Reflections from M. Scott Peck's "The Road Less Traveled"

Here are some of the salient points that surfaced for me in the reading of this classic psychology book.

Responsibility

• Discipline = delayed gratification
• Confronting problems
• Dedication to Truth - white lie (tell someone something small that is not true), Black lie (neglect to share something that is important or relevant to the truth)

"This is my problem and it is up to me to resolve" - owning responsibility for self

Three types of psychological disorders:

1. Neurotic - it is all my fault. In speech these people tend to say "I should", "I ought to"
2. Character Disorder - Everyone else is at fault. These people are tougher to work with psycho-dynamically speaking. They tend to say - "I can't", "I couldn't", " I have to", "I had to". They have no power of choice. From their view everything is out of their control. They often do not trust others and see the world as a dangerous place.
3. Blend of the two Neurotic and Character disorder

Worldview

Our view of the world is like a map (aka worldview).

We create this worldview and are constantly getting new information. Many can't handle this new information and ignore it. This results in out dated maps and or views. It is important to constantly revise your maps as new information arrives.

Transference is the active clinging to outdated views. It occurs when a set of ways of perceiving the world from a child reference creeps into views of adult life.

On Love

"Love is as love does:

Love takes attention - through the work of listening.

Falling in love is not real love. Love is a commitment beyond the object, beyond ourselves.

"Love is the will to extend one's self for the purpose of nurturing one's own or another spiritual growth... Love is as love does. Love is an act of will -- namely, both an intention and an action. Will also implies choice. We do not have to love. We choose to love."

"The will to extend one's self for the purpose of nurturing one's own or another' spiritual growth" p. 85

When we fully love beyond ourselves and extend our ego boundaries there is a connection to the rest of the world. One merges beyond self with others. This is a mystical experience. Kind of like the Buddhist concept of oneness.

Laziness is loves opposite enemy. Laziness is fear.

Happiness

Simply seek happiness, and you are not likely to find it. Seek to create and love without regard to your happiness, and you will likely be happy much of the time.

Grace

The definition of grace - the g-d within us. Listening is taking the more difficult path.