investment

investments come in various forms. the usual thought that comes to mind though is usually about stocks and equities. let's for a moment though expand the definition and scope of the term.

instead of measuring investments in just dollars and cents, let's include other things like time and effort as well. let's combine all of this and use a common unit of measurement, let's call it... "luv". thus, let's simplistically say the marginal cost of any one moment is "1 luv".

i propose that any one moment we are all investing in something, someone. and the flipside of that proposal is that at any one moment we are choosing to overlook something or someone else to invest in.

in our lifetime, we have a finite amount of luvs to divvy up. some common investments are education, work skills, public status, financial security, recreation, friends and family. the categories of investments of course can be blurry because any one activity will involve various factors.

for instance, if at this very moment of time, i decide to update my blog rather than go for a walk or watch a movie with cP, i've just invested a total of 1 luv divided between my blog, my readers' interest and loyalty, my sense of recreation, my typing skills and so forth. this also means i've just possibly forsaken the opportunity to invest that 1 luv on my relationship, on general knowledge, physical fitness etc.

the common wisdom with investments is to diversify. any investor worth their salt would know by now that one is meant to have a diversified portfolio. to put all your proverbial eggs in one basket is always a very risky endeavour. that said, any investor worth their salt would also know that the higher the risk, the higher the return... hmm, being an investor is not easy eh?

and so, i wonder what you have you chosen to invest your luv in this very moment? well, if you're reading this, then the question is moot really. oops, my bad. let me try again:-

take a moment to take stock of your life's investments.

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any particular things stand out?

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was this what you expected to find if you asked yourself this question 10 years ago?

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are you satisfied with your current portfolio?

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how would you like your portfolio to look like 10 years from now?

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if you have given yourself the opportunity to reflect upon these questions, and subsequently let that sink in, let me ask you one last question before i go and wash the dirty dishes...

what do you choose to invest your luv in, in the next few moments?

replicating jung's little experiment

this post refers heavily to my post yesterday about carl jung's foreword in the i-ching; without it, this post may lack context.

allow me to start off by saying that i know little about the i-ching. i do not say this in modesty, but in reality. i have yet to even read the basic 'FAQ' so to speak. even jung refers to using coins or stalks of some sort to conjure up the necessary hexagrams to be interpreted. i however, have just woken up after a late night out with the boys, and have simply been far too lazy to read the book as i probably should.

in fact, i awoke wondering about whether i should play a couple of new PS3 games we just borrowed from a friend, the Wii we borrowed from another, or start reading the very daunting i-ching book.

feeling torn, i decided to ask the i-ching instead (cf. jung's little experiment about/when writing the foreword). was i rude or presumptuous? perhaps. i was torn between skepticism, hopefulness and mostly curiosity. well, it may have worked well for the old man because of his awesome interpreting skills and seemingly spiritual nature, but would it work for me? especially since i'm not even using it correctly theoretically?

i'll let you decide.

as per carl jung's suggested style, i asked the i-ching whether i should read it or play the PS3. then, i flicked it open to a random page and was at the beginning of a new hexagram, "9. Hsiao Ch'u / The Taming Power of the Small", whatever that meant.

not sure about how this works, i started to read the elaboration (note: the bits i got here are from the online translation; it is similar but not exactly the same as the book).

here is a summary of the key points of what it suggested to me and my interpretation/musing:-

The hexagram presents a configuration of circumstances in which a strong element is temporarily held in leash by a weak element. It is only through gentleness that this can have a successful outcome.

This image refers to the state of affairs in China at the time when King Wên, who came originally from the west, was in the east at the court of the reigning tyrant Chou Hsin. The moment for action on a large scale had not yet arrived. King Wên could only keep the tyrant somewhat in check by friendly persuasion. Hence the image of many clouds, promising moisture and blessing to the land, although as yet no rain falls. The situation is not unfavorable; there is a prospect of ultimate success, but there are still obstacles in the way, and we can merely take preparatory measures. Only through the small means of friendly persuasion can we exert any influence. The time has not yet come for sweeping measures. However, we may be able, to a limited extent, to act as a restraining and subduing influence. To carry out our purpose we need firm determination within and gentleness and adaptability in external relations.

and i wonder about "we" - does it refer to itself or i? probably the former, but with the question i have, it may suggest the latter. i shall hold that thought and continue.

The wind can indeed drive the clouds together in the sky; yet, being nothing but air, without solid body, it does not produce great or lasting effects. So also an individual, in times when he can produce no great effect in the outer world, can do nothing except refine the expression of his nature in small ways.

again, is it talking about itself in it's effects upon me? or does it suggest a reflection of my feelings of myself as a person in my journey of life? both holds merit, and touches me.

