Saturday, October 25, 2008

Allowing


Do we allow life to take us where it wants us to go? Or do we fight the current and allow our deep seated fears and prejudices to lead us where we think we want to go?

We do not have enough information to know what is "good" or "bad" for us.

When we are in traffic, if we are irritated or frustrated, we are resisting Life. If we lose our job, we often later get a more suitable job. If we get divorced, we may realize that we are a whole person that did not need a spouse to complete us. If we have a health crisis, we may realize that we have to modify our lifestyle and choose healthier habits. We may also realize that life is too short to waste a single moment being unconscious and unaware.

How can we tell which decision is in harmony with Life? We know we are in harmony when we feel at peace with our decision. One choice makes us feel contracted and unsure. The other makes us feel in tune with our inner self. With practice, it becomes easier to make harmonious decisions.

Let's allow life to be as it is.

Sunday, October 19, 2008

Yes


Underneath anger and frustration lies sadness.

We were hurt by events that happened to us during childhood. We did not want to feel the hurt because it was too painful, so we avoided feeling it by covering it up with anger. The anger affects the way we feel about ourselves and how we interact with people. We continually create circumstances similar to what happened to us during childhood in a never ending cycle.

We can break the cycle by having the courage to be aware of the feelings which underlie our frustration and anger.

We are ready to say: Yes, something happened to us. Yes, it hurt our feelings. Yes, it was not fair. Yes, we accept that it happened. And, yes, we are ready to let it go.

We are also ready to say: Yes, we have the courage to surrender our stale beliefs, and yes, we will now take actions which enhance our lives.

Let's release our anger and frustration and surrender to yes.

Saturday, October 11, 2008

Choice


We have a choice.

We can choose to live a conditioned, unconscious life, living our life in accordance with what we have been taught, and attempt to meet the expectations that others have for us.

There is great comfort and safety in conforming to the beliefs of the various groups that we belong to, such as our religious organizations, our schools, our economic and geographic peer groups, our gender identity, etc. It is frightening to stray from the course that other group members follow.

Or we can be choose to be like Neo of THE MATRIX, and search for the truth of our existence and become conscious.

Some people have to reach a low point before they search for answers outside of their familiar beliefs. Others have a nagging thought that there is something more to life than following the path they were assigned, and have a consistent desire to find their own way.

Once we decide to seek a different path, the Universe will offer us the means to awake. Some of us read books, such as Eckhart Tolles', some attend alternative churches like Agape for inspiration. Some find peace by being in solitude or nature. The truth is all around us.

My favorite films are ones where the main character becomes conscious and learns how to love, like THE MATRIX, ON THE WATERFRONT, CASABLANCA, JERRY MAGUIRE, AS GOOD AS IT GETS, AMERICAN BEAUTY, SIXTH SENSE, THE YEAR OF LIVING DANGEROUSLY, etc.

We make the choice. The path we choose is ours alone. Let's create whatever life we choose to create.

Sunday, October 5, 2008

Thought


If we pay attention to our thoughts, we will discover that 90% of them are gibberish. The problem is, this gibberish controls what we think, how we feel and what we do. Conditioned thinking is why we are so often angry and unhappy.

We can loosen the grip of our conditioned thoughts by bringing our attention to them without judgment. By becoming aware of our thinking, its ability to control us lessens. Once we realize that so much of our thoughts and beliefs are stale, silly and do not reflect what we want ourselves to be, we can release them.

Let's release our attachment to compulsive thinking by becoming aware of it.