The Anatomy of Inspiration (Part 1)

Life is full of inspiration. Itself inspired, it presents us with an abundance of opportunities to return to love. To be inspired is to be moved by love, and in that moment reminded of where we came from. Conceived in love, we are the fruit of an inspired act. This is what makes our being beautiful.

If I were to list all of the things that inspire me I would fill a lifetime’s worth of notebooks. Taking so many forms I will describe just a few so that you may see what brings me joy in this world. Here, I must start with my partner Elizabeth. A glorious soul who gives so much to our relationship, it is her work with the mentally ill people in our community that continually teaches me what it means to serve others. Selflessly giving to her clients her time and energy, she contributes so much to improving the quality of their lives. Inspired by the progress that she sees her clients making, this is what she shares with me on a daily basis. Trying to emulate her example, I have become a much better teacher, writer and person, and for her presence in my life I am very grateful.

Right there alongside her is my mother who for years has made it a priority to put the needs of others above her own. Caring around the clock for my father who was dying of cancer, she has done the same for her own mother who has encountered recently a number of health setbacks. Putting so much energy into raising me and dealing with the wide range of challenges that come with sole parenting a restless and rebellious only child, she shined in the role and I can think of no one that is a better mother than her.

A bit further from home, I find great inspiration in the athletic achievements of sporting legends Roger Federer, Lance Armstrong, Michael Jordan, Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo and Kobe Bryant. Sport in many ways imitates life and by participating in it and being a spectator of it we can learn so much about ourselves and what it takes to win in the bigger game of life. Virtues such as courage, determination, patience, humility, fairness and self-control are exemplified in sports, as is teamwork, community and the joy of accomplishment.

One otherworldly sporting performance that stands out in my mind was delivered by Michael Jordan in a pivotal Game 5 of the 1997 NBA Finals. Suffering from a raging fever and severe dehydration, he fought through exhaustion for 44 minutes to record an incredible 38 points, 7 rebounds, 5 assists and 3 steals. The performance that many basketball purists consider to be his finest game, it gave his Chicago Bulls team a 3-2 advantage over the Utah Jazz in the championship series. Leading the Bulls to the NBA title in the next game, it was that memorable Game 5 performance that made the team’s eventual success possible.

What inspired me most about the way that Jordan played in that game was the way that he continually pushed himself past the barrier that his illness represented. Every day we are faced with obstacles and we either don’t try to overcome them or put in a defeatist’s effort, so instead of surmounting them as Jordan did, we stay mired in the negativity of that failure. This is so harmful to our well-being and confidence and it is not what I want to allow to hold me back in life.

When I am tempted to give up, I often bring to mind the image of Jordan collapsing into his teammate’s arms at the end of that game. Not only does it remind me that I have the strength to win, but it reinforces that I am not alone on this journey of life. Where Jordan had his teammates to work with, I, like you, have God by my side. Providing support when I need it, this spiritual presence makes all the difference to the success that I have experienced in the past and will experience in the future.

I am also frequently inspired by movies, music and some television shows. I say some television shows because a lot of the things that are broadcast on television are tremendously uninspiring. The negative news coverage that is incessantly transmitted is a prime example of this. Doing what I can to minimize my intake of this energy depleting material, I prefer to give my attention to programs that inform while conveying a deeper message.

Every now and then I am surprised by a program and the effect that it has on me. Earlier this week I decided to watch Undercover Boss, which is a reality show that sees CEOs disguise themselves as prospective employees of the companies that they control. Going to work with people under them in the organizational hierarchy, a lot of interesting things are revealed to them that would have remained undiscovered if they had not decided to participate in the show.

In this particular episode the company featured was Baja Fresh, a Mexican fresh food company that has 250 plus restaurants in the United States and Dubai. Wanting to observe and evaluate the ground level of operations where those representing the company interact with customers and work to meet their needs, CEO David Kim (wearing a fake goatee) undertook a range of chores at four different restaurant locations. Bringing him into contact with the same number of very hard working and service driven employees who were in one way or another dealing with challenges that proved their dedication to the company, he was overwhelmed and inspired by their contributions and very grateful to have such wonderful people working for his company.

