- Journal Entry #10 — Seeing It Otherwise
We don’t change. We finally just “get it” … everything we know intuitively but choose to ignore or postpone.
I wonder how much energy is wasted each day in this way.
I wonder how many people are hooked on the idea of “changing themselves” instead of listening to themselves.
There is a difference.
- Change is sort of like wishing you could calm turbulent waters with just a look in the right direction. Not possible, is it? But “getting it” is like discovering the tranquil waters within; no change needed. The inner tranquility is already there, once you truly notice it. Then change comes, and flows naturally, with your discovery.
I believe this is why so many change efforts are destined to fail. At best, they produce temporary, superficial results.
How, for instance, can people interact from a peaceful perspective if they haven’t discovered peace within?
The mind always looks for something to feel less than peaceful about, so if you are stuck in repetitive thought patterns (your conditioned perceptions, assumptions, reactions), it will be difficult to notice the peace that resides within. Surface activity will distract you, and you will once again attempt to “change” yourself with the next miracle-promising program that comes along.
- The world worships activity, but there is also great beauty in pausing, in stopping.
- What seems important on the external level may or may not be, but with each pause, with each deep breath, I have an opportunity to become more self-aware. To get in touch with my sense of inner knowing that can easily transcend logic, reason, and memorized details.
Perhaps this is why so many people complain about things never really changing.
Living from a higher level of consciousness can produce change, but trying to change yourself or most anything without tapping into your spiritual dimension first is likely to produce frustration more than anything else.
Or things on the external level may appear to have changed, when the deeper dynamics are still the same.
It’s easy to fool ourselves into thinking change is possible if we can just find the magic formula.
Pursue a path of spiritual evolution, however, and change won’t be something you worry much about anymore. For one thing, you will likely realize that the only change ever needed is to live from a spiritual perspective that is aligned with your inner sense of knowing.
- When I remember to be completely present with this moment, nothing else is needed. Then I am mindful; then I am self-aware. Then I’m not caught up in wishing the world would change.
- The world can’t really change significantly until each individual becomes spiritually present. When cut off from spiritual awareness, the mind struggles to “get it,” and then we are caught in the grip of obsessive (primarily useless) thought patterns that can be traced to childhood. Or early social conditioning. Or cultural definitions of what is good, what is bad. The mind is good at many things, except change.
- Tapping into my limitless, timeless spiritual essence, I can transcend futile definitions of change that have been popularized over the years. And I can see it otherwise. ~ dh
“One does not become enlightened by imagining figures of light, but by making the dark conscious.”
~ Carl Jung
Thanks for stopping by — see you in a couple of weeks!
Seeing It Otherwise, our spiritual journey for 2013, is a journal that focuses on exploring perceptions, assumptions, and reactions. It’s a great opportunity to journal with us or meditate on the ideas and questions presented. Blog posts will serve as brief journal entries every other Friday morning. I hope you’re enjoying this close-up of life and spirituality. Next journal post: June 21st.
- As usual, comments are welcome, but I always encourage inner dialogue as well … or more importantly. Thanks, have a great weekend!
