Daily Positive Thoughts: July 8, 2013:Let Be
A Symphony of Colors, Western Maryland, USA
Let Be....
Many of us spend most of our life trying to live someone else's life. We are great fixers, and as we watch others we can hear ourselves attempting to 'sort them out'. We hear it in our conversations with others and with ourselves. It sounds like, "They shouldn't...weren't they awful...did you hear about so and so...in my opinion they should". In these moments we waste time trying to write the script of others and forget to write our own. We have no right to write another's script and any attempt to do so is futile, frustrating and doomed to failure. So let be, and taste the freedom from the subtle tensions and anxieties about others by letting them write their own script. Don't miss your own life by trying to live life for someone else.
If we are stuck or trapped in our own thoughts we will not have control over them.
When we observe them, we separate ourselves from them and we provide a space, and this is how we can control them and channel them in the direction we wish. In order to have control over something we must look at it from a certain distance, like an impartial observer. This practice helps us to realise the influences, both positive and negative, that there are in our life.
Observing our thoughts (which we do in the process of meditation) is the first step in understanding and, in the last analysis, taking full responsibility for them.
Observing our thoughts (which we do in the process of meditation) is the first step in understanding and, in the last analysis, taking full responsibility for them.
Self Responsibility
There are certain laws which are involved in our actions and interactions. They are not human laws requiring lawyers to interpret or the police to enforce. They are natural laws which are constantly operating in every relationship. They are often called the Laws of Karma (action): briefly described by the saying, "As you sow, so you shall reap", described by Isaac Newton as the Laws of Motion i.e. for every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction. The Laws of Karma remind us that whatever quality of energy we give out, we get back. This might not be exactly an eye for an eye, but if we give happiness to someone, it will come back to us; if we give pain or sorrow, it will come back, perhaps not today or tomorrow, but at some time in the future.
Most of us are conditioned by the idea that we are responsible for some of our actions, but not all of them. For example, we would consider ourselves responsible for the actions which bring our colleagues together for a task at work but would not consider ourselves responsible for the argument we have with a neighbour. We would consider ourselves responsible for driving our family safely to their holiday destination, but if we nearly have an accident because we were trying to get there quickly we might consider the other driver responsible for nearly causing the accident. If we sustain our family through our own enterprise and professional efforts we would take the credit, but if we turned to a life of crime to clothe and feed ourselves we might blame the inequalities of society or the years of a difficult childhood.
Through spirituality, we are reminded of the unchangeable laws of cause and effect, which awakens our awareness of our true responsibility for each and every action that we perform.
(To be continued tomorrow ...)
Soul Sustenance
Meditation For Personality Transformation (cont.)
Decide on a habit that you want to change e.g. impatience. We will focus this meditation on changing impatience. You can apply it to other habits also:
I relax and prepare to look inwards…
I am aware of the unwanted habit of becoming impatient...
As I sit in meditation, I relax my body.
I become the observer of my own thoughts and feelings...
Realizing my true identity as soul – a subtle point of light situated at the center of my forehead, just above my eyebrows, I remember my real nature is one of calmness, peace and power...
I focus on the power of peace, inviting it in and welcoming it into my thoughts and feelings from deep within.... enjoying the calm contentment which it brings...
On the screen of my mind, I begin to visualize patience...
I see myself in a situation where I normally become impatient…
I now see myself as being completely full with the virtue of patience...
I shape my feelings around the idea and image of patience.... unhurried and relaxed... calm and watchful...
If necessary, I can wait... forever.... with patience
I am free of the desire for certain outcomes...
I see how I respond with patience...
I see the effect of my patience in others within the situation...
I now know how I will speak with patience, walk with patience and act patiently in the real life situations...
I maintain this peace, which generates serenity and patience in me…
Message for the day
When we are in the elevated company of the One God, no bad company will influence us.
Expression: Sometimes when we are working for our self- development we sometimes wish for support or understanding from others which we don't always get. We actually look for a role model, whom we could follow or who could be an inspiration for us. When we don't find anyone like that we tend to get disheartened and continue to justify ourselves for not bringing any change in ourselves.
Experience: The solution lies in becoming a role model and a source of support for others instead of expecting others to do so. For this we need to pay extra attention to the kind of company we keep. Under all circumstances, if we keep God as our companion we will not be influenced by any other company, however strong they might be. We will then be able to bring about change in ourselves.
