“Never allow someone to be your priority, while allowing yourself to be their option.” – Lewis Carroll
There are many times in this journey . . . unique for all of us . . . in which we experience it appears, extremes in how our attention is focused. The question then becomes how best to engage in the quiet, still, voiceless refuge of peace directed within the essence of our being. There are many distractions that we encounter, often on a moment to moment basis. We have the choice to walk another way, and as Goethe stated so simply “Our senses don’t deceive us, our judgement does.” This takes time, when we have not practiced, experienced or understood another way. There is always time to choose another path when we allow our innate wisdom that freedom.
It is very simple really. We make our choices complicated, confused, convoluted and opaque. For some, clarity comes with a great deal of subsequent pain, hurt and dishonesty . . . perhaps that is necessary. As stated by Friedrich Nietzsche, “If you gaze long into an abyss, the abyss will gaze back at you,” and this makes our steps, thoughts, beliefs and faith . . . uncertain if not impossible.
You have the continuing opportunity to clarify your focus with every breath. Preparation is a moment to moment exercise, with practice existing in the consciousness of ”now.” What in this moment will you choose? After contemplation, reflection and revelation the words of Buddha illuminate the next step . . . “You yourself, as much as anybody in the entire universe, deserve your love and affection.” We begin with ourselves . . . in the now. JLR