One particularly touching scene was when Kim was getting to know Anthony, a cashier that was training him. Separated from his mother and younger siblings whom he supported with his meagre wage, the struggle that Anthony faced moved Kim deeply. Having a strained relationship with his own father who was dying of a rare disease, he was humbly made to realize how grateful he should be for the success that he enjoyed and the opportunity that he had to contribute to the lives of others in a positive way.

Despite the burden that he carried, what really mattered to Anthony was that his new friend be blessed. Learning that he shared the same faith as his undercover boss, he took the lead in praying for Kim and his family. Bringing tears to Kim’s eyes, we see him articulate to the audience the strong desire to give back to these special people who have given him so much.

Acting out that desire at the end of the show, he generously gives of himself and his resources to make a real difference to the quality of these people’s lives. Giving Anthony $15,000 to reunite and support his family, he goes on to give another employee their own Baja Fresh franchise valued at over $50,000.

Seeing the impact that Kim’s acts of generosity had on those people moved me to tears. Sharing in their surprise blessing, mine was centred on the fact that I hadn’t expected the show to have that effect on me. Indeed, we cannot choose what we are inspired by. Such is the nature of the ever present and powerful spirit that is the source of our inspiration.

The word ‘inspiration’ literally means ‘in spirit’. With the spirit being the source of love we are inspired in the moment that we feel pure love. While we cannot choose what we are inspired by we can choose to align our being with love. Finding integrity through this alignment with the life force, our experience of the world is enhanced to an infinite degree. Bathing in the beauty that this spiritual state of being represents we can do others a great service by sharing our bliss with them.

This is what David Kim did in the moment of his inspiration. Feeling the love that these people were giving to the company and its customers, he was moved by love to give back, not just to those people, but to millions of others around the world who shared in his transformative experience. Venturing into an internet forum where the show was being discussed I was amazed to see all the comments from people who had been touched as I had. Inspiring in itself, it really affirmed to me that we can change lives by sharing our inspiration with others.

Each of us has amazing stories to tell about how we have been shaped and moved by inspiration. Whether they are about rising above adversity, discovering new places in the world and in ourselves, or giving to meet the needs of another, these stories when shared raise the consciousness of both the speaker and the listener. Stirring within us a spiritual recognition of our common identity and togetherness, they present a platform from which we can journey forth and manifest greater levels of joy, peace and harmony in the world.

The great tragedy is that we keep these stories to ourselves. Not believing that we can make a meaningful difference in the world, we drastically underestimate the power of our stories. Invalidating them in our own mind, we rationalize them to be boring and burdensome which explains our reluctance to share them with others. Preferring instead to articulate our victim stories, what we share with others are our excuses as to why we are not flourishing as we should. Infecting the minds of others with this ego talk, we fail to serve our true function with the effect that the consciousness of the world doesn’t evolve to express love in its functioning.

How different this world would be if what we saw on the news were inspirational stories from around the globe instead of the torrent of deflating stories that have conflict, loathing and greed at their core. Watching and listening to these inspirational stories and feeding off their positive energy, they would be widely shared and discussed which would only add to their uplifting impact. Arousing our spiritual responsiveness we would not make the mistakes that currently threaten to doom our world because we would not be reacting out of the fear that the ego uses as a means of control.

With this understand that the ego is against you listening to the voice of inspiration and sharing of its wisdom. Suspicious of its motives and vicious in its dislike of its source, it provokes your distrust while taking responsibility for the good in your life. Convincing you that you need nothing other than it to be happy, it keeps you removed from sources of inspiration in the world.

Insulated in this way we suffer in the separation that the ego mind has affected. Not open to having our heart touched, we resist against letting in those gifts of love that the spirit in others wants to share with us. Denying this opportunity to experience inspiration, what we manifest is more of the same suffering that strengthens this sense of separation.

