Allan Johnson

Listening to Another’s Soul

Posted on June 16, 2022August 20, 2022 by Allan Johnson in attachment

Much of the spiritual work we do is learning to listen to and connect with our own soul. Through this connection we are able to reach a deeper place of peace, happiness, and fulfilment where we can embrace all that life has to offer. In this way we are able to connect with the truth of who we are and the deeper meaning and purpose we see, and connect with our inner wisdom, even in the midst of a busy life.

But can we also learn to listen to the souls of others? We are poor observers of our own behaviour and often even worse observers of those around us. We are also generally not very accurate at interpreting the motivations behind other people’s actions, and often mistakenly assume that we know why people do what they do. When we encounter someone doing something that makes no sense to us, our first impulse is to make a negative judgement. We may think they are selfish, lazy, or hard-hearted. Rarely does this kind of judgement lead to a positive change in the other person’s behaviour or in our own. Instead, we seem to point the finger at others and feel bad about ourselves, just as the other person feels bad.

The disconnection we feel from others is one of the most powerful features of the human experience, and the inability to ever fully know another person is one of our greatest challenges. We can make assumptions about how someone else feels, what their intentions are, or why they have acted in a certain way. But these assumptions are always based on our own experiences and our own interpretation of the situation. In our efforts to help or assist others, we often make the mistake of jumping to conclusions. Rarely do we take the time to really look at the situation and really understand what is going on. Instead, we adopt our own interpretation of what happened or, even worse, we adopt someone else’s interpretation.

No matter how well-meaning we are, the reality is that we can never fully know what is going on inside someone else. But when we assume we do not know the whole story, we are forced to look for more information and connect more with the person in front of us. We open our awareness to the whole picture and not just the picture we want to see. In this way, we can learn to listen to another person’s soul if we remain open to possibilities. We will never be able to know for sure what another person felt, what their intentions were, or why they behaved the way they did. But we can be certain of some things. We can be sure that each person has their own motivations and intentions. We can also be sure that each person has their own interpretation of what they are experiencing.

To learn how to listen to another person’s soul, we must be willing to accept the mystery of another person’s experience. The truth that lies deep within another person is often very different from the challenges we see on the surface. We have to be willing to accept the possibility that we could be completely wrong about that person, and we have to be willing to accept the possibility that there is another way of looking at that situation that we may never have considered. One of the most powerful ways to listen to another person’s soul is to listen to their hopes and fears. When we listen to another person’s hopes and fears, we are listening to the part of the person that is looking for answers. We listen to the part of the person who is trying to find meaning and purpose in their life.

The only way to understand another person’s truth is to understand their own interpretation of their reality. If we can understand what is most important to them, we can better understand the unique perspective they share with us. We can find a bridge to their soul, their inner wisdom, and their truth. In this way, we can see behind the masks of their ego and self-centred desires and find the deeper truth that lies within us all. When we are able to connect with others in this way, we have the chance to understand them in a deeper way and help them come into alignment with their inner wisdom. We have the opportunity to support them in living a more fulfilling, meaningful and purposeful life.

Download your free 21-day course in The Path of Mindfulness. In this life-changing 21-day mindfulness journey, Dr Allan Kilner-Johnson guides you through a series of self-guided mindfulness exercises and shows you how and when to bring mindfulness into your daily life.

Finding Time for Meditation: How to Meditate Amid a Busy Life

Posted on June 15, 2022August 20, 2022 by Allan Johnson in habits, intention, meditation

Sometimes it is incredibly difficult to switch off from the stressors of your life and take the time to meditate. Many people believe that they do not have the time necessary to devote to meditation. Although we always seem to be catching a bus or a train, keeping appointments, or getting things done, we can still make space and time for meditation in our busy lives. When we take the time to meditate, when we become more self-aware and learn to observe ourselves and our reactions, we will find that we often find time for the things we need to do. Even if you are a busy person with a very full life, you can find time to meditate by integrating meditation into your daily routine.

Meditation does not have to be incredibly time consuming. Morning is an excellent time to meditate because that is when your home is likely to be the quietest. Consider waking up before the rest of your household to have a few much-needed minutes to yourself to complete your meditation. This is especially useful for those with children, who may find it difficult to meditate amidst the noise and demands of family life. You may not find time to meditate in the morning, but how about taking some time to meditate during your lunch break or in the evening? Often we can find time to meditate in the evening, especially if you can do it after dinner and before turning on the TV.

