On Realizing Self

Inspiration

The privilege of a lifetime is being who you are.
Joseph Campbell

Introducing The Myth Within

Greeting friends and fellow readers. I hope these words find you with blessings. I wanted to take a moment to introduce you to my new Podcast hosted on Anchor, a wonderful podcast hosting service from Spotify.

I have always had an artistic soul. As an adolescent, I dreamed of becoming a famous musician. My instrument, the electric guitar, was sadly retired after undertaking a personal calling to become a practitioner of depth psychology. I plan to pick that instrument up again this year, as I have developed a new passion for watching my son lovingly bang away at the piano keys with a sense of fervor I have never seen from a seven year old child. Nevertheless, while my aspirations directed me one way, God called upon my dreams to take another path. That calling I did not ignore, and it has served me well through the years.

I am a firm believer in the power that dreams and creativity have to open doors of inner growth the soul yearns to achieve. The dream I liken to God’s calling occurred during a daytime nap, in which I was tired from a night of friendly escapades around strange wines that foam, more lovingly known a Imperial Pale Ale’s. Being tired, and craving rest, I fell asleep for a short rest. This was odd, because I never take naps. Healthy or sick, I am awake through the day, and I use my waking hours to my full advantage. The blessing, I had a dream… One that changed the course of my life.

In the dream I was Sigmund Freud, analyzing a patient’s dream. To that point, I had personal experience with psychotherapy after discharging from the US Navy, but had never studied it in any formal sense. That calling served me well, as I have now worked in the field in many capacities for the last two decades. I see firsthand from this experience the true growth possible when one chooses to follow their dreams. That is the nature of God’s calling to our personal vocation.

Today, I add upon my dream. It has long been my passion to bring the field of depth psychology to others. In this podcast, I explore the emotional depths of the soul, as it integrates collective myths into our personal psychological journey forward. It is interactive in nature. I ask my readers to inquire about any questions they may have on inner development, or to use the audio inquiry on the podcast to do so. My aspiration is to create a collective movement towards optimal health, one where emotional and spiritual well-being create pathways to happiness and an inner love of Self development.

Namaste, my friends. May blessings find you on your journey to advance confidently in the direction of your dreams. And Thank-You, for taking part in my dreams.

Credits

Video by David Clausen from Pexels
Video by Pixabay from Pexels
Photo by Tú Nguyễn from Pexels

The Chiseling of the Soul: Finding Mercy Beyond Guilt and Shame – A Sacred Journey: Where Myths Unfold and Potential Awakens

Are you feeling trapped in a cycle of harsh self-judgment, guilt, or shame? In this episode of A Sacred Journey: Where Myths Unfold and Potential Awakens, Dr. Thomas Maples explores how to quiet your hostile inner critic through the transformative power of Mercy.When we make a mistake, our internal judge often turns from a guiding conscience into a relentless sledgehammer of self-condemnation. But what if guilt isn't meant to destroy us—what if it's an invitation to extend grace to ourselves?Drawing from psychological research, philosophy, and classic imagery, Dr. Maples breaks down the mechanics of remorse and reveals how self-mercy isn't an excuse for poor behavior, but the exact tool needed for genuine accountability and personal growth.The Psychology of Guilt: Why remorse is a uniquely human mechanism meant for growth, not eternal punishment.Conscience vs. Hostile Inner Critic: How to tell the difference between healthy self-sculpting (the chisel) and destructive shame (the sledgehammer).The Inward Fall Light: Why stepping away from external expectations and embracing solitude creates the safety needed for self-compassion.The "Twice-Blessed" Principle: How practicing self-mercy internally restores your capacity to extend grace and empathy to others.Actionable Daily Practice: A 60-second exercise to "harvest seeds of mercy" by pulling one weed of harsh criticism and planting a flower of grace every morning."Mercy doesn't stop the sculpting process. It simply provides the psychological safety required to pick up the chisel again without fear of shattering the whole block."📬 Subscribe to A Sacred Journey on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or your favorite platform so you never miss an episode.⭐ Enjoyed this episode? Leave a 5-star rating and review to help others find peace on their journey!🌐 Learn more about Dr. Thomas Maples: https://drthomasmaples.com/Keywords / Tags:Mercy Self Mercy Dr Thomas Maples A Sacred Journey Podcast Inner Critic Self Compassion Overcoming Shame Guilt and Forgiveness Psychology and Healing Personal Growth Mindfulness Self Forgiveness

Dr. Thomas Maples