How to handle what comes your way

As I said in my last post, we are responsible for how we handle what comes to us in life.

All too often, when something bad happens to us, we brush off our response because we rationalize that it was not our fault, or that it was all preordained, or that there is nothing we can do about it, or it is a lesson sent of us to learn or it is the "will of god".

There is even a prayer to help us deal with life: "God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the strength to change those I can, and the wisdom to know the difference".

On one level, that is very good advice. The most important part of that prayer, however, is the part about the wisdom to know the difference.

Such actions and crutches are fine or people who are not on a path. They live from event to event, sometimes happy, sometimes sad but never feeling like they have any command over their lives.

People on a path, however, understand that they are in control. Although sometimes, they don't always believe it. For some of them, there is quiet acceptance of whatever happens to them. For others there is a sense of adventure. What happens next, what new thing can experience.

Enlightened people, though do none of that. They understand that life moves and that they move through life. It does not matter to them what happens, although, they are prepared to act in accord with any situation. They spend their time mostly in peace. Living in the moment.

Now, this does not mean that enlightened people don't have emotions. They do. And they use them. The difference is that the enlightened know that they are not their emotions. Emotions arise, they experience them and then move on. They can also daydream. Enjoying a day dream at some time is part of the here and now.

That is the key. Experience everything; but don't cling. don;t shy away from emotions because you are supposed to be at "peace with everything". Stifling an emotion is worse than experiencing it. you are supposed to experience your emotions.

As you move through your day, focus on what you are doing. Feel it, experience it in its entirety and then move on. ENjoy life whenever you can. Take time to feel life. When you eat, eat. When you sleep, sleep and when you work, work.

Only then will you find true serenity.

MrT

On Sarah Palin quitting her job.

Most aware people know by now that the Governor of Alaska has quit her job.

How does quitting a job fit into an enlightened life? Some may say that you should follow your bliss and leave jobs, relationships, etc in order to find what truly makes you happy. The problem with that kind of thinking is that it presupposes you know what it is that truly makes you happy AND that what makes you happy is truly harmonious with the universe. Now, Sarah Palin is not an enlightened being. She is an ambitious being. She is not happy doing what she is doing, she is only happy in doing something else. She also enjoys Being in the spotlight. Neither of these traits is a mark of enlightenment.

Now, how does this fit into an enlightened life? For starters one who is enlightened tends to migrate to what is joyful. This does not mean that one is always joyous or that one does not get exasperated at times. Enlightened beings do get exasperated. But, they are always aware of their feelings and surrounding and can react to the situation from an aware position instead of a subconscious automatic response. Remember enlightened beings are still human and their emotions do not disappear when one becomes enlightened.

Most enlightened people are not centered on other people or being in the spotlight. hey usually seek peaceful places and are completely comfortable with solitude.

If you are in a situation where emotions control and you are driven by external forces and desires such as "to be appreciated" or to be "in the spotlight" you are trapped in a worldly existence. The best way out is to pull back and shift your focus away from being driven by the outside forces and by learning to find harmony and joy in whatever you do.

Finally, you would well to remember that, as Wayne Dyer says "you cannot control your reputation". What others think of you is out of your hands. What you do control is your character. If you live your life honorably and in harmony with things, that will come through and when bad things are said about you, people will recognize that those things are false.

That is the best way to remain peaceful and harmonious as you move through life.

Mr.T