Negatively impacting our relationships, what we have to offer other people is not what they want or need. Dragging them down with our presence, they will before long seek companionship elsewhere. Perhaps you have observed this in your own life. I know I certainly have. Unless we like to hold ourselves in a negative space, we will choose to pursue relationships with people who make us feel good about ourselves and the world in which we live. Feeling good in the company of others is feeling the presence of God in these people. Receiving the gift of them being true to their spiritual nature, the onus falls on us to reciprocate.

When we give a voice to our authentic self we become a model of inspiration for others. Liberating them with our honest exploration and articulation, they can then go ahead and assist others with this process. When I think of the reason why I write in this way, the answer that comes to me reflects this need for reciprocity. Being to inspire others to live their best life, what motivates this is the generosity of others that has allowed me to see the light in myself.

If it wasn’t for Wayne Dyer, Louise Hay, Dale Carnegie and many more like them, I would not have the voice that speaks to you in these pages. Touched by their wisdom and emboldened by their willingness to explore the depths of inner and outer space, they have played a significant part in crafting my contribution to your life. Adding to their insights with those gained through my unique combination of education and experience, it is in sharing it all with you that I express gratitude to them for the path that their inspiration has paved.

Of all the compliments that I have received for my writing, the one response that makes me really happy when I hear it is ‘your work touched me at a deep level and has inspired me to go after what I really want.’ It is funny, but a lot of the conversations that I have with people around my work end up focusing on their need for meaning and fulfilment in their work. A dominant theme in what I write about, I really relish the opportunity to connect with people and provide them with direction in this area of their life. While some people already have it, many more need it, and if I can help bring them clarity in this all important domain, the effort expended on my behalf will have been well worth it.

Being inspired in this area is such a crucial thing because the workplace is the realm in which we serve the masses and by so doing find meaning in our lives outside the family home. It is easy to serve those members of our family who we love. Grateful for their presence in our life and inspired by the richness that they provide, this can add strength to the service that we render in the workplace, but seldom if ever will it support this service at the level that mastery requires.

The only thing that can support excellent service over the long run is a genuine love for that which is being served. Whether this love is for cars, teaching, dancing or cleaning, the passion must be present before we can excel. With this passion comes inspiration that is drawn internally from our heart’s desire being honoured, and externally from the environment that is aligned and receptive to our passion.

Those people who have great reputations for superior service are among the most inspired people you will ever meet. Richard Branson (Virgin Group), Steve Jobs (Apple), Bill Gates (Microsoft), Oprah Winfrey (Harpo Productions), Jeff Bezos (Amazon), Ursula Burns (Xerox), Larry Page and Sergey Brin (Google) and John Schnatter (Papa John’s pizza) are all examples of leaders who have done a masterful job of merging who they are with what they do. Allowing inspiration along with their intuition to guide them to success, it would not have come to pass in such spectacular fashion if in their heart there was not the love to support their superior service.

The Long and Lazy Road (Part 2)

Achievement demands that we deal with reality in a blinders-off fashion. Inquisitive about its details, we discover far more of value than we otherwise would have by demanding that reality conform to the dictates of our mind. Essentially, this is what we do when we assume. Refusing to reach beyond our own limited knowledge we forego great opportunities for learning that are likely to open up new avenues of constructive action.

Perceiving the world through the narrow lens of the ego we fail to question as much as we should. Arrogant in our ability to read our circumstances, and not wanting to appear stupid or weak by asking questions of others, we are held captive by our pride that isolates us from sources of potential benefit. In most, if not all circumstances, there will be people in our immediate environment who have information that we could use to solve problems or generate better results in our area of influence.

Willing to share what they know, all we have to do is ask. An act of humility that allows us to bridge our knowledge deficit, it is what each of us is capable of when we disassociate from the ego which teaches that we do not need the help of others who in one way or another pose a threat to us. The tale that the ego tells, it is responsible for so much of our reluctance to open ourselves to the knowledge of others. Not wanting to experience that vulnerability, we succumb to the perception that falsely assumes the predominance of ego in those who endeavour to help us.

