Butterflies and Choice

I’ll try to speak good English, I’m from Holland, 24 years old and read your books with much joy. But this dilemma keeps me busy:

A caterpillar makes a cocoon and naturally transforms into a butterfly. If he would fight against the fact of being a caterpillar and make his own wings out of leafs or be depressed or in any other way distrust any force of nature, he wouldn’t ever make a cocoon. But on the other hand when he would deny his limitations as being a caterpillar and would pretend to be just as free as all butterflies he would never desire progression and so never make a cocoon either.

So now my question is; as being a human .. where is the border of acceptance and taking action?

Finding a Partner

I am 37 years old and is doing pretty well in life. I consider myself well rounded, kind hearted and with a great spirit. For the last 5 years I have been praying for the gift of a companion and a family. Most of my relationships have been long term but filled with fear of commitment from the other party and then I usually walk away because I feel like I am wasting my time. Of late I am filled with a feeling of sadness as I get older. How can I find peace and find a lifelong partner who is willing to commit?

Breaking the Cycle of Anxiety (Part 2)

Once you can cope with an anxiety attack, the next stage is to change the conditions that lead to the anxiety response. Anxiety is like a shortcut. When faced with uncertainty, the normal response is to stop, consider what might happen, and make a decision based on the best prediction you can make. The anxious person doesn’t go through this process but instead jumps into feeling afraid. No one enjoys uncertainty. There is always a tinge of anxiousness when you don’t know what the future holds. But jumping straight into fear is the worst way to handle the situation. Fear is almost never a good advisor. It blocks clear decision-making, and it exaggerates the risks and dangers that might lie ahead. (more…)