Everything Passes

We seek to control our circumstances as much as possible to guarantee the future we most desire. The results of our actions to have control prove over and over again that we cannot succeed in this task. The reason is both simple and profound.

Everything passes.

Nothing ever remains the same. Oh we can have the illusion that this is not true but that is only our own desire for those things we want deluding us. If we cannot really control anything then what is there left to give us hope.

Remember that the goal does not define the how to achieve it but only to be able to recognize opportunities that arise for working towards it.

The only thing we can control is ourselves.

How we act, how we think about things, what emotions we allow to rule us and how we express them. What beliefs do we wish to follow and express in our actions? What kinds of relationships do we want and how we treat others? All these things are within our power to change through our choice of actions.

When we understand what we do and do not control then perhaps we can have a clearer vision of what is important to uphold and what we should let go of.

Your thoughts?

Technorati tags: control, personal growth, goals

Uncertainty

We like predictable things, events and especially people. We hate being blindsided by anything because then we give our raw reaction which in a lot of cases is contrary to the image we have presented to the world and to ourselves.

The problem is that it is an image we want to present which is a construct of our imagination. It is built on what we believe that we need to obtain our desires and goals. A false premise.

Integrity and character will shine through all of our actions if what we are constructing is of benefit to the people we are acting with rather than using people. Then there is never uncertainty in our actions and relationships. Everyone benefits.

Trying to make things predictable is impossible when it comes to events and people and we could save a lot of frustration and false starts by maintaining a good perspective. Then we can share a laugh with others when things fall through the cracks.

Your thoughts?

Technorati tags: uncertainty, relationships, purpose

Restlessness

One of my readers Cissie asked if I would write about restlessness. I like to think of restlessness as a type of longing not to be confused with happiness or unhappiness. I believe that restlessness comes from the heart and is a feeling that there is more that we can discover than what we currently have or strive for.

It is an incompleteness that we cannot put into words except as a longing for something more. Something different than what we have aspired to up to now. Restlessness embarks us on a voyage of discovery where we have no specific destination in mind.

It forces us to search for and try new things in order to satisfy that itch that we have. Some people cannot tolerate searching without a destination and so drown it out by immersing themselves in flamboyant excess or drugs or anything that hides the longing for a while.

I believe they search in the wrong direction in the external world rather than listening to their inner world while on their voyage of discovery. It is finding the feeling that we are missing and can only be found by listening to our heart during our search.

Where to search is our voyage and unique to ourselves.

Your thoughts?

Technorati tags: restlessness, personal growth, discovery

Living in the Present

We are the only species on the planet that can punish ourselves with our past; our history. There is a saying that goes something like those who do not learn from history are doomed to repeat it.

Is that true?

History is only history if it is written down and then it cannot be taken back. Whomever writes the history then creates the history true or not. So as no one can see all the information it is then a composite of individual viewpoints which we know from our experience is not complete nor totally accurate as it is biased. 

So when we look to our own history how accurate is it and should we wear like a cross and so warp the present with the past. Experiencing the results of our actions and thereby learning wisdom is far different than continually filtering our present through the filter of our past.

Once the lesson is learned do we need the past any longer. Perhaps it is time to let go and live in the only time we have; the present.

Your thoughts?

Technorati tags: past, lessons, personal growth