It lies in the nature of a strong man to press forward. In so doing he encounters obstructions. Therefore he returns to the way suited to his situation, where he is free to advance or to retreat. In the nature of things this will bring good fortune, for it is wise and reasonable not to try to obtain anything by force.

whoa, it obviously knows about my penchant for aikido; or again, is it talking about it's persuasion over my skepticism and fear?

One would like to press forward, but before going farther one sees from the example of others like oneself that this way is blocked. In such a case, if the effort to push forward is not in harmony with the time, a reasonable and resolute man will not expose himself to a personal rebuff, but will retreat with others of like mind. This brings good fortune, because he does not needlessly jeopardize himself.

*yelps* i was talking about yesterday about timing in my post. i swear, this is so accurate to where i am at the moment, it's not funny.

Here an attempt is made to press forward forcibly, in the consciousness that the obstructing power is slight. But since, under the circumstances, power actually lies with the weak, this sudden offensive is doomed to failure. External conditions hinder the advance, just as loss of the wheel spokes stops the progress of a wagon. We do not yet heed this hint form fate, hence there are annoying arguments like those of a married couple. Naturally this is not a favorable state of thing, for though the situation may enable the weaker side to hold its ground, the difficulties are too numerous to permit of a happy result. In consequence even the strong man cannot so use his power as to exert the right influence on those around him. He experiences a rebuff where he expected an easy victory, and he thus compromises his dignity.

hmm, this is more... ambiguous. i think of many things. i wonder about the original question, but it seems also very relevant to my recent struggle with my aikido and self; in fact i had just the exact conversation with my sensei at the pub a few nights ago.

If one is in the difficult and responsible position of counselor to a powerful man, one should restrain him in such a way that the threat of actual bloodshed may arise. Nonetheless, the power of disinterested truth is greater than all theses obstacles. It carries such weight that the end is achieved, and all danger of bloodshed and all fear disappear.

this seems to clearly to return to my original question about the book. it suggests that my fears and doubts will erode over time as the Truth will prevail.

Loyalty leads to firm ties because it means that each partner complements the other. In the weaker person loyalty consists in devotion, in the stronger it consists in trustworthiness. This relation of mutual reinforcement leads to a true wealth that is all the more apparent because it is not selfishly hoarded but is shared with friends. Pleasure shared is pleasure doubled.

HAHHAHAHA. omg, it's speaking not only to me, but you too apparently. i presume the loyalty of the partners are between the book and i. that over time, we will develop trust, as i am not one to easily succumb to superstition or coincidences... but more relevantly to you, it also seems to realise that i am really excited about sharing this on my blog. and it's now very correctly suggesting that i am enjoying giving a commentary about this to you. *shudder*

Success is at hand. The wind has driven up the rain. A fixed standpoint has been reach. This has come about through the cumulation of small effects produced by reverence for a superior character. But a success thus secured bit by bit calls for great caution. It would be a dangerous illusion for anyone to think he could presume upon it. The female principle, the weak element that has won the victory, should never persist in vaunting it--that would lead to danger. The dark power in the moon is strongest when the moon is almost full. When it is full and directly opposite the sun, its waning is inevitable. Under such circumstances one must be content with what has been achieved. To advance any further, before the appropriate time has come, would lead to misfortune.

ah, it counsels humility, patience and contentment. and so i shall... and so i would have anyway. i mustn't be carried away it seems to suggest. i should cherish the achievement i have just attained, but be cautious about flaunting it.

so is the i-ching real? i don't know. i don't dare to presume. i am once again, struck in awe... i need time to process this. but now, i need to pick cP up from the airport.

he speaks to me

carl jung and i-ching; never did it occur to me that these two would ever be found so closely related. yes, i've read about jung, but i never read his treatises nor looked into work in great detail. all i remember of the things i read at uni was that he was a renowned psychiatrist, Freud's greatest disciple, who eventually broke off to do his own thing.

the i-ching, i know of even less. that it is ancient Chinese text of sorts, and it has something to do with weird looking hexagrams.

ah, how profound my ignorance.

no, i have yet to read the i-ching proper, but the simple foreword by jung has just blown me away.

where do i begin to describe my awe? to describe my sense of connection? is it self-absorption and egocentricity that leads me to feel that he wrote this for me to discover after all these years?

i doubt that a single post would be sufficient to fit all i wish to say. too much detail however, distracts one from the message.

allow me to contemplate...

hmm, suffice to say that in my journey, i have discovered several 'truths'. one is that Wisdom is already here; it us we who must be ready, and willing, to hear it. i have not been ready - and may not never be fully ready, but perhaps i'm ready for this little bit.

