Dr. Howell’s Reflections

Dr. Howell’s Reflections

Everyday, Dr. Howell writes a reflection, inquiry prompt, and a prayer.
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Jessica Arrington Jessica Arrington

The Other

February 22, 2024

Do you recall a time when you were othered? It could have been in your school years, on the job, or in your neighborhood, but you knew you were excluded, shunned, or ignored. When othered, we feel defective, different, or inferior. Many of us can recall the painful times when we were othered, and the pain comes right back as if it were happening now.

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Jessica Arrington Jessica Arrington

The Other

February 21, 2024

Most of my Christian behaviors and attitudes, such as being polite, honest, kind, and trying to love my neighbors, were accepted values of the culture into which I was born. Therefore, many of these attitudes and behaviors were not intentionally “Christlike” but were enculturated. However, I saw these attitudes differently after beginning my journey into wholeness and consciousness.

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Jessica Arrington Jessica Arrington

The Other

February 20, 2024

We tend to other people who think differently from us. For example, many persons on the Autism Spectrum report they are avoided because they are considered weird or odd.

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Scott Smith Scott Smith

The Other

February 19, 2024

When we "other" someone, we are not necessarily looking down on them. Sometimes, when we other someone, it is to set them apart and above us. There is a well-known phrase used a lot in the dating world: "They are out of my league." This phrase asserts that "the other" is better than they are and that they would never be considered their equal.

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Scott Smith Scott Smith

The Other

February 18, 2024

The earliest known use of the verb "other" is from 1810, in the writing of Samuel Taylor Coleridge, poet, critic, and philosopher. Since then, "to other" someone or a group has become a well-known expression.

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Scott Smith Scott Smith

The Other

February 17, 2024

We tend to "other" those we do not know or understand, or those who are different from us, and therefore threaten us. For example…

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Scott Smith Scott Smith

Fun

February 16, 2024

Ego Type Ones who live in their soul have fun when grounded, unrestrained, joyful, optimistic, and enthusiastic.
Ego Type Twos who live their soul experience fun by being sure of their worth, relational, aware of who and what gives them joy, and accepting the fun.

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Scott Smith Scott Smith

Fun

February 15, 2024

Fun gives excitement, pleasure, gratification, thrills, happiness, and more. Just as we experience ego grief and soul grief, we also have ego fun and soul fun. Ego fun differs from soul fun, but they can overlap.

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Scott Smith Scott Smith

Fun

February 14, 2024

One of the opposites of fun is grief. In soul work, there are two major categories of grieving. One is ego grieving, and the other is soul grieving. The unconscious ego grieves over our losses from an egocentric stance. The soul, however, grieves losses under the umbrella of spiritual surrender, a function of soul-centricity. The core qualities of these two griefs are very different.

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Scott Smith Scott Smith

Fun

February 13, 2024

My father was an outstanding provider for our family and was a perfect embodiment of the Protestant Ethic. He worked hard all day and didn't tolerate me and my brother sitting idly watching television. He always said to us, "Television is the greatest vice perpetrated on the American public!" He finally gave up his struggle to keep the TV off. For Dad, having fun was a waste of time, and he thought it replaced work all too often.

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Scott Smith Scott Smith

Fun

February 12, 2024

Much of our soul child's fun was our pretending to be someone or pretending to have a role. For example, many of us dressed as cowboys, princesses, or Star Wars characters, and the list is endless.

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Scott Smith Scott Smith

Fun

February 11, 2024

Many of us try to imitate the bliss of our soul child by detaching from reality altogether. Preoccupations with food, substance use, sexual gratification, financial security, power, and being at the top of the social hierarchy are a few adult attempts to reconstitute the soul child's bliss.

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Scott Smith Scott Smith

Fun

February 10, 2024

What is your favorite kind of fun? If you are unsure, just drop it into your heart and recall what your favorite fun feels like. Now, let those sensations fill your being. What auditory, physical, or visual memories are flooding into your heart now? Why do you suppose it's fun to re-experience fun right this minute?

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Scott Smith Scott Smith

Fun

February 9, 2024

When was the last time you had fun? Where were you, who were you with, and what were you doing? Do you have as much fun as you used to have? Do you desire more fun?

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Scott Smith Scott Smith

Judging Books by Their Covers

February 8, 2024

People talk a good game and make all kinds of promises. Also, we see many photos that portray things in a particular manner. However, we can be disappointed and hurt if the reality is not as pictured or described.

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Scott Smith Scott Smith

Judging Books by Their Covers

February 7, 2024

If we do not want to live as only the cover of the book about us, we must discover the soul who lives in our depths. Then we re-embody this soul and all its divine qualities.

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Scott Smith Scott Smith

Judging Books by Their Covers

February 6, 2024

Just as we may judge a book by its cover, we can do the same to ourselves. We can use only our surface characteristics to evaluate ourselves.

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Scott Smith Scott Smith

Judging Books by Their Covers

February 5, 2024

Recently, I was the target of a scam. Even though scammers are criminals who have been around for thousands of years, they continue to manipulate by using our blind spots against us.

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