Even if you are out and about during the day, you can make time for meditation. When you go for a walk, do not be in a hurry–slow down and enjoy the moment. You will find that you have time to focus on your breathing and are able to concentrate better on the things you see and feel. If you notice that you are distracted, you can use your breathing to focus on the things around you and learn how to be less distracting to those around you. When you are in a meeting or at a social event, put your phone away and allow yourself to be truly present. As you begin to notice the things around you, you will find that you are able to focus your attention better and become more aware of how your thoughts and feelings are affecting you. If you are sitting in a waiting room, use the time to meditate by focusing your attention on the sound of your breath. Pay attention to how you breathe and how the way you breathe affects your thoughts, your feelings, and your emotions.

When you use public transport, focus on the sound of your breath and the movement of air on each inhale and exhale. You will find that this gentle meditative attention to the breath enables you more time to focus on the things you are experiencing. It may be difficult to find time to meditate when you are travelling, but you can find time by adapting to your environment as best you can and learning to take more time for yourself. If you want to meditate to music, try to listen to music that is familiar to you in a noise-free environment where there are no disturbances or distractions. If you can meditate in these moments of silence, you will have time to focus on the things you are experiencing, observe yourself and learn to become more aware of your thoughts and feelings.

You might also consider joining a meditation group so that you can learn the methods of meditation effectively before trying to meditate in an unfamiliar environment. If you have been meditating for a while, you may find that you find it easier to calm down and that you feel calmer, more relaxed and at ease when you do not have to focus on your reactions and calming your thoughts. Many meditation groups have online websites where you can find out about the style and tradition they teach and sign up for classes. The techniques and methods you learn from an experienced meditation teacher will help you achieve your personal goals of meditation and inner exploration by limiting the practise to a specific time per week that you set for yourself.

Time and Attachment in Spiritual Practice

Posted on June 14, 2022August 20, 2022 by Allan Johnson in attachment, meditation

The most common concern I hear from students is usually expressed in one of two ways. The first is, “I can’t meditate. I just can’t.” The second is a variation on the first theme, which is the idea that meditation is something you have to do every day for 30 minutes in a quiet room. In the same way that hiking can be as simple as walking up a hill to appreciate the view, or as complicated as a multi-day expedition across the Rockies, meditation can be quiet and passive, or active and challenging. In the broadest sense, meditation is a way to focus your attention, and when you can focus your attention on a single thing, you can develop that ability to an almost superhuman degree. In fact, the goal of meditation is not to make your mind completely empty. The goal is to establish and maintain a relationship between your mind and your heart so that the two work together in tandem. When this happens, you are able to make better decisions and live a more mindful and meaningful life.

When we begin one of the spiritual practices such as meditation or embark on a spiritual path, we may notice a change in our perception of the world around us. It is easy to interpret these changes as a loss of interest in the material world. However, there is a very important difference between materialism and material value. Materialism is attachment to material possessions, whereas material value is the idea that we can derive value from our relationship with the material world. Many people have a very fragile relationship with the material world. We can have a material relationship that is defined by attachment, or we can have a material relationship with a value system that is positive and sustaining. Material value is based on the idea that we can find value in the material world. When we are able to look past the distractions of the material world and focus our attention more on the things that really matter, we are able to find a deeper relationship with the material world that is full of supporting value.

When it comes to the spiritual path, we are often given the idea that we must detach ourselves from the world around us. The problem with this idea is that it creates a conflict between the material world and our spiritual practice. When we begin to develop a spiritual practice, we often become aware of the limitations of our body or the limitations of the material world. This conflict often leads to a kind of spiritual burn-out, where the student stops developing their inner wisdom and instead starts developing their inner intolerance toward the world around them. In meditation we are not encouraged to disconnect from the world around us. Instead, we are encouraged to connect with our inner guidance and find a deeper relationship with the universe. We can love our family, enjoy our hobbies and interests, and even enjoy being busy or working hard. When we open ourselves to our inner guidance and a deeper truth, we are able to find a deeper relationship with the material world. By being in touch with our inner guidance, we can find a deeper relationship with the material world. This deeper relationship is full of supportive values, and these values can help us to live a more fulfilling, meaningful, and purposeful life.

The most valuable thing we possess is time. The more time we can spend in a conscious state, the more conscious time we can enjoy. The more conscious time we can enjoy, the more value we can create in our lives. When we are in a conscious state, we are able to make conscious choices, understand the choices we make and live a more conscious life. When we are not in a conscious state, we are not able to make conscious choices, understand the choices we make and live a more conscious life.