Harbouring also the fear of rejection we choose the safest option of not asking others for something that will bring us clarity. Convincing ourselves that we will receive a ‘no’ response, we do not entertain the possibility of them meeting our request, and getting what we need to make our decisions more clearly. In my experience, people with expertise in a particular area are open to being approached for information if it is done in the right way. This means respecting their time and knowledge, and being forthright about how you intend to use it.

Even if they do shut you out, that is far from the worst thing that could happen in the circumstances. Often it will be the case that the same information will be available from another source. Your task will then be to locate it. Persistence in this task is key. Requiring the kind of focused action that is the antithesis of laziness, it is what will enable you to breakthrough with a solution, while others are stuck in the dark because of the assumptions that they have made.

The reactive nature of assumptions guarantees that they will not be as effective in producing results as proactive inquiry. Being the leader of my class who is responsible for my students learning, I didn’t meet this requirement when I assumed that they knew what the terminology meant. To better serve them I should have asked up front if they knew what the terminology meant. Then they could have proceeded with a greater understanding of the concepts. Not taking any more time than they were due, it would have saved them the anguish, and me the embarrassment of not delivering my message properly.

Learning from that experience, I will still have to exercise caution in coming to conclusions. The temptation to assume is admittedly very strong. Ever present in the moment that we are asked to make a decision under time pressure, we must remind ourselves to reciprocate and ask the right questions. An art in itself, it is the best way of getting to the heart of things.

Break Time

Hi Folks,

On Monday I will be travelling to Europe for a month of holidays and while away I won’t be doing any posting. To make up for this I will be posting five weeks worth of entries today to give you the inspiration that you deserve while I am gone. I hope you enjoy them and I am very much looking forward to bringing you more of my work when I get back.

Take care and much love.

L.C.

The Long and Lazy Road (Part 1)

Assumptions make me nervous. Reflecting what we think we know about something, their bases are often poor and unstable. Not necessarily corresponding with reality, their fictitious leanings make them both risky and dangerous propositions. Born of a self-serving combination of laziness, righteousness and in many instances the denial of truth, they carry an air of common sense and knowledge that is seldom grounded in facts.

Chief among the mistakes we make are these malnourished utterances. Taught of this today in my classroom I paid an embarrassing price. Using some rather obscure terminology in my morning management lecture that I had not thought to define for the class, I was greeted by a sea of confused faces that had not grasped what I had taken as a given. Knowing what these words meant through the years of experience I had with the topic, I had completely overlooked that their burgeoning experience didn’t yet match mine in the area.

Reminded of this fact during question time, I felt a temporary sense of failure at my inconsiderate attempt at teaching. Letting it pass soon after, I renewed my commitment to meet my students where they were. Not having the luxury of taking for granted what they knew, I would introduce concepts before reinforcing them. Doing this, I would strengthen their learning foundation and better equip them to deal with the intricacies of the course material.

With my ignorance making it more complex than it had to be, it occurred to me that assumptions often have the same effect. When we know what is going on in a given situation we can deal with it more easily. Having a complete picture to work with we don’t have to guess, speculate or waste our time pondering possibilities that do not exist. Ultimately, this makes us much more effective at dealing with problems, and while it may take us a bit longer to get the full picture, the extra work is worth it because it allows us to deal with concrete realities rather than vague possibilities.

Obviously there are going to be times where not all information can be accessed and collected in a time frame that is workable. In situations like this, we must be smart about the decisions that we make. Smart, in this context, means using the information available in conjunction with our education, experience and intuitive ability. It doesn’t mean telling ourselves or someone else something that we want to be true, but which the aforementioned factors don’t support.

Often, when we have a particular outcome that we would like to see achieved, the assumptions that we make concerning that outcome are contaminated by bias. Blinded by our self-interest, we will seek to impose our desires on the situation at hand. Doing this in subtle and more obvious ways, we are vulnerable at these times to being betrayed by our optimistic ideals.