let's say that perhaps it is time that i begin my foray into the i-ching. begin? hmm, that's a misnomer. continue? regardless, was it fate or merely chance that just yesterday, rather than have access to the daily paper during lunch, the staff kitchen was filled with people and my paper was being hogged by someone. feeling overwhelmed by the crowd and annoyed at being deprived of my daily dose of rubbish news, i resigned to browsing a neglected book cabinet in the room next door for some light reading while eating.

after returning two or three books to its place, i suddenly came across the gray jacketed i-ching. i was pleasantly surprised to find this resource just as i have decided to explore tao a little more. even more surprised i was when i discovered that jung wrote the foreword to this translated edition. apparently, this edition by wilhem/baynes has been asserted to the best translation of the ancient text to date, and jung happened to be a friend of wilhem.

i was almost - i swear, so close - to skipping the foreword as i usually do with most books. after all, who cares about what some other dude says about a book that another guy wrote? isn't the content of the book that matters the most?


well, for whatever reason, after i skipped the preface, i decided to read the foreword just to get an idea of what jung was like. just who is this person is so renowned in my field, and i have ashamedly not read up on? like frankl, whom i admire from afar, merely by reading about him, i was taken away after actually reading his work. so, i thought i should offer jung the same opportunity.

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i yelped and laughed out lout while reading the foreword. it was as if jung was speaking directly to me. his musings and doubts were so similar to the debates i have in my mind - the difference being his obvious astuteness of mind and articulateness in writing. i was completely and utterly blown away by his words. i have yet to read the actual content of the i-ching, but his foreword was enough to reinforce a significant paradigm shift that i have been going through in the last few years.

why do i write this now? why has this foreword been so powerful to me? i don't know. at a rationally level, it is no more profound than some of the other great writers i have read. yet, he touched me at a emotional level that seldom have. it feels like i know him. that i know him well. perhaps years ago i would not have dared to speak this for i fear the impression i would make. but i have learnt to trust the voice within and without...

here's a html version of the foreword to the i-ching, if you are interested.

psychs on telly

it always irks me to watch people portraying psychs or counsellors on television or the big screen. most of the times, the counsellors/psychs sound like patronising, advice-giving, know-it-all, Capt Obvious. it'd certainly turn me off seeing one if that was the only impression i had of them, which is quite unfortunate because i reckon it's actually a really good (albeit difficult and potentially expensive) experience to have psychotherapy.

i'm rambling about this because of a couple of things i watched last night on telly - one of which was the Season 6 premiere of House, who was in a mental asylum for a drug addiction. they showed some good bits for sure, but mostly very bad practice of therapy. i shudder to think about how the very people who would benefit most from therapy would be frightened away by the crap they watch on telly, especially a 'medical' program like House.

on the flip side, of all things, the best snapshot of a true counselling moment was in no other than the premiere episode of 'So You Think You Can Dance - Australia 2010'. you know how reality tv programs nowadays are more interested in their participants personal life stories than the actual talent their show is about? (without going off on another tangential rant) well, it was something like that yesterday when one of the judges asked a participant something about his life, and there was a magical moment where true connectedness happened... that to me, is what ideal counselling/psychotherapy is about... that quiet, seemingly awkward moment of silence between people where at least one has just genuinely opened their hearts to be heard.

the closest replica of the real experience of therapy on television that i've discovered so far is actually "In Treatment", ironically enough, it was recommended to me by a client. ;) the protagonist practices quite different from me of course, but the ups and downs, and the 'moments' are probably as close to the real thing as you'll get to watch without actually attending therapy. that said, the patients they featured in the show were quite extremes of 'real' people. anyway, it's worth a watch just to get an idea i reckon.

cPsy summer 2010 in Tassie

locations in the video:-

MONA FOMA music festival (featuring Grandmaster Flash) in Hobart,
Adventure Bay in Bruny Island,
Scamander Beach,
Binalong Bay @ Bay of Fires

=) with love, from tasmania

manage this!

not completely unexpected, but still an interesting awareness; being a manager is pretty difficult. the diary may look pretty empty, but there's just so many random stuff that pops up that needs your attention all the time. things pile up pretty quick eh?

seeking balance

some say that they speak to God. i don't claim to have such a privilege. i just try to eavesdrop on the Universe's chatter every so often.

something i've been overhearing repeatedly within the ether these last few weeks was to empty my cup. not an easy thing to do, i must admit...


whilst attempting to do just that, i've realised that:


i have stubbornly sought the ura, that i have lost sight of the omote.

i have tried too hard to be yin, that i have ignored the value yang.

i have focused too much on tenkan, that i have neglected irimi.


question now is, how do i correct this imbalance?