We have so much to gain by developing a stronger relationship with our inner guidance and listening to our inner wisdom. We can create a more fulfilling, meaningful, and purposeful life for ourselves. We can overcome our limitations and find the power to change. We can find peace, happiness, and fulfilment when we let our inner wisdom guide us. But we can also lose so much if we neglect our inner wisdom. We can lose our peace, happiness, and fulfilment. We can lose the ability to live our lives in alignment with the truth that we are. We can lose our dreams, our purpose, and our sense of purpose. We can lose ourselves in the world and lose the opportunity to find the deeper meaning and significance we are searching for. The more we are in touch with our inner guidance, the more we understand the impact of our thoughts and feelings on our lives. The more we understand the impact of our thoughts and emotions on our lives, the more we are able to change the things that make us unhappy, stressed or unfulfilled. The more we are able to change the things that make us feel unhappy, stressed and unfulfilled, the happier, more peaceful and fulfilled we are.

Time is a precious commodity. We need to make a conscious decision to be in touch with our inner guidance. This is the most powerful choice we can make. When we are in touch with our inner guidance, we are able to create a more conscious life, a more fulfilling life and a life that is in harmony with the truth that we are.

How to Begin Meditating: 4 Simple Steps to Get You Started

Posted on June 13, 2022August 20, 2022 by Allan Johnson in habits, meditation, mindfulness

Meditation has been used for thousands of years to help people become aware of what is going on in their mind and body. Through developing this awareness we are able to take a step back and observe the thoughts that go through our mind, the feelings that arise in our body, and our reactions to events occurring around us. In mediation we learn to observe but not to judge our thoughts, feelings, and behaviours and to see how they affect the world around us and our relationships. When we learn to observe ourselves with greater awareness and clarity, we also learn to observe others with greater clarity, and we are able to bring more compassion and love into our lives. We become more aware of the impact of our thoughts, feelings, and behaviours on ourselves and others, and we are able to step back and recognise patterns that we have been repeating.

When we get into the habit of observing our thoughts, our feelings, and our behaviour, we begin to understand how our actions affect others around us. Meditation is not a one-time thing. It is a way of living and a way of learning how to observe our thoughts and feelings, how to avoid getting lost in them, and how to observe these ideas and emotions without judgement. Meditation is about learning how to live with greater awareness and clarity.

Meditation is easy to begin but takes a lifetime of practice. These four steps will help you to begin your own regular meditation practice:

Find a quiet place where you will not be disturbed. Get comfortable, close your eyes and begin to turn inward. You do not have to be in any particular position to meditate. Some people like to sit cross-legged and rest their hands comfortably on their knees, but you can also simply sit on a comfortable chair with your feet on the floor.
When you are ready, begin to follow your breath. Take a few deep breaths, becoming aware of your breath. When you inhale, allow the breath to fill your whole body and when you exhale, allow the breath to leave your whole body. As the breath continues to flow in its own time, begin to focus on the sensations in your body. Be curious about how your body feels and how it changes from one moment to the next.
Once you are familiar with your body sensations, you can begin to turn awareness to your thoughts. As you continue to be aware of the gentle movement of breath in and out, you can notice how thoughts, feelings and emotions arise and how these thoughts, feelings and emotions affect your life. You can see that thoughts and feelings are like clouds and you can watch them float by and dissipate if you just observe them.
Next, begin to notice emotions as they rise within you, like the breeze blowing gently through the trees. Feel your emotions flowing through your body or filling your body as they pass through you. You can be present with yourself and allow yourself to notice and feel your reactions, accept them and be with them, understanding that they may be beyond your control.

The more often you practice meditation, the more you will learn about yourself and about your life. As you begin notice your thoughts, feelings, and reactions, you may find that they are created by the mind and that they are not solid things that can be held in our bodies. They can only be held in our mind, and when the mind stops, the thoughts and feelings stop too. Every morning is a new beginning, a fresh start to the day, a time to cleanse your mind and heart, and a time to let go of old habits and open up to new habits. By keeping this in mind you can learn to observe your reactions to stress, sadness, frustration, pain and anger and bring more compassion and love into your life, and use this compassion and love to become a better person, a better friend, a better parent, and help to create a more balanced and happier life.

Finding the Voice of the Self: Psychosynthesis and Intuition

Posted on March 2, 2022August 20, 2022 by Allan Johnson in Psychosynthesis

One of the central tools of psychosynthesis is the exploration and integration of a person’s subpersonalities. To ensure its survival, the ego has developed a complex network of subpersonalities that enables it to fulfil its specific needs. The subpersonalities are the functions of our ego that are specific to a particular individual and serve to maintain our sense of self and the identity of the ego. They are the masks and protective disguises that the ego uses to create a sense of identity. As an individual progresses in psychosynthesis, they are able to integrate their various subpersonalities so that they are no longer divided into separate and competing parts, but form a unified functioning system.