Being all that we want to see and believe in, we will ignore or not seek out information that does not promote our desired outcome. The point at which denial enters the picture, it becomes a distorted mess and increasingly difficult to piece together. Not reflecting reality, it separates us from our essential nature and leads us down a path where it becomes next to impossible to realize the outcomes that we desire.

Why this is also hazardous is because of the potential consequences that remain hidden to us. If, for example, you have falsely convinced yourself that you are in fantastic health when you are suffering symptoms of a serious illness, that may lead you to die if the symptoms are severe enough. Only by dealing with your ill health is wellness a future possibility. The same goes for the achievement of meaningful outcomes.

The Positive Side of Stress (Part 3)

Eventually coming into contact with my potential as a writer, the confidence that I gained through my diligent practice of the art started to override the fear and doubt that until then had been sabotaging my efforts in a variety of ways. Becoming more integrated in this respect, my passion and creative juices began to flow more forcefully which allowed me to experience writing as bliss. Feeling that positive energy and trusting in the wisdom that it inspired, the quality of my work improved dramatically because the walls of resistance had been broken down by my strong spirit that had grown tired of being supressed by the onerous weight of my distress.

While an experience of eustress acquaints us with the infinite nature of life, and by so doing inspires open wonder and love for all that it encompasses, distress has the effect of separating us from our spiritual environment. Closing us off mentally, emotionally and physically, our ability to be intimate is diminished to an extent that we forget what it truly means to live, love and serve.

Think of a time when you felt distress at work. Having, for example, an unreasonable deadline to meet or an uncooperative boss to deal with, these unwanted circumstances, that were likely to be perceived as harsh and threatening, interfered with your focus and as a result your best efforts were compromised. Subdued by the waves of negative thoughts and emotions that filled your mind and body in response to the event, your creative and intuitive spark would not have ignited to add value to the project in the way that it otherwise would have had you been in a peaceful and joyous state of balance.

Our relationships as well are negatively impacted by the distress that we feel. Consumed by the source of our perceived problems, we give less freely to those that we love, and what little we manage to offer them is tainted by the negativity that would have us think of them as another source of distress. Taking away from the relationship, they will be inclined to give less to us, not understanding the true source of our troubles.

This is why it is important to be open when we are burdened by distress. Sharing with others who are willing to be there for us unconditionally, our load is lightened to the point that we become capable of dealing with those unwelcome challenges. Getting the benefit not only of their loving energy, but also their perspective, solutions emerge to ease our distress.

Appearing also in prayer, meditation and solitude, they come to us through the process of surrender that sees us turn our problems over to God. Given the strength, insight and resilience to deal with them effectively, we return to a state of balance from which we can experience more positive and uplifting forms of stress.

By saying yes to eustress we move to a higher realm of being that makes each moment of life more enjoyable and fulfilling. While life is fraught with challenges, we need not let them overcome us. Ultimately, we have the power to choose our responses to the events and circumstances of our lives. With nothing being predetermined, it is with courage that we must act to invite into our lives those things that lead us to grow. I achieved a great result for Advanced Quantitative Research Methods and have now moved on to the next stage of my academic journey. The positive side of stress made that possible and without it I would have failed. Grateful we should be for the work of Hans Selye!

The Positive Side of Stress (Part 2)

Each of us are called to grow as human beings and eustressful experiences assist in this process. Awakening us to the wealth of potential that we hold in our being, they allow us to more fully access and express our innate wisdom and talents, with the beauty that we try so hard to hide.

What these eustressful experiences look like will ultimately be determined by the essence of the person experiencing them, and the perceptions that they have of themselves and the world. In this, the individual must have a positive perception of the stressor and welcome its presence in the context of their life. No event or circumstance is therefore inherently eustressful, with sex being a likely exception, although some people who have experienced sexual abuse as children report not finding it pleasurable or comfortable as adults.

Having a negative perception of a person, thing or event generates internal resistance which leads to a state of distress. Someone who doesn’t like skydiving, for example, because they fear that it will cause them to die will not enjoy the experience of thinking about skydiving, let alone doing it. Compare this to the experience of the person whose passion is skydiving. Loving the process of jumping from a plane and free falling before activating their parachute and floating back to earth, their response will be one that is characterized by intense pleasure and exhilaration.

