us, east is somewhere else. I’m using this as a metaphor of course. One of the most liberating sun rises of...
by Aren Henry | February, 2021 | Clarity is . . ., Grit/Grace/Gratitude, Karen Henry, Light Life, Noetic Nomad, Uncategorized
‘Glow up’ is a new term to me. To Glow up is to go through a major transformation in the best possible way. Physically. Rebel Wilson, according to my Google search, has gone through a major Glow up. Neville, from Harry Potter, went through one of the most famous Glow up’s. Of course, they are talking about how physically attractive one can become with a bit of effort. The physical appeal is one we can’t shake off. People judge us on our appearance, for better or worse. Glow up to Grow up This topic is complex. It’s all about perception and social acceptance. It’s also relating to a sense of mature happiness on a deeper level. A Eudomonic happiness disguised as a hedonistic glowing physical attractiveness. Those two distinct parts of ourselves are perhaps confusing for the selfie-generation. If we are physically attractive: People take us more seriously. They believe we are more successful. There is an assumption that we are more able to accomplish our goals, or obtain more connections. Look at the most successful people in the positive psychology field. They are all rather good looking. Not just because of the smiling. They are all smiling. Are they more attractive? For the most part, yes. At least, more “put together”. Others want some of that glow, so they tend to flock to the smiling happy people. It’s not always an energy as much as it is the perceived image of happiness. And yet, when at rest, many of us are absolutely happy in our contented quiet. We aren’t always smiling, but can the world see our inner joy...
by Aren Henry | February, 2021 | Clarity is . . ., Grit/Grace/Gratitude, Karen Henry, Light Life, Noetic Nomad
Sensitive humans are frequently told to ‘lighten up‘. Some experts say it’s a disorder. I say it’s a super power. It’s exhausting to feel everything in a world filled with loud crowds. It’s not easy to live a quiet life in our over-stimulated world, except maybe in the holistic healing industry, where we see gentleness as a strength. Meditation, mindfulness and meaning are popular now, but are they enough? There are people with a heightened sense of feelings, thoughts, and emotions. I interpret this as a strong ability to tune in to nuanced body language, rather than an inability to be in this loud, over-the-top world. Our sixth sense is only now being explored in academic settings, yet spiritual communities have embraced this personality trait for a millennia. Lighten up How many times have sensitive children grown up to believe that a part of their core personality is ‘bad’ or, their ability to sense the nuances in others as wrong? As children, we are told to sit down, be quiet, act our age and stop being so sensitive. We hear, “lighten up!” regularly. Yet, that is precisely the time we are offered the chance to cultivate these unique powers of observation. It’s truly hard to be a quiet kid in a loud world. We are told as young adults, to ‘lighten up’ in order to fit in with the highly competitive world of work. As we age, we begin to chip away at all the things others have told us we must become in order to be who we really are. Too often, we fall out of alignment...
by Aren Henry | January, 2021 | Clarity is . . ., Grit/Grace/Gratitude, Karen Henry, Light Life, Noetic Nomad
Our internal energy is the fuel of our light life. They say that human beings have 27 emotions, depending on genetics. The neuropsychology of sentient beings taps into how our electrical wiring connects us to all other experiences in life. We have at our disposal, an energy source at any given moment. Highly sensitive people and those who can sense emotions in others have the power to heal. We are the more subtle members of this sometimes, too loud world, but we are just as important as those living out loud. Energy healing is now in the hot-topic focal point in our field but energy work has been around for thousands of years. We often forget that psychology is a new science compared to other healing practices. In 2013, I started focusing on holistic, alternative healing as a way to heal my own trauma. That journey took me into six years of learning about the forth wall of the healing experience. Internal Energy When we have a connection to the subtle parts of ourselves, we are more fully prepared to heal. We live beyond the less complex idea of a mind-body-spirit. We are also meridians and our vagal nerve and fascial connections. We have offered meditation and introduced the mind manipulation of our emotions. Our meditation masters teach us to focus on the non-thinking in a world where overthinking has become the norm. Others call this prayer, encouraging a conversation with a Higher Power outside of ourselves. The delivery of connection to Source energy, a connectedness to a belief system and the earth itself are all part of the transcending...
by Aren Henry | January, 2021 | Clarity is . . ., Grit/Grace/Gratitude, Karen Henry, Noetic Nomad
Did you know that the state of Maine, USA has 80 lighthouses? No one is more significant than the others. Lighthouses are the perfect metaphor for how our field works. To me, the psychology industry is supposed to be a lighthouse for healing more than a stand alone monument. We diagnose people so that we can create a road map toward helping them to heal. If we are coaches, we are a guide to walk with them toward the place they already know they want to go, but can’t clearly see. Interconnectedness is paramount to well-being for all. The lighthouse is there as a way to shed light on the shores so sailors can safely find their way. It is not there to show off it’s light in all it’s tall, sturdy glory. And yet, some lighthouses have found themselves the envy of the coastal waters. They are the focal point of art, poetry, stories. They are a thing of beauty, often having fan clubs and societies of preservation who dote on their every need. The Lighthouse When the lighthouse stands long enough, it becomes a celebrity monument, reflecting its territory. Years, decades and even centuries of humans will covet the building itself as if it has some magical power. In truth, only the lighthouse keeper knows the truth of the function. The keeper of the lighthouse knows the inner workings. Not the lighthouse itself. People pay precious pennies to be able to stand near enough to the lighthouse to feel its significance. Others want more. They want to go inside the beacon, so they can say that they...
by Aren Henry | December, 2020 | Clarity is . . ., Grit/Grace/Gratitude, Karen Henry, Noetic Nomad
This last day of the calendar year 2020 offers us a reflection of all that came to pass. This year is particularly poignant. We didn’t all make it. The intensity of feelings are stronger. People have been living on the edge of their emotions while ardently holding on to a sense of self. For some, the changes have been painful. Others experienced a bringing together in an act of determined unity. The extremes seem to be the theme as we’ve cultivated a life in these extraordinary times. I’ve never seen such a time. Not in my culture and not in my time. Cultural sensitivity has been a focal point that must never be forgotten. We must remember however, that this lens of great and terrible sadness for those who are mourning a loss offers us an avenue into cultivating kindness, compassion and self love. The mirror has two faces The reflection we see in the mirror is not who we are as a whole. Then again, neither our mirror image or our internal sense of who we are reflect who we are to the outside world either. On this last day of the year we’ve all quipped about wanting change; I sit here wondering how to best align these three sides of self. The self that we see in the mirror; the self that we feel inside and the self that the outside world sees. I know that for me, I am not in full alignment. That’s my business only. And yet, others have their opinions, don’t they? It’s not personal. It’s perception. A cornerstone to, in my opinion,...
