Comparison

Guy Finley answers a viewer's question about the constant self-judgment we impose upon ourselves. He explains that the need we feel to "succeed" comes from an identity attached to an end goal, and when that goal isn't met, it feels like everything falls apart. Guy goes on to say that instead of trying to control the judgments...

At some point in our lives we have all dealt with uncomfortable moments where an unexpected or unwanted change in one near to us brings up some unpleasant reaction in us. Of course we are usually very quick to find fault with this person, but here is the real, invisible story. The reason we fall under the rule of these reaction-driven dark states, and then find ourselves trying to dictate the life direction of the "offending" person, is that something...

Real life is not by the numbers; it is impossible to "know" and grow at the same time. Yes, one can have a formula for a prescription drug, or a recipe for a good green salad; but there is no system of thought that can stand up to the ever-shifting changes of real life, let alone meet those same changes fearlessly. The self that knows itself through thought can never develop beyond the content of itself, any more than a math equation can suddenly outgrow...

The degree to which we judge others, and would make them pay for their shortcomings, is inseparable from the false belief that our nature is somehow different, superior to those seen through the eyes of our disdain.

In this short talk, Guy explains that true spiritual work is not about memorizing a teaching, but instead it is about us learning to see the truth for ourselves, from ourselves, through experience.

It is our fear of being alone and in doubt, of wanting to feel certain that what we are doing is right, that compels us to seek the approval of others.

In this short talk, Guy Finley talks about how all true teachings exist to help us reveal and transcend the present state of darkness that we live in, not to punish us for it.

The rush to judge what we see as some character flaw in another human being is the speed at which the false self races to hide from itself a similar imperfection.

In this short talk, Guy Finley talks about what it means to let go of something without needing to know beforehand the outcome of that sacrifice.

As we see more and more how each one of our own attempts to make ourselves feel complete leaves us feeling empty and searching again, we gain the power to refuse to be misled.

We put tremendous amounts of energy into developing and carrying out plans for protecting ourselves psychologically from a world we perceive as a hostile place. Thus, we justify our actions to ward off the possible criticism of others. We fawn before people we see as more powerful than we are. We tell ourselves that we are superior to those we see as less powerful than ourselves. So, instead o...

Any time we pretend to be something we're not, we do so out of fear that without that "persona" to protect us -- to make that impression we want -- we won't get what we want. This whole way of thinking is secret self-sabotage. It sinks us in our personal and business relationships as surely as a torpedo wrecks the ship it strikes. Learning how to stop this self-sinking is our focus here. The...