With the former person who has negative associations with the activity of skydiving, they will experience substantial distress if they are made to jump out of a plane. The latter individual, on the other hand, will not have this barrier between their being and the activity which will allow them to experience eustress as they embark on their aerial joy ride.

Now, it might be possible for the former person to experience eustress when skydiving, if under the fear they have a liking for it, but until they move past that fear they will continue to experience skydiving as distressful. Sometimes it is the case that our greatest fears are centred in the area where our greatest talents are located. Not ready to honour our integrity and embrace our greatness, we will experience our passions as pain producing sources of distress.

For so many years I absolutely hated reading and would not pick up a book if you paid me to. Having a very negative view of education because of my repressive early high school experience and the pain that I had endured losing my father at that time, I wasn’t open to any form of learning during that rebellious phase. It was only after I grew a little older and wiser that I realized the importance of education and when the penny finally dropped, a shift occurred in me that revealed a great love of books.

Consuming them voraciously for more than ten years now, they have changed my life in so many ways, and I enjoy nothing more than the time that I spend alone reading about things that interest me. Expanding my mind while nurturing my being, I experience a high level of eustress whenever I engage in this activity. What once caused me distress now has the opposite effect, but to get to that point I had to do a lot of inner work and clear up some negative misperceptions towards learning that were holding me back in life.

Another massive shift in my life took place when I finally allowed myself to fully embrace writing. Until that time I had resisted it heavily because I thought that it required a level of talent and skill that I didn’t have or ever think that I would have. Being a massive barrier that caused me much distress when I first put pen to paper, it was a feeling that persisted while I remained detached from my calling, even though I was taking steps to explore it more deeply.

The Positive Side of Stress (Part 1)

The impact of stress on our lives cannot be understated. Whether it is encountered at work, in the home or in our other relationships, the effect that it has on our ability to function is significant and far-ranging. Predictable in some respects, it is equally unpredictable in others. Influencing the thought and behaviour patterns of the majority of the population in a predominantly negative way, it can and often does play a positive role in facilitating personal and professional growth, and driving superior performance at work and in the classroom.

This, I experienced firsthand during the previous four months, over which I studied Advanced Quantitative Research Methods at the university that I work. A statistics and formula based unit, the content of which I neither liked nor really understood for that matter, it presented me with numerous challenges that led me to experience a fair amount of fear and anxiety. Needing to complete the unit to be eligible to undertake a higher degree by research, my doctoral ambitions hinged on me passing the unit.

Having two major assignments to complete before the semester ended, I would dedicate one of them to the topic of stress, which I learned a lot about in my preparations, and more intimately by observing my psychological and physical responses to the demands imposed by this foreign language that I was expected to dissect, comprehend and intelligibly discuss with my colleagues.

Not knowing what I was doing until I did the groundwork to get up to speed, I experienced much distress which is the negative form of stress that brings about acute mental or physical suffering, anxiety or sorrow. What we experience when we lose a loved one, get diagnosed with a terminal illness, or face the prospect of bankruptcy, the stressor doesn’t have to be so significant for the distress response to be triggered. Being stuck in traffic when you have an important meeting to get to, having to sit an exam, or being confronted by an angry person, can all cause us milder levels of distress that reduce our ability to constructively deal with the event or circumstance.

For me in this situation, the cause of distress was the divide that existed between what I had to learn and what I could understand. Not having a background in statistics I had not the confidence to deal with the subject matter. Add to this the time pressure of having to submit assessments by a certain day and you can see why I had my fair share of nervous moments in the lead up to them being due.

A tangible burden that frequently consumed my thoughts, it also served as a powerful motivator to get the job done well and move a step closer to the commencement of my doctorate. Knowing that I had a limited time to complete the assignments I diligently went to work in preparing them. Enjoying the process of stretching myself through learning and meeting the requirements of the task, I would come to demonstrate the positive side of stress.