But who is the conductor of this orchestra of subpersonalities within each of us? How are we able to connect with the sense of Self that exists at our true core? This inner knowing is what we call intuition. It takes place in stillness and in the presence of inspiration that comes from another level, often through asking and waiting. The ability to feel this oneness with the Self develops through constant exploration of one’s inner world and through a process of introspection that enables one to recognise the various masks and disguises of the subpersonalities, the various roles and self-images that the ego plays. To bridge this gap, mind and heart must be ready and there must be at least a beginning of trust in one’s own ability to “know”. We can develop intuition and a sense of the presence of the Self by simply sitting quietly and observing what is present in the mind and heart.

Intuition does not have to be taught, it has to be allowed. It is an ability that has always been dormant within us, waiting for us to turn towards it, just as a flower turns towards the sun. To develop intuition, it is helpful to be mindful, to sit still and observe what is there. We can begin with a small willingness to “know” more of the truth, light and wisdom when it comes to our own lives and the lives of those we love. We can begin to welcome in the removal of obstacles that cloud our understanding or affect our perception of truth. We can begin to trust ourselves and the truth more as we notice our thoughts and feelings, as we pay attention to what is happening in the world and to those around us. We can begin to observe our everyday activities and recognise the masks and disguises that our ego plays up.

The desire to get in touch with a greater clarity opens the doors to inner knowing, especially if this desire is accompanied by a willingness to receive and pay attention to what we hear or see. There are people who “know” things but do not believe what their inner senses tell them. They judge and reject what they feel or believe. This decision closes the doors to higher perception because it gives more power to fear: the fear of being wrong, the fear of being different, the fear of having to change one’s life because of what one hears. To open the doors to intuition and keep them open, we must be willing to hear and know, and we must be willing to trust.

Trust is not an easy thing, because it often requires a re-evaluation of how we have lived our lives. It may be that life has forced us to become more practical, more focused on the daily tasks of living and caring for others. Or it may be that we have made mistakes in the past when it came to who or what we trust. It may also be that we have forgotten that we have the capacity to feel more, sense more or be more open to life on all levels. Trust does not only involve the willingness to receive something from another level of our being. It also involves the willingness to believe in our own ability to flow with life and to change what needs to be changed on the outside or on the inside to do so.

The more we stay true to ourselves, the more our lives begin to change, the more we open up to ourselves and the more we open up to truth. The more we stay true to ourselves, the more our lives begin to change, the more we open up to ourselves and the more we open up to the truth.

Especially today, when we as a collective humanity are faced with so many major problems and so many actions are being taken that can have profound effects on all of humanity, it is crucial that we reclaim our capacity to know and trust, from which intuition springs. Otherwise we find ourselves in the precarious position of not knowing what or who to believe, not knowing what direction to take to improve the world and alleviate the immense suffering that currently exists. Without access to the deeper intuitive sense that is a part of us, we live at the mercy of public opinion rather than in the presence of truth. We have not forgotten the power of intuition, the power of what we feel to be true. We have only forgotten the depth of our own intuition. We have only forgotten that we have the capacity to feel more, to sense more or to be more open to life on all levels.

It is time to allow our inner senses to awaken and become the beings that we are. The times we live in demand this of us, and for each of us, the heart demands this of us so that we can begin to solve the problems and challenges that are immediately before us. We do not have to go to remote places to develop this ability further. We can begin to develop intuition in our daily lives by paying attention to the inner guidance that can guide us through our daily actions and decisions. We can begin to trust our intuition, our inner knowing, and if we are willing to open ourselves to the truth, intuition can be a powerful guide to making the right choices. The world is full of signs that tell us what to do. Signs that tell us to be healthy, to care for the environment, to be in harmony with ourselves, with society and with nature. We can begin to trust the signs that are there, to listen to what we believe to be true, to pay attention to what we feel in the body and to remember that there is much we do not need to understand or know in order to make good choices for ourselves and our loved ones.

Recognising the gifts of intuition may not happen immediately, but it will happen. The more we begin to open our hearts, the more we can listen to the voice of the heart and the more we can be guided by it. We can make the decision at any time to listen to the heart and return to the Self. With this simple action, we break through the ego’s defences and act with and for the soul.