{"id":8438,"date":"2020-10-13T19:02:42","date_gmt":"2020-10-13T19:02:42","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.donnaionadrozda.com\/lifecycle\/?p=8438"},"modified":"2020-10-13T19:02:42","modified_gmt":"2020-10-13T19:02:42","slug":"the-criteria-of-emotional-maturity","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.donnaionadrozda.com\/lifecycle\/the-criteria-of-emotional-maturity\/","title":{"rendered":"The Criteria of Emotional Maturity"},"content":{"rendered":"

Every act rewards itself, or in other words, integrates itself,<\/span><\/em>
\nin a twofold manner; first in the thing, or in real nature;<\/span><\/em>
\nand secondly in the circumstance, or in apparent nature.<\/span><\/em><\/h4>\n

\u00a0Ralph Waldo Emerson<\/span><\/em><\/h4>\n

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October is my favorite month year after year. Being here at our 50-acre retreat tree farm in central Virginia, we sip wine beside campfires at night while during the day we work at clearing a meadow space to expand our pollinator’s garden. This remains a damaged landscape that is reclaiming itself after being clear cut ten years ago. The young forest that now surrounds us must have the stamina to grow despite the invasive species that constantly encroach. Today I may invest an hour removing honeysuckle vines that have a vise grip stranglehold around the trunks of young dogwood trees. Tomorrow I may use a machete to carve out another section of the hiking trail.<\/span><\/h4>\n

During these fall afternoons, I walk the already established paths gently removing the years’ growth of young sapling trees that continuously regrow along the path edges. This quiet solitary work, alone in the woods, is when the most creative inspirations in my day occur.<\/span><\/h4>\n

While walking in my young forest the idea occurred to share my deep love for intuitive guidance and how that comes to meet us when we put hand to page in a specific journal style. <\/span><\/h4>\n

I have been guided to a new 8-day challenge and I invite you to join me in this exciting creative exploration.<\/span><\/h4>\n

I have had an on-going journal habit since 1969. It began slowly and with much hesitation. I recall how frightened and exposed I felt in beginning to talk to myself on the page. There was trauma embedded in my cells. I had an understandable yet confounding fear of being seen. If someone could see me they could hurt me. The fear pattern was tremendous even though I faced it day after day. <\/span><\/h4>\n

In 1969 there was no term for post-traumatic stress. There was no available guidance to support my healing. <\/span><\/h4>\n

I was confused and attempting to find my way even before I found myself pregnant, even before I was hidden and shunned by my mother. I was struggling to be the young adult I yearned to be even before I was put into a position where my only option was to relinquish my newborn to the adoption system. I was in need of support and tender loving care even before I was set-up, entrapped, and violently attacked by three hulking miscreants.<\/span><\/h4>\n

It is profound that what brought a shift from all of the elements of a downward spiral was the hallucinogen which miraculously brought me to a new worldview. My consciousness was rearranged. I saw and I was an integral part of the depth of nature’s beauty. <\/span><\/h4>\n

This Navajo Blessing Prayer comes to mind … <\/span><\/h4>\n

In beauty, I walk
\nWith beauty before me, I walk
\nWith beauty behind me, I walk
\nWith beauty above me, I walk
\nWith beauty around me, I walk
\nIt has become beauty again
\nIt has become beauty again
\nIt has become beauty again
\nIt has become beauty again<\/span><\/em><\/h4>\n

Life and that LSD trip led me to The Farm and there I had the meeting that would change me forever … Alice. <\/span><\/h4>\n

In 1969 I was intuitively guided to open a blank notebook. I needed to begin to have a conversation with myself. The most important conversation of my life. The first words that I wrote into that notebook show the track of my tight and traumatized hand. The first message that I sent to me:<\/span><\/h4>\n

\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u201ccommunication is the most important thing.\u201d<\/span><\/h4>\n

Since that time, I have done what I can to grow up and learn to be emotionally stable. I have developed many tools and shared in countless ways in my community through my art, speaking engagements, workshops, seminars, and art studios. Life is indeed a beautiful trail.<\/span><\/h4>\n

Over the past four years, I have recognized that my body has once again been experiencing trauma. I also feel that we are collectively traumatized. Just as our Mother Earth is exhausted and battered, we each and everyone need soothing and an opportunity to regain our balance. <\/span><\/h4>\n

For decades my go-to list of qualities for running a check n\u2019 balance on emotional health has been William C. Menninger’s <\/span><\/h4>\n

The Criteria of Emotional Maturity<\/em><\/span><\/h4>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

I have designed a short, no-cost program, a gift, for this time. I invite you to register and join the <\/span>Free 8-Day \u2018Free to BE Effective\u2019 Challenge \u2026 we begin on Monday, October 19. <\/span><\/h4>\n

When you register you become part of the challenge email list. This means that each day you will receive a short video with a creative prompt. You can open the email whenever you choose and engage the prompt as your time allows. There is nothing to attend. You don’t have to show up anywhere at any set time.\u00a0 IF you want to connect with the ‘It’s About Time’ community you can take part in our private Facebook group by responding to the invitation to join.<\/span><\/h4>\n

At this most amazing time, it can be soothing to welcome and remember the creative qualities of emotional maturity … that’s the track we will be on for the Free 8-day challenge that takes only 15-minutes a day to engage.<\/span><\/h4>\n

Register now<\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/a><\/span><\/h4>\n

This challenge is designed to orient and root your
\ncreative energy for 2021<\/span><\/strong><\/h4>\n

It’s inspiring to acknowledge a vision, a goal, a picture in your mind of the creative possibilities that self-love, and the capacity to adapt to change will provide in the months and years ahead.<\/span><\/h4>\n

We have just moved through the West Gate of the Natural Year. In this time between fall equinox and winter solstice, the circadian rhythms direct our ability to quiet down and simply BE. \u00a0Since spring we have naturally been drawn toward activity and doing. This year particularly the take-action drive has been exhausting, especially when many of us have been held in check in the many ways that 2020 has required.<\/span><\/h4>\n

Coming through the West Gate on September 21, we are now in the Being or Yin half of the Natural Circadian Year. During these six months of the Natural Year the focus is upon:<\/span><\/h4>\n

rest<\/span><\/strong><\/h4>\n

reflection\u00a0<\/span><\/strong><\/h4>\n

recuperation<\/span><\/strong><\/h4>\n

rejuvenation\u00a0<\/span><\/strong><\/h4>\n

regeneration<\/span><\/strong><\/h4>\n

2020 is winding down and you can reflect on what you have been given. You can lean into what you are currently receiving. Together we can mine the gold of emotional maturity, being grown-up, accruing the wisdom that the journey, thus far, has brought, seeing what it is that we would most like to share moving forward.<\/span><\/h4>\n

I am excited to consider what is up ahead as we creatively navigate the \u2018never before\u2019 of this time.<\/span><\/h4>\n

<\/h4>\n

Register now<\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/a><\/span><\/h4>\n

\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 The 8-Day Challenge begins on Monday, October 19<\/span><\/h4>\n

<\/h4>\n

In the upcoming FREE 8-Day \u2018Free to BE Effective\u2019 Challenge <\/span>we will use creative prompts to encourage The Criteria of Emotional Maturity<\/u><\/em> by William C. Menninger, M.D. sourced from the Menninger Foundation.<\/span><\/h4>\n

I have found that these seven steps provide an empowering foundation for entering into a deeper relationship with Life and the Mystery ahead.<\/span><\/h4>\n