Eustress is a term that was first used by endocrinologist Hans Selye. The man who founded the theory of stress, he used it to describe a positive state of mental, physical or spiritual tension. Otherwise described as a process of exploring potential gains, it is what we experience when we push beyond our perceived limits in the direction, not of our superficial desires, but highest intentions.

Wisdom without the Grey Hair

‘And in the end, it’s not the years in your life that count. It’s the life in your years.’ – Abraham Lincoln.

It was once said that wisdom comes with age but I am not sure that I believe that. In my short time on this planet I have encountered enough ignorant and foolish people to know that these two unflattering character traits do not discriminate on the basis of age, which is after all just a numerical label that fails to get at the heart of who we are and what we are capable of expressing. Wisdom, in this respect, emerges from a realm that is deeper than the physical body. Housing our being, it is not itself the spiritual source of life from which wisdom flows. Receptive to this heart knowing, we can express wisdom at any age, and even children, who often are much better than adults in remaining true to their essence, can be great teachers of this infinitely healing and redemptive power.

Wanting to believe that old age holds the answer to life’s problems, we assume that learning is a part of life when in reality it is not. For sure, an intrinsic part of life is the learning opportunities that it affords but ultimately the decision of whether we learn or not is up to us. Having the free will to allow wisdom to move through us, it is not a given that we will choose to express it at any time, let alone in old age.

While it is nice to think that we grow more receptive to learning the older that we get, it is just not true. Too many of the elderly people that I know are stubborn and rigid to the point that they find it very difficult to even entertain the thought that someone who is younger than them might know something that they don’t. Themselves victims of this ‘wisdom comes with age’ fallacy, it is the position that they take under the direction of the fragile ego that prefers to believe what it has been told by society rather than know and admit that it does not know.

Learning requires great humility and if we don’t possess this virtue then we will find ourselves living in old age with the same mindset that we had in our twenties. For the mind to expand it must be fed on a continual basis. Only by doing this do we ensure that the years we have ahead will be better than those that we have already lived. Why so many people get bored with life as they become older is because they have stopped growing and as a consequence they live the same year over and over again.

This experience is much different from continuously learning on a moment to moment basis which has the effect of compounding our growth. Like an interest amount that increases with every dollar that we add to our bank account, the quality of our life increases in proportion to the amount of learning that we agree to undertake. Whether it takes the form of education or new experiences, we build on our capacity for insight into the nature of the world and ultimately ourselves every time that we move to ask new questions of life.

It is when we stare into the abyss that wisdom comes alive. Presenting profound answers to the questions that we have asked, it works alongside knowledge to complete our understanding of life. Grey hairs or not, we cannot have all the answers because our time in this world is just too short. Despite this reality, I still believe it to be a wonderful thing that in any moment we can lose ourselves in the mystery of life and allow wisdom to come forth. The core of our being in the here and now, it is not time that it needs to speak, only a free spirit that is eager to do good.

Dropping the C-Bomb (Part 4)

Flexible thinking liberates us in so many respects. Fostering greater creativity and higher level decision making, it also strengthens our engagement with life by allowing us to better adapt to its movements. Being beyond our individual control, they are what we must align with if we are to receive its abundant gifts and flourish in our quest.

Never are we above what we align ourselves with. What this means in this context is that the source of life will not be imposed upon by anyone or anything. Expecting life to conform to our expectations of it, we forfeit our happiness in the same moment that we hold this foolish belief. Invoking ego with this self-serving thought, we are disconnected from the flow of life which severely impedes our ability to effectively respond to its movements.

Before we can effectively respond to life’s movements we must listen to what those movements communicate to our heart. This is what our spirit does when we allow it to breathe. Understanding perfectly the nature of life that is its very being, the course of action that it proposes will be right for the time and place in which we live. Manifesting good in the world when acted upon, and bringing joy and peace to our heart, these are the inspired fruits of our humble trusting and consequent flexibility.

