“Nothing ever goes away until it has taught us what you need to know.” — Pema Chodron
We’ve all known individuals who seem stuck in the mire of their own monotonous thoughts perpetuating a rut that could last for decades. In fact, you may self-identify with this more than you realize. Every facet of our lives is in some form a reflection of our consciousness. However you program that computer we many loosely refer to as our mind, will print out exactly what we put into it. The problem rests in not recognizing what we’re doing on a moment to moment basis, every day, week and year. We are so disconnected from ourselves that we don’t have a clue how this is even possible. We are manifesting our neurotic thought patterns, by reinforcing the lack of discernment in connecting with our present conscious awareness. Take a look around you . . . how many people are really listening to each other in any meaningful way, looking directly into the eyes of those they are conversing with or trying to, connecting in a way that sustains a conversation and develops a bonding relationship, or unless they are receiving remuneration in some way, are really interested or concerned about anything outside of themselves or their accepted inner circles? In Science of Mind there’s acknowledgement and a sense of ownership stated in this way, “In life it is reflected in your experience, you can’t change the physical world and hope the cause changes. Your physical world is a reflection of your consciousness. Your prosperity is a result, your health is an out-picturing, your relationships are a reflection, your success is a demonstration and all are of your consciousness.”
There’s no one else who is responsible, accountable or to blame except ourselves. How do we change the programming? Good question . . . the first step is to have the courage, interest, desire, curiosity, intent, motivation and insight to care enough in order to jump off the cliff, acknowledge we need to make a change, and then begin to unravel what we created. To comprehend the gravity of how this has affected our lives we must begin by turning off that which characterizes thought patterns, behavior, conduct, dis-associative actions that encourages a lack of peace within our being on any level. Rumi put it another way . . . “There’s a voice that doesn’t use words. Listen.”
A life-transforming experience is beyond daunting, challenging and riddled with pitfalls. No matter where we are on this life’s journey, that will continue to happen, however, we have the choice to be active, alert, involved and discerning in the prospective and perception of those events through consciousness. Our focus creates the difference, as that choice was always there which much of the time we ignored. Given we may have had periods of time where we have been completely enveloped in circumstances we really didn’t understand, however, with time objectivity becomes a gift, and we are able to consciously accept what that challenge unequivocally taught us. And perhaps one day we may not only embrace these words of Voltaire, but understand the implication . . . “God is a comedian playing to an audience too afraid to laugh.” JLR