Despite the shifting nature of the surrounding landscape we can thrive if we can trust. When we have a lovingly alive relationship with the source of life we can trust in it. Knowing that it is facilitating our flourishing while serving a protective function, we have the unwavering confidence to think and act in new ways that expand our awareness without compromising who we are.

Why some people are so resistant to change is because they don’t want to lose the identity that they have found in the events of the past. Wanting to keep that intact they fight very hard against influences that try to shape them in other ways. Serving them a proportion of the time when these influences are overwhelmingly negative, it also has a crippling effect because a number of those forces are attempting to bring them back into balance by drawing their attention to aspects of their essential self.

Denying these awareness expanding forces our inflexibility is further engrained. Leading us to become increasingly reactive, we are disempowered by the limitations of our adopted identity that stand in the way of the joy and peace that are our nature. Stifled by this conflict, the solution lies in awakening to the truth of who we are and the purpose that change is to serve.

In this, our task is not so much to learn but to be in love. The spirit that we are is fundamentally comfortable with change. Accepting its role unconditionally, it has nothing to learn about what change does or how it works. Intuitively understanding its purpose, it takes nothing away from the blessed nature of change’s being.

That folly is reserved for those of us who insist upon doing the bidding of the ego that opposes life at the basic level. The source of our suffering that paints change in a negative light, it succeeds only because we have grown to depend on it for our functioning.

Weakened by this dependence, we need not despair for hope is in sight. In this instant an opportunity presents itself. Do you take a step back or become more of who you were created to be? That is the choice that change makes possible.

Dropping the C-Bomb (Part 3)

Whatever took place in the past, good or bad, it is gone. Leaving in perfect time, we will not be able to peacefully accept this when we seek some form of retribution for the pain that we experienced in it. Clinging to the resultant memories as evidence of the transgression, this will fuel our resistance to change and the opportunity for healing that life magnanimously presents.

Every person, at one stage or another, experiences pain on their path of life. An inescapable part of the journey, it is not what we need allow to enslave us in the present moment and future. Always do we have the choice to forgive and move on. A deeply spiritual act, it is in perfect alignment with the life force that facilitates change.

When we refuse to forgive people or circumstances, in that moment we are stuck. Not moving in that negative space we exist in opposition to the natural order of life which is flowing and evolving. Breaking through the limitations of that pain with the loving energy of forgiveness, growth is realized not only through the act but also by our willingness to be at one with life’s movements.

Too many of us have eschewed this oneness to indulge our ego that wants to live independently of life. An absurd notion, it is the struggle that we engage in when we choose not to regard the spirit in the changes that we make. Just as destructive as the change that we refuse to make, is the change that we make under the ego’s influence. So arrogant is the ego that it believes it can do no wrong. Taking this further, it insists that the change it facilitates is superior to the change that life effects by its very being.

A falsehood that confuses movement with progress, it forms the basis of a meaningless agenda that when acted upon brings us no closer to the realization of our divine potential. Being ego-centred does not make us anymore loving, patient or compassionate as people. Rather, it leads us to regress by solidifying our character flaws. Whatever weaknesses we have in this respect, they will be amplified when we do not allow the spirit to facilitate change in our life.

An example of this is the stubbornness that is often displayed by egotistical people. Born of the belief that they know the best thing to do in every situation, they will progressively isolate themselves from other people and lose out on opportunities to gain knowledge from them about how they could do things better. Not growing as a result, the quality of their life is diminished to a substantial extent.

Someone who is more flexible on the other hand will move far closer to realizing their ideal self. Open to listening to the input of others and learning from them, they will be able to effectively build on the knowledge that they have previously gained, and put it to use in improving the quality of their life. Demonstrating the spiritual quality of humility in the process, their experience will be much more rewarding. Characterized by this allowing, they will evolve as nature intended without the interference of the inhibiting ego.

Increasing their depth through this exploration, the intensity of the positive emotions that they are capable of feeling will be magnified. Suppressed in the righteous and blinkered person who will not be moved from their position, their mind will hold the key to unlocking the love that lives in their heart.